Actor. During the 1930s he was a regular member of New York City's Group Theatre and appeared in 32 Broadway productions, including many first runs and revivals of the plays of Clifford Odets. In 1934 Smith co-authored, with Elia Kazan, the play "Dimitroff," about the attempt of Hitler and Goring to use false informant testimony to pin the blame for the burning of the Reichstag on the Communist Party. Beginning in the 1940s, Smith appeared in supporting character roles, usually studious types, in many black-and-white noirish films. His film credits include "Native Land" (released 1942), "Ride the Pink Horse" (1947), "T-Men" (1947), "In a Lonely Place" (1950) and "The Killer that Stalked New York" (1950). He also successfully transitioned into television drama, appearing in a number of roles in episodes of television series and specials. Smith's career took a severe downturn, however, when he became involved in the anti-Communist "witchhunt" of the House Unamerican Activities Committee (HUAC). He was identified by Kazan, in his April 1952 testimony before the Committee, as one of eight Communist Party "sympathizers" formerly affiliated with the Group Theatre. As a result of Kazan's testimony, Smith, then in his 50s, was "blacklisted," and not hired to appear in Hollywood films for almost a decade. It has been estimated that 90 percent of those driven from the movie industry never returned, and Smith found no roles in the movies after his appearance in "Just for You," released in September 1952, until he appeared in a minor, uncredited role in "The Hustler," released in September 1961. He retired from acting after appearing in the role of Arthur Selig in the CBS Playhouse television production of "Do Not Go Gentle into that Good Night" in 1967. He died following a heart attack.