Cliff Smith

• Born: Aug 22, 1894 in Richmond, Indiana
• Died: Sep 17, 1937 in Los Angeles, California
• Occupation: Director, Writer
• Active: teens-'30s
• Major Genres: Western, Action
• Career Highlights: The Apostle of Vengeance, The Aryan, Jungle Jim
• First Major Screen Credit: The Apostle of Vengeance (1916)

Biography

Beginning his career as a second unit and assistant director, Indiana-born, Oklahoma-educated Cliff Smith became one of the silent era's most prolific directors of low-budget Westerns, directing or co-directing at least ten of William S. Hart's earliest efforts and directing Hart's competitor, Roy Stewart, in another 18. Smith also worked with Tom Mix (The Cyclone and Three Gold Coins, both 1920) and later both produced and directed low-budget oaters starring Pete Morrison. Smith signed with Universal after the advent of sound, helming six action serials either alone or in tandem with Ford I. Beebe. He died from peritonitis. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide