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Lane Smith

Lane Smith

Actor · Died June 13, 2005, aged 69 · Memphis, Tennessee, USA

Lane Smith (April 29, 1936 – June 13, 2005) was an American actor . He graduated from the Leelanau School, a boarding school in Glen Arbor, Michigan, and spent one year boarding at the Hill School in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, before going off to study at the Actors Studio in the late 1950s and early 1960s along with Dustin Hoffman and Al Pacino; he was recognized in their Hall of Fame. Smith served two years in the United States Army. After graduating, Smith found steady work in New York theater before making his film debut in Maidstone in 1970. During the 1970s, he regularly made appearances in small film roles including Rooster Cogburn in 1975 and Network in 1976. In 1981, Smith appeared in the Sidney Lumet-directed film Prince of the City. He also acted on television, notably playing a United States Marine in Vietnam in the television miniseries A Rumor of War and in the 1980 Hallmark Hall of Fame TV movie Gideon's Trumpet starring Henry Fonda, José Ferrer and John Houseman. Smith is also credited for playing McMurphy 650 times in the 1971 Off-Broadway revival of One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest. Smith made a major breakthrough in 1984 with significant roles in Red Dawn, Places in the Heart and the television series V. He also played on Quincy, M.E. in season 8, episode 7, "Science for Sale" as an oncologist searching for a cure to cancer. In 1989, Smith gained recognition for his portrayal of Richard Nixon in the docudrama The Final Days. Newsweek praised the performance, writing, "Smith] is such a good Nixon that his despair and sorrow at his predicament become simply overwhelming." Smith earned a Golden Globe nomination for his performance. He also appeared in the original Broadway stage production of David Mamet's Glengarry Glen Ross as James Lingk. He received a Drama Desk Award for his performance. In 1990, Smith appeared in Air America playing a United States Senator, a role for which he was selected based on his resemblance to then-Minority Leader Bob Dole. Two years later, he played a small-town district attorney opposite Joe Pesci in My Cousin Vinny, followed by a role as Coach Jack Reilly in The Mighty Ducks. In 1993 Smith landed the role of Perry White in Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, which he played for four seasons until 1997. In 1994, he portrayed New York Yankees front officeman Ron in The Scout, alongside Albert Brooks and Brendan Fraser. In 1998, Smith appeared in a major role as fictional television anchorman Emmett Seaborn in the HBO miniseries From The Earth to the Moon. His final film appearance was in The Legend of Bagger Vance (2000). Smith was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (also known as ALS, or Lou Gehrig's disease) in April 2004. He died of the disease at his home in Northridge, California on June 13, 2005 at the age of 69. He was survived by his wife, Debbie Benedict Smith and his son Robert Smith.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
April 29, 1936
Died
June 13, 2005 (aged 69)
From
Memphis, Tennessee, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
64 on MovieCove · 101 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 63 days to Oct 26Down 35% in 30 days

What are Lane Smith's films like?

Across their 33 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Self.

Genres

Drama13 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 59th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 45th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Crime5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 33rd percentile
: browse their Crime movies
Biography2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 72nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Morality
39%
Self
15%
Power
13%
Bonds
12%
Survival
10%
Society
7%
Ideas
4%
Justice13 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds7 titles, browse their movies with this themeBetrayal5 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival5 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption5 titles, browse their movies with this themeRevenge4 titles, browse their movies with this themeCorruption3 titles, browse their movies with this themeFreedom4 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 29 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 9 · Serious 7 · Dark 13

Grounded: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their grounded movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 25 · Stylized 3 · Heightened 1

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 4 · Charged 15 · Intense 10

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 12 · Shifting 16 · Whiplash 1

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 18 · Some laughs 8 · Funny 3

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 7 · Even-paced 21 · Relentless 1

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 13 · Engaged 14 · Full focus 2

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

Easy watch 9 · Affecting 11 · Heavy 9

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 24 · Open-ended 5 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

16 analyzed roles

Usually the Shadow: 7 of 16 analyzed roles.

Shadow
7 of 16
Threshold guardian
3 of 16
Ally
2 of 16
Herald
1 of 16
Hero
1 of 16
Shapeshifter
1 of 16
Mentor
1 of 16
Show the 16 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
24
Melancholic
12
Hopeful
9
Dread
8
Contemplative
7
Other
24

How their films linger

Hopeful11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 3 with a twist

  • Happy9
  • Bittersweet17
  • Tragic2
  • Ambiguous5

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Lane Smith's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 31 of their 64 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (17).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Lane Smith's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

101 credits, 64 with a MovieCove page; 1 appearance as themselves is hidden until asked for.

  • Well Received the Death of an Artist (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    Actor

  • Out of Order(2003)

    Show 5 episodes · as Frank

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all shows

  • WW 3(2001)

    as John Sullivan

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

  • DAG (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 1 episode · as Agent Baxter

  • The Caprice (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    as Lane

  • The Legend of Bagger Vance(2000)

    as Grantland Rice

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Bull (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Judging Amy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Show 1 episode · as Mr. Radford

  • Inherit the Wind(1999)

    as Reverend Jeremiah Brown

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • The Hi-Lo Country(1998)

    as Steve Shaw

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Legacy(1998)

    Show 3 episodes · as Asa Winters

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all shows

  • Getting Personal (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Dr. Maddie

  • From the Earth to the Moon(1998)

    Show 6 episodes · as Emmett Seaborn

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all shows

  • Alien Nation: The Udara Legacy(1997)

    as Senator Silverthorne

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • The Practice(1997)

    Show 2 episodes · as Judge H. Finkel

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows

  • King of the Hill(1997)

    Show 2 episodes · as Charlie Fortner (voice) · as Nate Hashaway (voice)

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all shows

  • The War at Home(1996)

    as Marjorie's Husband

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Clueless (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 1 episode · as Dan Hafner

  • The Outer Limits(1995)

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. Malcolm Boussard

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows

  • The Scout(1994)

    as Ron Wilson

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • The Spy Within(1995)

    as Stephen Hahn

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films

  • Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman(1993)

    Show 87 episodes · as Perry White

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all shows

  • Son in Law(1993)

    as Walter Warner

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Walker, Texas Ranger(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Reverend Thornton Powers

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all shows

  • The Distinguished Gentleman(1992)

    as Dick Dodge

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • The Mighty Ducks(1992)

    as Jack Reilly

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Duplicates (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Mr. Fryman

  • My Cousin Vinny(1992)

    as Jim Trotter III

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • False Arrest(1991)

    as Martin Busey

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Good Sports (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Show 15 episodes · as R.J. Rappaport

  • Blind Vengeance (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    as Col. Blanchard

  • Air America(1990)

    as Senator Davenport

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Challenger(1990)

    as Larry Mulloy

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • The Final Days(1989)

    as Richard Nixon

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Night Game(1989)

    as Whitty

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • Killer Instinct (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    as Dr. Butler

  • Prison(1987)

    as Warden Eaton Sharpe

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Weeds(1987)

    as Claude

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • A Place to Call Home(1987)

    as Sam

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Native Son (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    as Britton

  • Kay O'Brien (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Show 12 episodes · Actor

  • Dress Gray (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Show 2 episodes · as Col. King

  • If Tomorrow Comes(1986)

    Show 1 episode · as Warden Brannigan

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all shows

  • Terror at London Bridge(1985)

    as Anson Whitfield

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • Beverly Hills Cowgirl Blues(1985)

    as Captain Max Rosenberg

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • Amazing Stories(1985)

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. Caruso

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all shows

  • The New Alfred Hitchcock Presents (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 1 episode · as Robert Warren

  • The Twilight Zone (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 1 episode · as (segment "Profile in Silver")

  • Hollywood Beat (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 1 episode · as Cp. Milton Treadwell

  • MacGruder and Loud (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 1 episode · as Richard

  • V(1984)

    Show 13 episodes · as Nathan Bates

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all shows

  • Murder, She Wrote(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Pol. Chief Miles Underwood

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows

  • Places in the Heart(1984)

    as Albert Denby

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Red Dawn(1984)

    as Mayor Bates

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Purple Hearts(1984)

    as Cmdr. Markel

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Something About Amelia(1984)

    as Officer Dealy

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Chiefs (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Show 3 episodes · as Hoss Spence

  • Special Bulletin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    as Morton Sanders

  • The American Snitch (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    as Chuck Maxwell

  • The Member of the Wedding (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    as Mr. Addams

  • Frances(1982)

    as Docteur Symington

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • Thou Shalt Not Kill (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    as Clarence Blake

  • Prime Suspect (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    as Tom Keating

  • American Playhouse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as Britton

  • Dark Night of the Scarecrow(1981)

    as Harless Hocker

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Prince of the City(1981)

    as Tug Barnes

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Hill Street Blues(1981)

    Show 1 episode · as Mike

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • Mark, I Love You(1980)

    as Don Payer

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • The Georgia Peaches (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    as Randolph Dukane

  • Resurrection(1980)

    as Don

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • A Rumor of War (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Show 2 episodes · as Sgt. Willliam Holgren

  • Honeysuckle Rose(1980)

    as Brag

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • On the Nickel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    as Preacher

  • Gideon's Trumpet(1980)

    as Fred Turner

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • City in Fear (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    as Brian

  • Disaster on the Coastliner(1979)

    as John Carlson

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • The Solitary Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    as Jack Collins

  • Hart to Hart (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Over the Edge(1979)

    as Sloan

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Crash(1978)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • On the Yard(1978)

    as Blake

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • A Death in Canaan(1978)

    as Bob Hartman

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Blue Collar(1978)

    as Clarence Hill

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • The Court-Martial of George Armstrong Custer(1977)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Lou Grant (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. Lawrence

  • The Bad News Bears in Breaking Training(1977)

    as Officer Mackie

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Between the Lines(1977)

    as Roy Walsh

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • The Displaced Person(1977)

    as Mr. Shortley

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Network(1976)

    as Robert McDonough

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Quincy, M.E. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. Paul Flynn

  • Everybody Rides the Carousel(1976)

    as Stage 1 (voice)

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Judge Horton and the Scottsboro Boys (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    as Tyler

  • Valley Forge(1975)

    as Spad

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Rooster Cogburn(1975)

    as Leroy

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • The Rockford Files(1974)

    Show 1 episode · as CIA Agent Donnegan · as Willett

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • Man on a Swing(1974)

    as Ted Ronan

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Kojak(1973)

    Show 1 episode · as Clyde Regan

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all shows

  • The Last American Hero(1973)

    as Rick Penny

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Maidstone (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Actor

  • Unholy Matrimony (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    as Partygoer

  • Hallmark Hall of Fame (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    Show 1 episode · as Fred Turner · as Spad

Career shape

Star power in the 98th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 101 titles from 1951 to 2012; peak year 1993.

Biggest box office

My Cousin Vinny (1992)

$64M worldwide

Highest rated

My Cousin Vinny (1992)

Midcredits 96th

Most popular right now

Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (1993)

Film career

19512012

Peak 1993 · steadily prominent in film for years. Top draw in 4 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting101 of 101: 101 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score65th

By decade

1950s1 · acting1960s1 · acting1970s24 · acting1980s42 · acting1990s26 · acting2000s6 · acting2010s1 · acting

Billing

usually 9th · top billed in 0% of 27 roles
73788393

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Lane Smith's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 59th percentile, the median of all 49; across their 29 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 54th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

54thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 29

Approval · how many liked their films

55thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 29

Reach · how many have seen their films

58thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 29

Midcredits score across 64 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up18
  • 50th to 74th23
  • 25th to 49th15
  • Below 25th8

Shape of the crowd

31 of their 64 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved8
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser31
  • Broadly Agreed7
  • Mixed17

Most divisive · actor

The Displaced Person (1977)

81st percentile spread · 28% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Network (1976)

Midcredits 98th · 87% liked

Reviewers score the acting 71/100 in their films, across 28 reviewed titles; fans 80, detractors 46. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Lane Smith's work okay for kids?

Across up to 10 MovieCove titles with content scores, profanity runs heavier than most films and frightening / intense lighter.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore8 titles24–62 · median 40 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity10 titles15–42 · median 29 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity10 titles26–92 · median 51 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs6 titles28–50 · median 39 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense5 titles8–45 · median 20 · mildlighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Lane Smith work with?

People who share at least 2 of Lane Smith's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Jonathan Lynn shares the most, 2.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and cinematographers

Producers

Mixed roles