Jay R. Smith
Encyclopedia
Jay Roger Smith was an American
former child actor
who replaced Mickey Daniels
as the "freckle-faced kid" of the Our Gang
series in 1925. He continued appearing in the shorts until 1929.
. He was considered the skinny kid in the series and somewhat of a nerd. He continued until the silent era ended. At that point he began preparation to leave the series, as he felt he would be unable to make the transition to sound. After persuasion from the studio, Jay appeared in the sixth Our Gang talkie episode Moan and Groan, Inc.
; he felt that his performance was unsuccessful, and left immediately after. It was his last movie role.
, Smith left acting as a teenager, eventually going into the retail paint business and moving to Kailua, Hawaii. Those who knew him reported that he was a friendly and affable man off-screen.
and living there until he was reported missing in early October 2002. After extensive searching, his body was found stabbed to death on October 5, 2002 in the desert near Las Vegas. Charles "Wayne" Crombie, a homeless man who Smith had reportedly befriended, was later convicted of the murder and sentenced to two consecutive life terms in prison.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
former child actor
Child actor
The term child actor or child actress is generally applied to a child acting in motion pictures or television, but also to an adult who began his or her acting career as a child; to avoid confusion, the latter is also called a former child actor...
who replaced Mickey Daniels
Mickey Daniels
Richard "Mickey" Daniels, Jr. was a juvenile actor. Signed by Hal Roach in 1923, he was, along with fat Joe Cobb, scruffy Jackie Condon, pretty Mary Kornman, and smiling "Sunshine Sammy" , a regular in the popular Our Gang comedies.-Biography:The red-haired, gap-toothed, freckled whipper snapper...
as the "freckle-faced kid" of the Our Gang
Our Gang
Our Gang, also known as The Little Rascals or Hal Roach's Rascals, was a series of American comedy short films about a group of poor neighborhood children and the adventures they had together. Created by comedy producer Hal Roach, the series is noted for showing children behaving in a relatively...
series in 1925. He continued appearing in the shorts until 1929.
Our Gang
His first film was Boys Will Be JoysBoys Will Be Joys
Boys Will Be Joys is a 1925 short silent comedy film directed by Robert F. McGowan. It was the 41st Our Gang short subject released.-Cast:* Mickey Daniels - Mickey* Allen Hoskins - Farina* Joe Cobb - Joe* Jackie Condon - Jackie...
. He was considered the skinny kid in the series and somewhat of a nerd. He continued until the silent era ended. At that point he began preparation to leave the series, as he felt he would be unable to make the transition to sound. After persuasion from the studio, Jay appeared in the sixth Our Gang talkie episode Moan and Groan, Inc.
Moan and Groan, Inc.
Moan and Groan, Inc. is a 1929 Our Gang short comedy film directed by Robert F. McGowan. Produced by Hal Roach and released to theaters by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, it was the 94th Our Gang short to be released.-Synopsis:...
; he felt that his performance was unsuccessful, and left immediately after. It was his last movie role.
Later years
A native of Los Angeles, CaliforniaLos Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
, Smith left acting as a teenager, eventually going into the retail paint business and moving to Kailua, Hawaii. Those who knew him reported that he was a friendly and affable man off-screen.
Murder
Smith would manage for some time to live a long and healthy life. He retired in the early 1990s, moving to Las Vegas, NevadaLas Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
and living there until he was reported missing in early October 2002. After extensive searching, his body was found stabbed to death on October 5, 2002 in the desert near Las Vegas. Charles "Wayne" Crombie, a homeless man who Smith had reportedly befriended, was later convicted of the murder and sentenced to two consecutive life terms in prison.