Lane Smith Passes Away

[Mark_Giardina]

Fans of "Lois and Clark" will remember Lane Smith as Perry White. But before landing that role Smith was best known for his portrayal as Richard Nixon. Smith also appeared in a number of TV shows and movies.
Lane Smith was 69 years old.

Here is a bit of ironic history. Two different actors who played Perry White were the first Superman cast members to die. John Hamilton in 1958 and now Lane Smith.


<P ID="signature">______________
"I won't be wronged, I won't be insulted and I won't be laid a hand on.
I don't do these things to other people and I expect the same from them".</P>

 

[bpatrick]

> Fans of "Lois and Clark" will remember Lane Smith as Perry
> White. But before landing that role Smith was best known for
> his portrayal as Richard Nixon. Smith also appeared in a
> number of TV shows and movies.
> Lane Smith was 69 years old.
>
> Here is a bit of ironic history. Two different actors who
> played Perry White were the first Superman cast members to
> die. John Hamilton in 1958 and now Lane Smith.
>
He did the most perfect Nixon portrayal I ever saw; he
even looked like him to some extent.

It seems like every day now a truly talented performer
leaves us. What's going to be left?

 

[TampaBil81]

Wow, he died of Lou Gehrig's Disease, seems like yesterday that he was acting but his last acting credit on imdb.com was 2003. I'll never forget when he was in Mighty Ducks, My Cousin Vinny, and Son in Law.

 

[fredflintstone]

Jackson Beck, who played Perry White in the Superman radio series and in the Max Fleisher animated shorts, died in 2004. Bub Collyer, who played Superman, died in 1969.

Jackie Cooper, who played Perry White in the movies, is still very much with us. Chirstoper Reeve, who played Superman, died in 2004.

Pierre Watkin, who played Perry White in the Superman movie serials, died in 1960. He was the first of the principal players in the serials cast to pass.

However, since Perry White is older than the other major Superman characters, the role is played by an older actor. It's not ironic that a cast member a generation or more older than the other players would pass first.

There has also been mention of a "curse" on actors who play Superman. George Reeves died in 1959 at age 45; his death was ruled a suicide. Christopher Reeve died of a heart attack at age 52 after a riding accident left him paralyzed. Bud Collyer died in 1969 at age 61 of a circulatory ailment. Kirk Allyn died in 1999 at age 89 of natural causes. Dean Cain is 39.

>
> Here is a bit of ironic history. Two different actors who
> played Perry White were the first Superman cast members to
> die. John Hamilton in 1958 and now Lane Smith.
>