Ian Smith (actor)

Smith was born to Peggy Kline in 1938 and first appeared in theatre as a child in 1943 and 1944, resuming his career in the late 1950s.^[4][5]

Smith having been a theatre performer of some years started appearing in television roles in the late 1960s with guesting roles in drama series for Crawford Productions, in police dramas Homicide, Division 4, Matlock Police and Bluey.

After having appeared in numerous guest parts in Division 4. he got his major break gaining a regular role in television serial Bellbird; after this he made a guest appearance in serial The Box in 1975.

Smith subsequently worked at Reg Grundy Productions with guest parts in there TV drama Glenview High and Chopper Squad

Smith worked concurrently behind the scenes with Grundy's as associate producer and script editor of cult serial Prisoner, but also had a semi-regular role in the series as head of the Corrections Department, Ted Douglas.

Smith was not scheduled to play Ted Douglas, but the actor who had been contracted for the role did not show up on the day of filming and, given his acting experience, the crew said Smith should change hats and get in front of the camera.^[6]

Smith became famous through his portrayal of bumbling Harold Bishop in the soap opera Neighbours from 1987 to 1991, returning in 1996. He switched to recurring status from 2008 to 2009, becoming one of the program's longest-serving characters after 2,132 episodes. For his portrayal of Harold, Smith received a nomination for a Gold Logie Award in 2009. In 1989, while he and co-star Anne Charleston were appearing in pantomime in the UK, they recorded the Christmas song "Old Fashioned Christmas".^[7]

In December 2010, Ryan Moloney revealed to TV Week that Smith would be returning to Neighbours in 2011. Smith appeared for six weeks from May 2011.^[8] Smith returned to Neighbours in 2015, with former co-star Anne Charleston for the 30th anniversary. He also appeared in a documentary celebrating the anniversary titled Neighbours 30th: The Stars Reunite, which aired in Australia and the UK in March 2015.^[9][10]

In April 2018, Smith admitted that he should have left Neighbours sooner and admits he felt typecast. Smith admitted "he wasn't aware he was becoming 'Harold from Neighbours while he was on the show" and joked that when he auditioned for other roles he would be told "Oh you were in Neighbours, you were Harold, you couldn't possibly be a murdering paedophile".^[11]

In February 2022, Laura-Jayne Tyler of Inside Soap reported that Smith would be reprising his role to play a part in the show's finale.^[12] Smith has filmed a part in an upcoming film titled Residence, playing Mike the Thaumaturge.^[13]

On 2 December 2024, it was announced that Smith would depart Neighbours after he was diagnosed with terminal cancer, with executive producer Jason Herbison saying that they would write the character out. Charleston returned for Smith's last Neighbours appearance but as a new character.^[3]

Smith featured in Series 11 of I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! to set the camp-mates challenges. He did not join the camp-mates.^[14]

Smith has also worked in theatre since the late 1950s, including for companies J. C. Williamson's, Tivoli and Melbourne Theatre Company, in roles in productions Merry Widow, Camelot, My Fair Lady, Fiddler on the Roof, Antony and Cleopatra.

Although Smith was brought up as a Roman Catholic,^[15] he said in a 2008 interview that he was an atheist.^[16]

On 2 December 2024, Smith announced that he had been diagnosed with terminal lung cancer, resulting in his final departure from Neighbours in early 2025.^[3] On 30 December 2024, he said that his tumour had shrunk in size and was still being treated.^[17]