**Art Smith** (1899-1973) was an American character actor, celebrated for his roles as ambiguous characters, often dishonest businessmen, corrupt bureaucrats, or shady figures. His on-screen presence was subtly menacing or unctuously accommodating, embodying the common man who concealed ulterior motives.

Primarily active in the 1940s and early 1950s, he made his mark in numerous film noirs and dramas. Among his most memorable performances were the devious lawyer in the summary justice of *The Ox-Bow Incident* (1943), the shrewd manager in *Body and Soul* (1947), and the tormented accountant in *Force of Evil* (1948). He also had a notable role in Stanley Kubrick's first film, *Killer's Kiss* (1955). His career was drastically interrupted by McCarthyism and his subsequent blacklisting in Hollywood.