**Kent Smith (1907-1985)** was an American actor, known for his portrayals of respectable and often tormented men.

His film career is inextricably linked to the role of Oliver Reed in *Il bacio della pantera* (Cat People, 1942), an RKO horror classic, where he played the protagonist's pragmatic and skeptical husband. He reprised the role in the sequel *Il giardino delle streghe* (The Curse of the Cat People, 1944).

Other notable appearances include Jean Renoir's *Questa terra è mia* (This Land Is Mine, 1943), *La scala a chiocciola* (The Spiral Staircase, 1946), and *L'amaro sapore del potere* (The Fountainhead, 1949). Smith specialized in roles as professionals such as lawyers, doctors, and military officers, bringing to the screen an air of dignity and intelligence, but also a subtle vulnerability. After the 1950s, his presence shifted predominantly to television.