February 25, 2013

Shinning the spotlight on locally born classic Hollywood actress Alexis Smith

Everyone, it is said, was born somewhere, and indeed that's true, but not many big name mid-twentieth century movie stars called Penticton home. While today this sun-kissed, vineyard filled corner of British Columbia boasts a population of over 30,000, back in 1920s that number was more like a few thousand at most (factoring in the surrounding areas). Like much of the province outside Vancouver and Victoria, it was still very much a burgeoning spot that would take a few more decades to grow to a population large enough for it to be called a fully fledged city.

It was during the roaring twenties however, on June 8, 1921 to be exact, that a local couple welcomed a new daughter into the world, whom they named Gladys Smith. Taking to the stage early in life, Gladys was an avid ballerina as a teenager and went on to study drama at Los Angeles City College in California. It was while in LA that Gladys opted to take on a screen name, retaining her surname and swapping in Alexis for the first name she was bestowed at birth (in, part, I'd venture to guess, because there was likely no shortage of other women named Gladys Smith at the time).


Canadian actress Alexis Smith, 1940s Hollywood stars, image 2


While preforming in a play at her college, Alexis was spotted by a Warner Brothers talent scout who just happened to be in the audience, and shortly after, in 1941, signed a contract with the studio. Though Alexis' movie career did not hit the ground running per se, it didn't take too long before she was soon being cast alongside leading names of the day such as Errol Flynn, Cary Grant, and Bing Crosby, in movies such as Gentleman Jim, Night and Day, and Here Comes the Groom.


Cary Grant and Alexis Smith in the classic Hollywood movie Night and Day


Tall, beautiful, and confident, Alexis had no problem straddling both the world of Hollywood and of the stage, the latter of which was her first love when it came to acting. During the 1950s and beyond Alexis stared in several plays, including 1955's Plain and Fancy based on the book by Joseph Stein and Will Glickman. Sixteen years later, in 1971, she appeared on the cover of Time magazine for her critically acclaimed role in the Broadway production of Stephen Sondheim's Follies - a role that would go onto land her a Best Actress Tony Award.


Canadian actress Alexis Smith, 1940s Hollywood stars, image 1


Though Alexis Smith never became a Hollywood star of the magnitude of some of her female peers of the day, she was not a flash in the pan or a one hit wonder either. Her acting career (which also included a handful of TV roles) span fifty years, with her last role being as an episode of Cheers in 1990, just three years before she passed away from cancer at the age of seventy-two.


Penticton born Canadian actress Alexis Smith


Married to the same man, actor Craig Stevens, for forty-nine years, Alexis spent most of her adult life living and working in America, yet had the distinction amongst her fellow Hollywood colleagues as being the only well-known actress of her day to have been born in Penticton, British Columbia. I don't know if she was able, or had any desire to, make it back up to these parts throughout her life, but I like to think that surely, gorgeous as California is, there must have been times when she yearned - if only a little - for her Canadian hometown.


Canadian actress Alexis Smith, 1952


{To learn more about a specific image in this post please click on it to be taken to its original source.} 


Though I’m not sure if any of her relatives still live around these parts, should I happen to run into anyone in town that shares her (albeit rather common) surname, I'll be certain to ask them if they might per chance be related to the city's only female Tony winner, and an all around great mid-century actress, Alexis Smith.

33 comments:

  1. Thanks for bringing my attention to this lovely lady. I will now have to seek out some of her movies. =)

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  2. I am just a tad bit jealous that she was married to Peter Gunn. ;)

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  3. Alexis was one of the most beautiful actresses of her day. Such a lovely face! And she had the perfect figure for carrying off beautiful 40s fashion. I've always had a soft spot for her although I know that she was considered to not be too talented!

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  4. Married to Craig Stevens, really? How neat! My grandmother is from Kansas City, and her parents were friends with HIS parents there. What a funny connection!

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  5. smith is quite a common last name...not an easy task i guess
    i really enjoyed this post

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  6. I adore her somuch..
    Nice biography, I will remember this vintage lady, Alexis Smith.
    I always fall in love with vintage hair style like her. Wanna try oneday, maybe when I am in my married :)

    Xoxo,Ila

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  7. Thanks for bringing this lovely actress to light. I didn't know about her. It's so nice that she came from your hometown! Very beautiful lady!

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  8. She was very pretty, I love reading about her story!

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  9. Wow, what a gorgeous lady! I love that she was married to the same man for 49 years, seems so rare for actors and actresses to stay married for long. Even in that time period! Thank you for sharing this, it's very lovely to honor the history of those famous individuals who made it from one's hometown!

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  10. Wow, this is really great!! I doubt I had heard of this lovely lady before now, but next time I hear of one of her movies on TCM, I'll be sure to record it.

    She is such a classy dame! :) I can't say we have any spectacular celebrities that have called Terre Haute, Indiana there home. :-/

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  11. What a great recap of her story. Thanks for lending her to Hollywood!

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  12. Ahhhh I loved ready about her-thank you! And what a lucky girl to be standing side by side with Cary Grant-swoon!!! xox

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  13. Wow, what a beauty! It's hard to outshine someone like Cary Grant but I bet she could do it with ease.

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  14. She was born the same year my grandmother was.
    I love to imagine what life must have been like then :)

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  15. This is a great post, really interesting! She's gorgeous, and oh, her dress!!! Beautiful. And getting to work with all those famous leading men?! Worth it all, right there.
    Now she's great and all, but my town boasts the privilege of producing Bob Barker of "The Price Is Right" (though technically he just graduated from high school and college here) and Brad Pitt. Please try not to be jealous. ;)
    Though I think Alexis Smith is a bit more classic....

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    1. Those are two seriously big names to hail from your hometown. That's really, really cool! Does anyone in your family know Brad or his family?

      ♥ Jessica

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  16. She was a gorgeous lady. I love how her smile looks true and genuine.

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  17. Wow! How nifty! I love such endearing Hollywood stories, no matter how small. It's so wonderful to hear she had a lovely marriage and long career!

    xoxo
    -Janey

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  18. Our big celebrity "claim to fame" is that Leslie Easterbrook (of the Police Academy movie franchise fame) was born and raised here. :)

    How cool would it be to run into family of Alexis?

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  19. Thought I'd pop by to say hi and got some great old hollywood info to boot. I'd not heard of Alexis Smith, but I'd like to check out some of her movies now. :)

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  20. Very cool post, loved this! This is now making me think about all the cool actors and actresses that might of come from Toronto as well. Please let us know if you do run into her family, would be very cool if you could find out more information (or see pics) straight from a family member.

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    1. Thank you very much, my dear. That would be seriously cool for sure! I will be sure to report any local info I might happen to come across on Alexis here. Perhaps next time I'm at our (super, super tiny) local museum, I'll ask if the staff there have any info on her.

      ♥ Jessica

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  21. Hello Jessica,

    I had scrolled through the photos before reading this post, and I wondered where I had seen her before. Then, reading the post, I realized it was from the movie Here Comes the Groom. That was a wonderfully lighthearted and fun movie. I had seen it about a year or two ago and watched it again just after New Year’s. Have you seen it?

    I was observing the picture of her in the green plaid dress…such beautifully matched plaid. It is a shame how often plaid fabrics are no longer so carefully sewn together.

    I would think that beautiful Canada would always hold a special place in the heart of Alexis Smith.

    :) Hope

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    1. Hello dear Hope, thank you very much for your lovely comment. You know, I don't believe I've had a chance to see Here Comes the Groom yet. I'd love to though for sure (especially because Bing Crosby is in it as well, and he's a beloved favourite of mine). I learned a lot about Alexis while writing this post and now hope to see all her films over time (if only TCM would devote a day to her!).

      ♥ Jessica

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  22. Wow. She was beautiful. I'm quite a classic movie buff, so i'd seen quite a bit of her and knew a little about her, but never knew where she was originally from! I love the photo of her with the wonderful, (and very dashing) Cary Grant. And she really rocks that plaid! Great post, Jessica. I love this. :)

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  23. I love vintage beauty... they are sooo natural.. at least to me they are...
    http://sepatuholig.blogspot.com/

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  24. She was quite lovely! Thank you for introducing us to her. Having starred in a movie with a huge talent like Cary Grant (among others) makes me wonder why she didn't achieve the heights of stardom. I wonder if she intentionally chose to live a quieter life in order to spend time outside of the spotlight.

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  25. oh, she is super beautiful and what a story! I'd love to have met her...

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  26. I love the movie Here Comes the Groom and knowing a little bit about this lovely actress will make it even more enjoyable next time I see it. :)

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  27. She was very beautiful!! That is so cool that she was from there!!! :D (P.S. thank you so much for your sweet and kind comment on my blog, your comments always lift my spirits!! <3)

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  28. Wow. I learned a lot about a special.person to me. That she too changed her name... I changed mine to Alexis (from Dawn) at age 20. This was two years after my dad passed on...afterwards I learned SHE had been his fav.

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    1. Hi Alexis, thank you for fascinating comment. Isn't it amazing how small and interconnected the world is sometimes!

      Wishing you a stellar summer!
      ♥ Jessica

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