Donnie "Beezer" Smith obit

Silent film Actor Donnie "Beezer" Smith Has Died

 

He was not on the list.

Donald Ray Smith (September 17, 1924 – July 8, 2022), better known as Donnie "Beezer" Smith, was an American child actor. He appeared in the Our Gang film short series during the silent Pathé era, in between 1928 and 1929.

 Born in Kern County, California on September 17, 1924, he was the brother of future freckle-faced gang member Jay R. Smith.

 Joining in 1928, Smith appeared in four Our Gang shorts, Fair and Muddy (1928), Little Mother (1929), Boxing Gloves (1929), and Cat, Dog & Co. (1929). He played supporting to small parts, whom he played a character billed either as Donnie or Beezer.

 Smith died in Dade City, Florida on July 8, 2022, at the age of 97. He had seven children. At the time of his death, Smith was one of three known surviving actors from the silent film era, along with fellow former Our Gang actor Mildred Kornman (1925–2022) and Garry Watson (born 1928).

 

Filmography

 

Year     Title            Role            Notes

1928    Fair and Muddy            Unnamed        Short film

1929    Little Mother Beezer            Short film

1929    Boxing Gloves  Donnie            Short film

1929    Cat, Dog & Co.            Donnie            Short film