Standing head and shoulders over the 'he-men' of the silent era, the diminutive 5' 5" Smith was never a pleasant person to encounter for any B-movie hero. Sneering and villainous, Smith played in a number of Westerns and serials from 1921 through 1937, most notably the serial "The Terror Trail" which played for 18-chapters. He later played the role of sheriff or deputy in a handful of films.