Peter Bruce Smith (7 August 1958 – 29 January 2022) was a New Zealand actor. He appeared in iconic New Zealand films such as The Quiet Earth (1985), The Piano (1993) and Once Were Warriors (1994), as well as working on well known television shows, including appearances on The Billy T James Show (1990) and Shortland Street in 1999.
Career At the outset of his career, Smith joined a drama course run by Māori film maker Don Selwyn, and soon thereafter performed in several of Selwyn's theatre productions, among them The Gospel according to Taane (1985), The Maori Merchant of Venice (2002) and Te Whai Ao.
Smith made his screen debut with a GOFTA-winning role as Api, one of the last people on Earth, in the apocalyptic science fiction film The Quiet Earth (1985).
His film credits include many notable New Zealand films, among them The Piano (1993), Once Were Warriors (1995), and the latter's sequel What Becomes of the Broken Hearted (1999). He also featured as an orc in Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003). Additionally, he appeared in the Australian film The Boys in 1998.
Smith also appeared in several television programmes, including E Tipu E Rea (1989), Marlin Bay (1992–94), Plainclothes (1995), Shortland Street (1999), Greenstone (1999), and Mataku (2001–04). He also starred in the drama series The Market (2005), for which he received an award for Best Performance by a supporting Actor at the Air New Zealand Screen Awards.
He performed in comedy skits and sketches in The Billy T James Show (1990) and current events satires Issues and More Issues (1991). Smith has also featured in and narrated several commercials and documentaries.
Smith created, presented, narrated, and directed several episodes of various documentary series, among them Nga Waiata o Te Hiku o Te Ika: Songs of the North (2002) and Maramataka: Once Were Gardeners (2007). The latter, a 13-part series screened on Māori Television, was a look at modern Māori relationships with the land.
Personal life and death Smith died from kidney disease on 29 January 2022, at the age of 63.
Awards Smith won best supporting actor in New Zealand drama feature film Flight of the Albatross (1995).
In 2006, he won Best Performance by a Supporting Actor at the Air New Zealand Screen Awards for his role in The Market.
Selected filmography Film +FilmYearRoleThe Quiet Earth1985ApiPandemonium1987Peter KongCandy Regentag1989ClaytonAngel in Green1987RamonCrush1992HorseThe Piano1993HoneRapa-Nui1994PriestOnce Were Warriors1994DooleysFlight of the Albatross1995HukaThe Boys1997AbboWhat Becomes of the Broken Hearted1999ApemanThe Legend of Johnny Lingo2002Scary ChiefThe Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King2003Hero OrcSpooked2004Truck DriverHugh and Heke2006HekeThe Tattooist2006Taxi DriverThe One Armed Bandit2012Bill the barman
Television +TitleYearRoleHeroes1986ChurchillE tipu e rea: Eel1989TomRaider of the South Seas1991GeorgeThe Billy T James Show1990GuestOpo1991DanGold1991PitaIssues1991SkitsMore Issues1991–1992Skit GuestMarlin Bay1992–1994Matiu BurrowsThe New Adventures of the Black Stallion 1992Park RangerMaori Myths and Legends1993PresenterHigh Tide1995MexicanPlainclothes1995Oscar KingiLetter to Blanchy1995Guest LeadMurder, They Said1996David TamihereHei Konei Ra1998LeadGreenstone1999WahanaShortland Street1999Te HamuaMataku2001PahiSpin Doctors2001DunnMataku2004NgamanuThe Market2005Chris Johnstone
Theatre +PlayYearRoleThe Gospel According to Taane1985TuTreat it Right -PitaMurder in the Cathedral -3rd TempterThe Maori Merchant of Venice2002ShylockTe Whai Ao -
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