Born in Tulsa, OK. He started editing "National Geographic Specials" and "Time-Life Specials: The March of Time" for television in 1964 and 1965, respectively. He then cut the short film SAN SEBASTIAN 1746 IN 1968 (1968) about the making of the film LA BATAILLE DE SAN SEBASTIAN (1968) in Northern Mexico. His first feature was Robert Downey, Sr.'s ground-breaking PUTNEY SWOPE (1969, ACE). Smith's other (non-nominated) film editing credits include RHINOCEROS (1973), SORCERER (1977), THE BRINK'S JOB (1978), CRUISING (1980), ZOOT SUIT (1981, supervising editor), PERSONAL BEST and CAT PEOPLE (both 1982), THE KARATE KID (1984, also assoc. producer), TO LIVE AND DIE IN L.A. (1985, also 2nd unit director & co-producer), POLTERGEIST II: THE OTHER SIDE (1986, ACE), SOME KIND OF WONDERFUL (1987), GROSS ANATOMY (1989), DARKMAN (1990), THE REPLACEMENTS (2000, ACE), THE YOUNG BLACK STALLION (2003), LADDER 49 (2004) and THE GAME OF THEIR LIVES (2005). He was a creative consultant: second unit on WATERWORLD (1995), and he directed the 1988 feature JOHNNY BE GOOD.  Nominated for Film Editing 1973: THE EXORCIST (w. Jordan Leondopoulos, Evan Lottman & Norman Gay)  Nominated for Film Editing 1983: FLASHDANCE (w. Walt Mulconery) 2 nominations