The actor/dancer/singer Tucker Smith was #BornOnThisDay, April 24, 1936. Known for his role as "Ice" in the film West Side Story (1961). In the 1970s, Smith owned & ran a bar named "Tucker's Turf" in North Hollywood. Passed from #cancer in 1988‚ (age 52). #RIP #GoneTooSoon #BOTD

Tucker Smith


As Ice in West Side Story

Born: Thomas William Smith; April 24, 1936; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US
Died; December 22, 1988 (aged 52); Los Angeles, California
Occupations: Actor, dancer, singer
Years active: 1955–1986
Height: 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)

Tucker Smith (born Thomas William Smith, April 24, 1936 – December 22, 1988) was an American actor, dancer, and singer who performed the role of Ice in the movie musical West Side Story.

Life and career

Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Tucker Smith was an American Theatre Wing scholarship winner, and he first moved to New York City from his native Philadelphia in September 1955. Shortly afterward, he joined the national tour of Damn Yankees. In 1958, he joined the cast of the original Broadway production of West Side Story, as a replacement for the role of Big Deal, then going on to play the roles of Diesel and Snowboy. He understudied for the character of Riff and had played that role many times. The musical went on a national tour in the United States from June 14, 1959‚ to April 23, 1960‚ and Smith went along with it.

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Despite his notable screen debut on West Side Story, Smith appeared in films and television usually in small roles and walk-on parts; sometimes as a dancer (To Be or Not to Be, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, Hello, Dolly!, Hearts of the West, At Long Last Love), and often uncredited (Police Squad!). Some of his more notable television appearances include the series Surfside Six and 87th Precinct.

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David Ehrenstein, author of the book Open Secret: Gay Hollywood, 1928–2000, said that Smith was openly gay, and as a result, did not pursue a Hollywood career.

In the 1970s, Smith owned and operated a bar named Tucker's Turf in North Hollywood.

Tucker Smith died of cancer on December 22, 1988, at the age of 52 at the UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles, California. His cancer has been attributed by various sources as to be throat, neck and/or jaw cancer, and was diagnosed in late 1986. Smith was survived by three sisters. Some newspapers erroneously printed that he was survived by three daughters. After his death, Smith was laid to rest in his hometown of Philadelphia.

In her autobiography It's Always Something, written shortly before her own death from cancer, comedian Gilda Radner expressed her excitement at having Tucker Smith in her cancer support group because she was a fan of his from his performance in West Side Story.

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