Originally based in Nova Scotia, Wendell Smith co-founded the Mulgrave Road Theatre Co-op in
Guysborough in 1977. Smith has worked more frequently as a stage actor, although he has also appeared in several Canadian feature films, especially
television films. In 1978, Smith played the role of Antonio in the
Citadel Theatre's production of Shakespeare's
Twelfth Night. In 1980, Smith played both the part of Dr. Patrick and the part of the defense lawyer in
Sharon Pollack's play
Blood Relations. In 1983, Smith began workshopping plays with
Theatre Calgary in
Calgary, Alberta. In 1985, Smith played the lead role in Lyle Victor Albert's play
White on White. In the late 1980s and throughout the 1990s, Wendell Smith became heavily involved in the theater scene in
Edmonton,
Alberta; by 1988 the
Edmonton Journal had described Smith as one of the "mainstays of the local acting scene." Smith was frequently involved, both as an actor and director, with
Edmonton International Fringe Festival, North America's oldest and largest
fringe theatre festival; for example, in 1987 Smith directed the play
Ba Ba Ha at the Edmonton Fringe and in 1997 he acted in Gordon Pengilly's play
Seeds at the Edmonton Fringe. Wendell Smith also appeared in the Citadel Theatre's annual production of
A Christmas Carol on multiple occasions; in 1987 he played
Bob Cratchit and in 1993 he played
Mr. Fezziwig. In 1999, Wendell Smith played False Arkansas Tom in the TV movie
You Know My Name. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Smith was noted for the
gravelly voice he employed as an actor. == Recognition ==