Robin B. Smith

Robin B. Smith (born February 28, 1955) is a South African Actor whose professional career began in Theater whilst still in High School in 1970. He attended the University of Cape Town Drama School after school and worked at The Space Theater in Cape Town doing Socio Political shows during the dark days of Apartheid. He moved to Johannesburg in 1979 to continue his career in Theater, and to get into television, which was based there. He broke into movies during the heyday of the B grade Action Movies in the '80s, and was for a short time in 1997, a wrestling manager for the then WWF now WWE. He was known in the World Wrestling Federation as The Commandant, who managed the South African Truth Commission for 9 months in 1997.

"The Commandant" redirects here. For the 1963 Italian film, see The Commandant (film).
Robin B. Smith
Born (1955-02-28) February 28, 1955
Cape Town, South Africa
ResidenceKommetjie, South Africa
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)The Commandant
Debut1997
Retired1997

Born in South Africa as Robin Beauclerk Smith, he is an Award Winning Film and Stage Actor, as well as a multi-Award Winning Voice Artist. He appeared in many South African and International movies throughout the 1980's '90s and is still working as an Actor, Voice Artist and Director, based in Cape Town South Africa.

Career

Professional wrestling

Smith became a professional wrestling manager in early 1997. Bret Hart visited South Africa and met Smith. Hart recommended him for a role as a Manager in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), however he never fought as a wrestler. Smith made his wrestling debut in Tennessee in the United States Wrestling Association (USWA). He Managed under the name Commandant, and managed a stable of paramilitary wrestlers including "Interrogator", "Tank" and "Recon" as the "Truth Commission"; a take on the similarly named Truth and Reconciliation Commission in South Africa.

This team won the USWA Tag Team Championship three times. In June 1997, the Truth Commission made their WWF debut. Smith made promos on WWF about the Truth Commission and attacking the United States for not having discipline. He was hated by the fans. "Sniper" replaced "Tank" on the commission. He was interviewed by Sunny, but scared her by yelling at her. During the summer of 1997 the group lost only to The Legion of Doom. In September, Smith was replaced by The Jackyl; the WWF wanted someone who could participate physically in the matches. Smith returned to South Africa, ending his wrestling career.

Acting

Robin Smith first appeared professionally in 1970 in the Theater production "Hadrian V11" whilst still at high school in Cape Town South Africa. Two more professional appearances onstage before leaving school led to him attending the University of Cape Town Drama school after completing his schooling at St. Georges Grammar School. Two and a half years into the 3 year course, he left Drama School to work at the Space Theater in Cape Town, founded by the author Athol Fugard, actress Yvonne Bryceland, and her photographer husband Brian Asbury to raise public awareness during the dark years of Apartheid. He moved to Johannesburg in 1979 to continue his career in the theater and to try to break into TV, which only first came to South Africa in 1976. He has appeared in more than 100 feature films and TV shows to date, is an accomplished Stage performer and a prolific voice artist. He returned to Cape Town, his home town, in 2006, and continues to work in film, TV and theater. For a full Filmography, see his listing on the IMdb page.

Filmography
  • Deadly Passion - 1984
  • Red Scorpion - 1987
  • Scavengers - 1987
  • Accidents - 1988
  • Brutal Glory - 1988
  • Death Force - 1988
  • Merchants of War - 1988
  • Return to Justice - 1988
  • American Ninja 4: The Annihilation - 1989
  • Deadly Hunter (aka: Pursuit) - 1989
  • Reason to Die - 1989
  • The Revenger - 1989
  • Guns of Honour - 1993
  • Project Shadowchaser 2 - 1993
  • Cyborg Cop II - 1993
  • Never say Die - 1994
  • Lunar Cop - 1994
  • the Redemption - 1994
  • Dangerous Ground - 1996
  • Glory, Glory (aka: Hooded Angels) - 2000
  • The Meeksville Ghost - 2000
  • Berserker - Hell's Warrior - 2004
  • Deadly Harvest (German film for TV) 2008
  • My Country my Hat - 1981
  • Torn Allegiance - 1984
  • The Hidden Farms (short) - 1985
  • 'n Wêreld Sonder Grense - 1986
  • Any Mans Death - 1988
  • Hold my Hand I'm Dying - 1988
  • Paradise Road - 1988
  • A Private life - 1988
  • The Schoolmaster - 1988
  • The Fourth Reich - 1989
  • Jobman - 1989
  • Bopha - 1993
  • "Dangerous Ground" -1996
  • Black Velvet Band - 1996
  • An Old Womans Tale (short) - 1998
  • Running Free - 1998
  • Africa - 1999
  • Proteus - 2003
  • Red Dust - 2003
  • Stander - 2003
  • Man to Man - 2004
  • Coup - 2006
  • Forestry in Africa - 2006
  • Running Riot - 2006
  • The Fall - 2006
  • The Seven of Daran - 2007
  • The Scorpion King 2 - 2008
  • Invictus - 2009
  • Leonardo - 2012

References
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