The Toy
1982
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Valerian Smith was born on 15 May 1926. He was an actor, known for Hard Times (1975), The Toy (1982) and Louisiane (1984). He was married to Jean Butler. He died on 18 November 1992 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA.
- Actor
- May 15, 1926
- Valerian Smith
- November 18, 1992
Feb 5, 2023 · Valerian Butler Smith, known fondly as "Peppah," departed this life on Friday, January 27, 2023, at University Medical Center New Orleans after a brief respiratory illness, ending a valiant...
Valerian Smith was born on 15 May 1926. He was an actor, known for Hard Times (1975), The Toy (1982) and Mistress of Paradise (1981). He was married to Jean Butler. He died on 18 November 1992 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA.
- May 15, 1926
- November 18, 1992
Nov 19, 1992 · Dr. Valerian E. Smith was born in Charleston, West Virginia. He attended public schools in his home town and earned both his undergraduate and professional degrees at Howard University, Washington, D.C. He located and opened his dental practice in South Baton Rouge more than four decades ago.
- Roots in Black Southern Aristocracy
- A Career Reflective of An Attitude
- Devotion to Craft
Whitfield was born Lynn Butler-Smith on 6 May 1953 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to parents with deep roots in black Southern aristocracy. Her father, Dr. Valerian Smith ran a successful dental practice for decades in her native Baton Rouge. Dr. Smith was a graduate of Howard University and in addition to his dental practice was thoroughly engaged in ...
Whitfield’s upbringing would provide her with all the tools she needed to succeed in life, especially as an African-American woman and actress. She credits her parents for raising all four children, Whitfield being the oldest, with a strong will and sense of commitment. Whitfield’s father is responsible for launching her career in the arts. Dr. Smi...
The biggest challenge of Whitfield’s career came after her role as Josephine Baker. She has admitted in recent years that it was tough to step out of the shadow of her role as Baker and find work that didn’t force her into a typecast. Indeed, her career suffered a bit of a slump in the late 1990s despite roles in movies such as “A Thin Line Between...
This segment from the December 25, 1992, episode of the series “Louisiana: The State We’re In” features Arcie Chapa’s remembrance of Baton Rouge composer Valerian Smith, the founder of the Baton Rouge Chorus and Community Playhouse.
