Born in Nashville, Tennessee, Jerry Smith started in animation as a cameraman in 1956 at Cartoon Camera. In 1957 he began as a cameraman on Hanna-Barbera's first series, Rough and Ready. In 1972 he began to do what would make him famous, creating television animation studios. He began by setting up Hanna-Barbera, Australia and went on in 1978 to set up and supervise Cuckoo's Nest (James Wang Films) in Taipei. He then set up and operated Hahn Ho for Steve Hahn in Korea. Take One Animation Photography in Burbank was the next studio which he created and operated. In 1981 he created another full production facility in Korea that operated until 1985 producing shows for Hanna-Barbera, Ruby-Spears, Sepp and others. In 1986 Jerry was sent by Mr. Hanna to Manila, Philippines in order to establish Hanna-Barbera's own production facility, Fil-Cartoons, Inc. and he ran this facility of over 800 employees until 1994.

Jerry Smith.

Besides, this incredible career, Jerry also lead an adventurous life. He flew planes. He raced cars. He was a true entrepreneur, having even started a prawn farm. Married at seventeen to Delores Detzler, Jerry had three children, first a daughter Kathy and then two boys, Terry and Larry. Both sons work in animation and were trained by their father. Jerry married four more times. When he passed away he left his wife, Madieline "Madie" who resides in the Philippines, his three children and six grandchildren.

Following are a collection of thoughts and remembrances from Jerry's closest friends and colleagues.

"One of our cartoon industries 'Greats' is gone. Jerry Smith passed away Monday morning, April 28, 1997. Jerry was with his family in Tennessee when he died.
I have certainly known, loved and respected Jerry for many, many years. We worked together in our camera department here at Hanna-Barbera Studios many times. Not only was he one of the best cartoon camera-men that ever lived, he knew the cartoon business from A to Z. Jerry worked with me in Australia and Manila.

Jerry was a great guy to work with, intelligent, hard working and fun. He was always my good friend and truly a decent human being.

Jerry contributed so much to our cartoon industry, that he will be missed one way or another by every remaining person in this industry."

-Bill Hanna
Co-Chairman, Founder - Hanna-Barbera Cartoons

One of Jerry's favorite pastimes was sportscar racing.

"Jerry will be missed by a multitude of friends and associates throughout the industry and around the world, for Jerry was a pioneer in what we now call international production. Over the years Jerry established studios in Taiwan, Korea and the Philippines as well as building several stateside operations. Most of the overseas studios were true startups when these countries did not have an established industry in place. Not an easy task, I assure you. No man worked harder and very few understood the business of animation production as well as Jerry Smith. Others of us who were in the same line always felt that we were a few steps behind and we constantly feared that he would out-work us or out-fox us -- and he usually did.