Mike Smith (actor)
Encyclopedia
Mike Smith is a Canadian actor and musician, most famous for playing Bubbles on Trailer Park Boys
.
, Nova Scotia
, and grew up in Thorburn
, Nova Scotia
. He earned a degree in English from St. Francis Xavier University
in Antigonish, Nova Scotia
. He played hockey for the Pictou County Weeks of the Nova Scotia Midget AAA Hockey League when he was in high school. For a short time in 2006, he was engaged to actress Nichole Hiltz
. Smith is now married to Lisa Melanson with whom he has two children, daughter Vella and son Vox.
, he was a guitarist in the rock band Sandbox
, and signed a record deal with EMI
in Canada, and Nettwerk
in the United States. Sandbox
released two albums with EMI
and Nettwerk
, entitled Bionic and A Murder in the Glee Club
. Sandbox was nominated for a Juno Award
, East Coast Music Awards, and a CASBY Award
.
Smith has worked on such films as The Weight of Water
and Serendipity.
Later, Smith performed as part of Bubbles & the Shit Rockers, a band featuring himself, founding Rush guitarist Alex Lifeson
, and Tom Wilson
for the original song "Liquor & Whores" featured on Trailer Park Boys: The Movie Soundtrack. A Trailer Park Boys episode also features Smith's character Bubbles playing the 1977 Rush track "Closer to the Heart
" with Alex Lifeson
.
Smith has performed "Liquor & Whores" with Guns N' Roses
on multiple occasions on their Chinese Democracy Tour Series, in 2006 and 2010.
Smith has also recorded with Emm Gryner
in "Get Brave" released in 2010.
director Mike Clattenburg
, and met Robb Wells
(Ricky) and John Paul Tremblay
(Julian) while sound mixing on the original TPB feature. Smith was "messing" around on the set one day and slipped into his Cart Boy character from the Mike Clattenburg
short "The Cart Boy". Clattenburg apparently realized the depth this character held, and the Cart Boy, now known as Bubbles, was written into the show. Bubbles was never intended to be a main character, but the more outrageously he behaved, the more audiences loved him. Bubbles then became one of the three main protagonists, having established that he knew Julian and Ricky from school back in the late 70s to high school in the late 80s.
Smith made a cameo appearance as Bubbles in Snow
's (to whom he is related) 2002 music video Legal, but his swearing remains censored. He was also featured in Country Star George Canyon
's video for "Drinkin Thinkin", which showed Bubbles going after his real life girl friend Joanne. Mike and the rest of the Trailer park boys appeared in The Tragically Hip video, "The Darkest One". He has appeared in character as Bubbles at several Guns N' Roses
2006 Canadian tour dates and dates in Australia and Japan in 2007. Bubbles, along with Ricky and Julian, hosted the 2006 and the 2007 East Coast Music Awards, in Charlottetown
, Prince Edward Island
and Halifax, Nova Scotia
respectively.
In March 2008 Smith, along with three others, opened a sports bar in Halifax called "Bubba Ray's".
Smith has opened his own bar "Bubbles' Mansion", located in Downtown
Halifax, Nova Scotia
. The bar, partly owned by Smith, closed its doors on Wednesday, March 24, 2010 after 4 years of operation.
In 2010, Smith reunited with many of his former Trailer Park Boys castmates in the new series The Drunk and On Drugs Happy Fun Time Hour
.
He also performed a live version of "Closer to the Heart" with classic rock band Rush.
Trailer Park Boys
Trailer Park Boys is a Canadian comedy mockumentary television series created and directed by Mike Clattenburg that focuses on the misadventures of a group of trailer park residents, some of whom are ex-convicts, living in the fictional Sunnyvale Trailer Park in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. The...
.
Personal life
Smith was born in New GlasgowNew Glasgow, Nova Scotia
New Glasgow is a town in Pictou County, in the province of Nova Scotia, Canada. It is situated on the banks of the East River of Pictou, which flows into Pictou Harbour, a sub-basin of the Northumberland Strait....
, Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
, and grew up in Thorburn
Thorburn, Nova Scotia
Thorburn is a community in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, located in Pictou County.- The Community :This small rural Nova Scotia town has a hair salon, sports arena, a few churches, a fire hall and a pizza and convenience store called Pete's Pizza. Thorburn is a quiet town and has...
, Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
. He earned a degree in English from St. Francis Xavier University
St. Francis Xavier University
St. Francis Xavier University is a post-secondary institution located in Antigonish, Nova Scotia. The school was founded in 1853, but did not offer degrees until 1868. The university has approximately 5000 students.-History:...
in Antigonish, Nova Scotia
Antigonish, Nova Scotia
Antigonish is a Canadian town in Antigonish County, Nova Scotia. The town is home to St. Francis Xavier University and the oldest continuous highland games in North America.-History:...
. He played hockey for the Pictou County Weeks of the Nova Scotia Midget AAA Hockey League when he was in high school. For a short time in 2006, he was engaged to actress Nichole Hiltz
Nichole Hiltz
Nichole Marie Hiltz is an American actress. She has appeared in the film May, A Midsummer Night's Rave, and the Sci Fi Channel movie All Souls Day and since 2008 has played Brandi Shannon on the USA network television series In Plain Sight.Hiltz has made guest appearances on several television...
. Smith is now married to Lisa Melanson with whom he has two children, daughter Vella and son Vox.
Musical Interest
Smith showed early signs of musical talent, after learning how to play the guitar at age seven. Before becoming involved in Trailer Park BoysTrailer Park Boys
Trailer Park Boys is a Canadian comedy mockumentary television series created and directed by Mike Clattenburg that focuses on the misadventures of a group of trailer park residents, some of whom are ex-convicts, living in the fictional Sunnyvale Trailer Park in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. The...
, he was a guitarist in the rock band Sandbox
Sandbox (band)
Sandbox was a Canadian alternative rock band, originally from Pictou County, Nova Scotia. The band consisted of Paul Murray on vocals, Mike Smith and Jason Archibald on guitar, Scott MacFarlane on bass and Troy Shanks on drums...
, and signed a record deal with EMI
EMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
in Canada, and Nettwerk
Nettwerk
The Nettwerk Music Group is the umbrella company for Nettwerk Management, Nettwerk Records, Nettwerk One Publishing, Nutone Records, and Artwerk. With over 150 employees, the Vancouver-based company has offices in New York, Los Angeles, London, Boston, Nashville, and Hamburg...
in the United States. Sandbox
Sandbox (band)
Sandbox was a Canadian alternative rock band, originally from Pictou County, Nova Scotia. The band consisted of Paul Murray on vocals, Mike Smith and Jason Archibald on guitar, Scott MacFarlane on bass and Troy Shanks on drums...
released two albums with EMI
EMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
and Nettwerk
Nettwerk
The Nettwerk Music Group is the umbrella company for Nettwerk Management, Nettwerk Records, Nettwerk One Publishing, Nutone Records, and Artwerk. With over 150 employees, the Vancouver-based company has offices in New York, Los Angeles, London, Boston, Nashville, and Hamburg...
, entitled Bionic and A Murder in the Glee Club
A Murder in the Glee Club
A Murder in the Glee Club is the second release by now-defunct Halifax, Nova Scotia rock group Sandbox. It was released in November 1997. It is a concept album revolving around the storyline of a murderer haunted by his actions...
. Sandbox was nominated for a Juno Award
Juno Award
The Juno Awards are presented annually to Canadian musical artists and bands to acknowledge their artistic and technical achievements in all aspects of music...
, East Coast Music Awards, and a CASBY Award
CASBY Award
The CASBY Award is a Canadian award for independent and alternative music, presented annually by Toronto, Ontario radio station CFNY, currently branded as 102.1 The Edge. The name CASBY stands for Canadian Artists Selected By You....
.
Smith has worked on such films as The Weight of Water
The Weight of Water (film)
The Weight of Water is a 2000 film based on the novel of the same name by Anita Shreve. Directed by Kathryn Bigelow, the film stars Sean Penn, Elizabeth Hurley, Sarah Polley, Josh Lucas and Catherine McCormack...
and Serendipity.
Later, Smith performed as part of Bubbles & the Shit Rockers, a band featuring himself, founding Rush guitarist Alex Lifeson
Alex Lifeson
Aleksandar Živojinović, OC, better known by his stage name Alex Lifeson, is a second generation Serbian-Canadian musician, best known as the guitarist of the Canadian rock band Rush. In the summer of 1968, Lifeson founded the band that would become Rush with friend, drummer John Rutsey...
, and Tom Wilson
Tom Wilson (musician)
Tom Wilson is a Canadian rock musician from Hamilton, Ontario.A veteran of the Canadian music scene, Wilson has been a writer and performer for many years. Wilson's eclectic musical style has ranged from the psychobilly sound of the Florida Razors, to the western/roots style of Blackie and the...
for the original song "Liquor & Whores" featured on Trailer Park Boys: The Movie Soundtrack. A Trailer Park Boys episode also features Smith's character Bubbles playing the 1977 Rush track "Closer to the Heart
Closer to the Heart
"Closer to the Heart" is a single by Rush, released in 1977, from the album A Farewell to Kings. It was the first Rush song to have an external co-writer, namely Peter Talbot, a friend of drummer and lyricist Neil Peart...
" with Alex Lifeson
Alex Lifeson
Aleksandar Živojinović, OC, better known by his stage name Alex Lifeson, is a second generation Serbian-Canadian musician, best known as the guitarist of the Canadian rock band Rush. In the summer of 1968, Lifeson founded the band that would become Rush with friend, drummer John Rutsey...
.
Smith has performed "Liquor & Whores" with Guns N' Roses
Guns N' Roses
Guns N' Roses is an American hard rock band, formed in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, in 1985. The band has released six studio albums, three EPs, and one live album...
on multiple occasions on their Chinese Democracy Tour Series, in 2006 and 2010.
Smith has also recorded with Emm Gryner
Emm Gryner
Emm Gryner is a Canadian singer-songwriter and occasional actress.-Biography:Gryner's childhood was spent in Forest, Lambton County, Ontario. Her father was of half Irish heritage and her mother was Filipina....
in "Get Brave" released in 2010.
Introduction to acting
Smith had been a long-time friend of Trailer Park BoysTrailer Park Boys
Trailer Park Boys is a Canadian comedy mockumentary television series created and directed by Mike Clattenburg that focuses on the misadventures of a group of trailer park residents, some of whom are ex-convicts, living in the fictional Sunnyvale Trailer Park in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. The...
director Mike Clattenburg
Mike Clattenburg
Mike Clattenburg is a Canadian TV and film director best known as creator/director of the TV comedy series Trailer Park Boys , and This Hour Has 22 Minutes...
, and met Robb Wells
Robb Wells
Robb Wells is a Canadian actor and screenwriter who portrayed Ricky on Trailer Park Boys.-Early life:Wells was born in Moncton, New Brunswick and moved to Dartmouth, Nova Scotia when he was eight years old...
(Ricky) and John Paul Tremblay
John Paul Tremblay
John Paul Tremblay is a Canadian actor who stars in the hit Canadian TV show Trailer Park Boys, playing Julian, a newly released ex-con returning to his home in a trailer park in Nova Scotia...
(Julian) while sound mixing on the original TPB feature. Smith was "messing" around on the set one day and slipped into his Cart Boy character from the Mike Clattenburg
Mike Clattenburg
Mike Clattenburg is a Canadian TV and film director best known as creator/director of the TV comedy series Trailer Park Boys , and This Hour Has 22 Minutes...
short "The Cart Boy". Clattenburg apparently realized the depth this character held, and the Cart Boy, now known as Bubbles, was written into the show. Bubbles was never intended to be a main character, but the more outrageously he behaved, the more audiences loved him. Bubbles then became one of the three main protagonists, having established that he knew Julian and Ricky from school back in the late 70s to high school in the late 80s.
Smith made a cameo appearance as Bubbles in Snow
Snow (musician)
Darrin O'Brien , better known by his stage name Snow, is a Juno Award-winning Canadian rap and reggae musician. He is best known for his 1992 single "Informer", which reached No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.-Life and work:...
's (to whom he is related) 2002 music video Legal, but his swearing remains censored. He was also featured in Country Star George Canyon
George Canyon
George Canyon is a Canadian country music singer. He was runner up Nashville Star 2 in 2004. He grew up in Fox Brook, Pictou County, Nova Scotia and later lived in Hopewell, Nova Scotia before he moved west. He currently lives in High River, Alberta...
's video for "Drinkin Thinkin", which showed Bubbles going after his real life girl friend Joanne. Mike and the rest of the Trailer park boys appeared in The Tragically Hip video, "The Darkest One". He has appeared in character as Bubbles at several Guns N' Roses
Guns N' Roses
Guns N' Roses is an American hard rock band, formed in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, in 1985. The band has released six studio albums, three EPs, and one live album...
2006 Canadian tour dates and dates in Australia and Japan in 2007. Bubbles, along with Ricky and Julian, hosted the 2006 and the 2007 East Coast Music Awards, in Charlottetown
Charlottetown
Charlottetown is a Canadian city. It is both the largest city on and the provincial capital of Prince Edward Island, and the county seat of Queens County. Named after Queen Charlotte, the wife of George III, Charlottetown was first incorporated as a town in 1855 and designated as a city in 1885...
, Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island is a Canadian province consisting of an island of the same name, as well as other islands. The maritime province is the smallest in the nation in both land area and population...
and Halifax, Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
respectively.
In March 2008 Smith, along with three others, opened a sports bar in Halifax called "Bubba Ray's".
Smith has opened his own bar "Bubbles' Mansion", located in Downtown
Downtown Halifax
Downtown Halifax is the city centre of the Halifax Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia. Located on the eastern-central portion of the Halifax Peninsula, on Halifax Harbour, it serves as the business, entertainment, and tourism hub of the region.- Municipal:...
Halifax, Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
. The bar, partly owned by Smith, closed its doors on Wednesday, March 24, 2010 after 4 years of operation.
In 2010, Smith reunited with many of his former Trailer Park Boys castmates in the new series The Drunk and On Drugs Happy Fun Time Hour
The Drunk and On Drugs Happy Fun Time Hour
The Drunk and On Drugs Happy Funtime Hour is a Canadian television comedy series, airing in the 2011 television season on Action.Described by its producers as "Curb Your Enthusiasm after it got smashed in the head with a hammer and force-fed liquor and drugs", the show stars former Trailer Park...
.
He also performed a live version of "Closer to the Heart" with classic rock band Rush.