When he was a teen, he became a Christian and ended his acting career.
Served as pastor (using name "Ken Smith") at churches in St. Helena in
Northern California, Santa Maria and several communities in Southern
California.
His son Dan Smith was the senior Pastor of the La Sierra University
Seventh-day Adventist Church for fourteen years.
Upon his death, his remains were interred at Pierce Brothers Crestlawn Memorial Park and Mortuary in Riverside, Riverside County, California. His location plot was Garden of Devotion section, Lot 681, Space B.