Gunboat Smith was born on 17 February 1887 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. He was an actor, known for Wings (1927), The Lucky Devil (1925) and Manhattan (1924). He died on 6 August 1974 in Leesburg, Florida, USA.
Smith was a professional boxer who fought at least 140 bouts in a career that lasted from 1909 until 1921. He fought such greats as Harry Greb, Jack Dempsey, Battling Levinsky, Bombardier Billy Wells, Georges Carpentier, Sam Langford, Jack Twin Sullivan and Jess Willard.