Bio

Daniel Blake Smith ​is a writer and filmmaker who loves to tell true, compelling American stories. Raised in the north Texas town of Wolfe City and educated at Oklahoma State University and the University of Virginia (where he received his doctorate in American history), Smith is the author of six books, most recently, CRAZY LOVE.

Many of Smith’s films focus on powerful, pivotal moments in our nation’s past: he wrote and coproduced FEBRUARY ONE, a feature documentary about the 1960 Greensboro, N.C., lunch counter sit-in that helped launch the Civil Rights Movement. FEBRUARY ONE aired nationally on PBS’s ‘Independent Lens.’ He also wrote two prize-winning documentaries (both narrated by film star James Earl Jones) about native American life: CHEROKEE LEGACY: THE TRAIL OF TEARS and BLACK INDIANS: AN AMERICAN STORY. Smith’s documentary biopic about Edgar Allan Poe (TERROR OF THE SOUL), starring John Heard and Treat Williams with music by Philip Glass, aired on PBS’s ‘American Masters’ series. Smith’s documentary history of Kentucky, narrated by film star Ashley Judd, KENTUCKY: AN AMERICAN STORY, aired on regional PBS.

Smith's current work includes his new dramedy, MR. WONDERFUL, starring Michael Madsen (RESERVOIR DOGS; KILL BILL) which will premiere in the spring 2025. Smith produced the thriller, WAKE, starring Fivel Stewart (ATYPICAL; THE RECRUIT) which is now on Amazon. Smith co-wrote and co-produced TEXAS HEART (Indie Rights 2016), a crime thriller starring John Savage (THE DEER HUNTER) and Lin Shaye (INSIDIOUS), also on Amazon. Smith wrote and produced two short films, SAFE & HAPPY and MEMORY BOX, that have been selected for 60 festivals world wide. Finally, Mr. Smith has published two novels, MR. WONDERFUL and CRAZY LOVE, both available as paperbacks or ebooks on Amazon.

Smith is currently completing a non-fiction book, RUN: Wilmot Collins' Journey from Liberian Refugee to a Mayor in Montana.