Smight was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota and went to school with Future actor Peter Graves. His film credits include The Traveling Executioner, No Way to Treat a Lady, Rabbit, Run, Loving Couples, Midway, Harper, Airport 1975, Damnation Alley and the Emmy Award-winning Eddie as well as many episodes of television series such as The Twilight Zone; The Alfred Hitchcock Hour; and Columbo: Dead Weight. He also directed the 1960 Broadway play The 49th Cousin and composed the music for the film adaptation of Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry.