Thorne Smith

(Find A Grave) Thorne Smith: Author.
Birth: Mar. 27, 1892. Death: Jun. 21, 1934. He was known for his lighthearted fantasy novels, the most successful of which was "Topper" (1926), about a mild-mannered bank executive who is rescued from a drab existence by two fun-loving ghosts. The book spawned a sequel, "Topper Takes a Trip" (1932), and was made into a classic 1937 film starring Cary Grant and Constance Bennett; Leo G. Carroll played Topper in a popular 1950's tv series. The son of a naval officer, Smith was born in Annapolis, Maryland, and served in the Navy during World War I. He died of a heart attack at 42, leaving a novel, "The Passionate Witch", unfinished. Published in 1941, it was filmed as "I Married a Witch" (1942) and later inspired the 1960's sitcom "Bewitched". (bio by: Robert Edwards) Link