- Height5′ 9″ (1.75 m)
- As lobbyist Don Grundman in Season 2 of HBO's "Succession," New York-based actor Preston Fritz Smith is known for first coming up with "Con Heads" in his memorable courtroom scene with Connor Roy. This led to a nationwide fan club and multiple shipments of Con Heads clothing, drinkware, buttons, etc., arriving at Preston's home the following week. In addition to "Succession," Preston has an impressive resume of TV work, including "Devious Maids," "Billions," "Horror at the Cecil Hotel," "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy," three seasons as lead detective on "The Perfect Murder," and a dozen or so films. In theater his recent performance as comedic, "late bloomin' bisexual" Texas cowboy Wayne led to the Jurors' Award in New York's Fresh Fruit Festival. Preston has trained in Paris at the Cours Florent drama school and in New York at The Barrow Group Theatre and School, where he completed the professional conservatory program and continues in play readings and weekly masterclasses. A lifetime member of The Actors Project NYC, he has also trained at MN Studio, The Network NYC, Broadway Comedy Club and TVI Actor's Studio. A January 2024 Tennessee Williams residency in Clarksdale, Mississippi, allowed Preston roles in three Williams plays and four staged readings, directed by Karen Kohlhaas of the Atlantic Theater Company. A classically trained pianist and organist, Preston has played for Oprah Winfrey, the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, NBC Today Show, ABC Good Morning America, Star Jones' wedding, and the funeral of Mrs. Walter Cronkite (alongside eulogist Hillary Clinton). He has concertized at Carnegie Hall and other major venues here and abroad.
- IMDb mini biography by: S Hankinson/P Smith
- Gender / Gender identityMale
- Is a descendant of President Thomas Jefferson whose only surviving brother Randolph was Preston's great-great-great-great-grandfather. Preston's mother Margaret Emma Boyd Smith is named for her grandmother Margaret Jefferson Boyd (a great niece of President Jefferson).
- Was class salutatorian, president of the National Honor Society, and drum major of the band (played French horn and trumpet) at Williamsburg Academy, Kingstree, South Carolina, where he later returned to teach and be assistant headmaster.
- Planned and played the music for the televised wedding of Star Jones (of ABC's "The View") as well as the funeral of Mrs. Walter Cronkite (collaborating with Hillary Clinton, eulogist) at New York City's Saint Bartholomew's Church, Park Ave.
- Completed pre-med studies after his Bachelor of Arts at Furman University. Taught high school biology and chemistry, worked at two hospitals in the ER and peds clinic, then briefly attended The University of South Carolina School of Medicine, on scholarship, with plans to become a pediatrician. Withdrew first semester and returned to teaching for two years before entering music conservatory in Princeton, NJ.
- Has done stand-up and sketch comedy at Broadway Comedy Club with Beverly Bonner.
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