Photo: Original file: Yuryi Abramochkin / Юрий АбрамочкинDerivative work: User:Vanjagenije / CC BY-SA 3.0 (source: Wikimedia Commons)
Samantha Smith was born on June 29, 1972 in Houlton, Maine, United States and was credited as a television actor, child actor and peace activist. Samantha Smith died on August 25, 1985, aged 13. Credited works include goodwill ambassador.
My Take
Samantha Smith's story still moves me more than almost any adult activist's. A Maine schoolgirl simply asked the Soviet leader why he wanted war, and that honest question carried her all the way to Moscow as a goodwill ambassador. There is something disarming about a child cutting through Cold War posturing with pure curiosity. Her death at thirteen in a plane crash is a genuine tragedy, but I think the lesson she embodied endures: dialogue beats fear. I admire how she reminds us that diplomacy starts with the simple willingness to talk, not with rank or expertise.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Samantha Smith
- Name (Japanese)
- サマンサ・スミス
- Reading
- さまんさ・すみす
- Born
- June 29, 1972 – August 25, 1985
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Cancer / Rat
- Origin
- Houlton, Maine, United States
- Occupation
- television actor / child actor / peace activist / writer / schoolchild
2. Works & records
| Category | Title | Role | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notable work | goodwill ambassador | — |
3. Links
- Official sitehttps://samanthasmith.info/
- Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/samanthasmithinfo/
- Wikipedia (English)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samantha%20Smith
- Wikipedia (Japanese)https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%82%B5%E3%83%9E%E3%83%B3%E3%82%B5%E3%83%BB%E3%82%B9%E3%83%9F%E3%82%B9
- Wikidatahttps://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q228579
4. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-17
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.
Frequently asked questions
When was Samantha Smith born?
Born June 29, 1972.
When did Samantha Smith die?
Died August 25, 1985, aged 13.
Where was Samantha Smith from?
Samantha Smith was from Houlton, Maine, United States.
What did Samantha Smith do?
Samantha Smith worked as television actor, child actor, peace activist, writer, schoolchild.
What was Samantha Smith known for?
Notable works include goodwill ambassador.
Television actor — see all → · Child actor — see all → · More people from the United States →