Mark Smith (born 30 September 1969)[1] is a British actor and body builder who starred as Rhino on the ITV show Gladiators until its cancellation in 1999. Shortly after, Smith started acting, his credits include Renford Rejects (1999-2000), EastEnders (2005), Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy (2005), Batman Begins (2005), Rollin' with the Nines (2006), Sinchronicity (2006), Trial & Retribution (2007), Robin Hood (2007), Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (2011), Argo (2012), The Last Ship (2015), Yardie (2018), The Harder They Fall (2021), and The Enforcer (2022).

Mark Smith
Mark Smith (Rhino) in 2015
Born (1969-09-30) 30 September 1969 (age 54)[1]
Other names
  • Mark Rhino Smith
  • Rhino
  • Mark Ferrol Smith
Occupation(s)Actor, body builder
Years active1993-present

Early life edit

Smith was born in Acton, London on 30 September 1969. He lives in Los Angeles as of 2016.[1]

Acting career edit

Gladiators edit

He starred as Rhino on the ITV show Gladiators, from 1995 to 1999.[2] In 1996, he guest-starred in a single episode of American Gladiators (1996). After Gladiators ended in 1999, due to poor viewing figures, he became an actor and producer in Los Angeles.[3]

On 4 June 2005, at London's infamous York Hall, Smith went head to head with lottery winner Michael Carroll in a boxing match. The fight drew much publicity with the press conference ending in a brawl after Carroll lunged for Smith. On the day, the fight had to be stopped three times due to Carroll's inability to continue. The former binman later stated "I will definitely get back in the ring with him. I will train harder next time."[4] The charity re-match took place at the Manchester Evening News Arena in September 2005. This time Carroll was knocked out in the 2nd round.[1]

In 2022, the BBC were considering bringing back the series for a reboot after 23 years, with Rhino expressing an interest.[2]

Other projects edit

Smith starred as 'Leo' in the Nickelodeon (UK & Ireland) show Renford Rejects (1999-2000) and also guest starred as 'Johnson' in the hit BBC soap EastEnders (2005).[5] He has also appeared as a bouncer in both Sinchronicity (2006), and Trial & Retribution (2007). He starred as Karim in Robin Hood (2007).[5]

Smith moved with his family to LA and has built his resume with projects including Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (2011|), Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy (2005),[5]Rollin' with the Nines and an appearance as 'Shadow Warrior' in the film Batman Begins (2005).[5] He starred in Argo in 2012,[6] and was a regular in the series The Last Ship (2015). In 2018, he played Raggz in the film Yardie.[7]

In 2021, he starred in the western film The Harder They Fall.[2] In 2022, he appeared in The Enforcer.[2]

Other ventures edit

Boxing match edit

On 31 October 2023, it was announced that Rhino would face English politician Adam Brooks on the preliminary card of MF & DAZN: X Series 011 at York Hall, Bethnal Green, London, England on 17 November 2023.[8] On the night of the fight, Rhino was defeated by Brooks via 2nd round KO.[9]

Filmography edit

Film edit

Year Title Role Notes
2005 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Pall Bearer Uncredited
2005 Batman Begins League of Shadows Warrior Credited as Rhino
2006 Rollin' with the Nines Beefy Uncredited
2009 Nocturne Driver Short film
Credited as Rhino
2009 The Scary City Damien
2011 The One That Got Away Broc Short film
2012 Bad Ass Other Baller #3 Uncredited
2012 Argo Evil Villain
2013 The Frozen Ground Airport Security
2013 Ambushed Doorman Uncredited
2014 The Hungover Games Ultimate Boxer Guy
2014 No Good Deed EMT Credited as Mark Ferrol Smith
2015 What Now Danny the Jamaican Barman
2015 Formula 500 Man Riley Preston Credited as Mark Smith
2015 Creed Conlon's Buddy Credited as Mark "Rhino" Smith
2016 Zootopia Officer McHorn (voice)[10]
2016 Criminal Kebab Hooligan #2 Credited as Mark Smith
2017 Security Hood Shooter #1 Credited as Mark Smith
2017 Acts of Vengeance Police Officer
2017 Day of the Dead: Bloodline Alphonse
2018 Yardie Raggz [7]
2018 The Hurricane Heist Deputy Baldwin
2018 Guitar Man Officer Kaddick
2019 Angel Has Fallen US Marshal Driver
2021 The Harder They Fall Carson [2]
2022 Heropanti 2 Mark
2022 The Enforcer Doom [2]
2023 Magazine Dreams Bryce

Television edit

Year Title Role Notes
1995-1999 Gladiators Himself (Gladiator) Credited as Rhino
66 episodes
1996 American Gladiators Rhino Episode: "International Gladiators 2: Heat 1 - Everitt vs. Maltsev & Losch vs. Odita"
1996 Saturday Live Rhino Episode: #1.1
1996 Happy Birthday Shirley Rhino Television special
1998 Blankety Blank Himself Credited as Rhino
Episode: "#13.6"
1999-2000 Renford Rejects Leo 5 episodes
Credited as Rhino
2002 Relic Hunter Tall Man Episode: "Faux Fox"
Credited as Mark Smith
2005 EastEnders Johnson 5 episodes
2006 Michael Carroll: King of Chavs Himself Television movie documentary
2006 Sinchronicity Bouncer / Bass-Bouncer 4 episodes
2007 Trial & Retribution Nicholas - Bouncer Episodes: "Paradise Lost: Parts 1 & 2"
2007 Robin Hood Karim 9 episodes
Credited as Mark Smith
2008 The Scary City Damien 5 episodes
2012 Blue Rupert Credited as Mark Smith
Episode: "Give an Old Man a Break"
2015 Soccer Superstar Fitness Coach Episode: "The Beginning"
2015 The Last Ship Ian 5 episodes
2015 NCIS: Los Angeles Trevor Episode: "An Unlocked Mind"
2016 Criminal Minds Mark Episode: "Tribute"
2017 Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Trader Leader Episode: "A Life Earned"

Video games edit

Year Title Role Notes
2019 Indivisible Antoine / Crowd #1 (voices) Credited as Mark Smith

Professional boxing record edit

1 fight 0 wins 1 loss
By knockout 0 1
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Location Notes
1 Loss 0–1 Adam Brooks KO 2 (4), 1:40 17 Nov 2023 York Hall, London, England MF–professional bout

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e "Official Mark 'Rhino' Smith - Biography". Archived from the original on 27 October 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  2. ^ a b c d e f "Original Gladiator Mark 'Rhino' Smith wants to join BBC reboot". radiotimes.com. 30 October 2022.
  3. ^ Kale, Sirin (23 October 2019). "'Gladiators ... ready!' Whatever became of Wolf, Jet, Rhino and the show's other stars?". theguardian.com. Archived from the original on 23 October 2019.
  4. ^ "Lout Gets Thrashed In The Ring". mirror.co.uk. Archived from the original on 5 February 2007.
  5. ^ a b c d "Official Mark 'Rhino' Smith". Archived from the original on 28 September 2017. Retrieved 20 August 2008.
  6. ^ "Mark 'Rhino' Smith Credits". tvguide.com. Retrieved 2 July 2023.
  7. ^ a b Stewart, Red (20 August 2018). "Exclusive Interview – Mark "Rhino" Smith talks Idris Elba's Yardie and the relationship between bodybuilding and acting". flickeringmyth.com. Flickering Myth. Retrieved 13 November 2020.
  8. ^ Misfits Boxing (31 October 2023). "𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑 #XSeries011 card 🔥". Twitter.
  9. ^ "MF Completed Boxing Bout - Adam Brooks vs. Mark Smith". tapology.com. 17 November 2023.
  10. ^ Russell, Scarlett (16 March 2016). "Rhino from Gladiators voiced the rhino in Zootropolis". www.digitalspy.com. Digital Spy. Retrieved 13 November 2020.

External links edit