Robin B. Smith, a South African former wrestling manager and actor, gained international recognition for his role in the 2009 film Invictus. Prior to his acting career, he was known as the Commandant in the WWF, where he managed the South African Truth Commission for a brief period in 1997.
Born in South Africa, Smith's film career began in 1987 with a role in Scavengers. He continued to appear in numerous South African movies throughout the late 1980s and the 2000s.
Smith's professional wrestling career commenced in early 1997, when he became a manager in the US Wrestling Association (USWA). He wrestled under the name Commandant and managed a group of wrestlers, including "Interrogator", "Tank", and "Recon", as the "Truth and Reconciliation Commission". This team won the USWA Tag Team Championship three times.
In June 1997, the Truth Commission made their World Wrestling Federation (WWF) debut, with Smith making promotional appearances and criticizing the United States for its lack of discipline. However, his on-screen persona was met with disdain from fans. "Sniper" replaced "Tank" on the commission, and Smith was interviewed by Sunny, but his aggressive behavior towards her led to a negative reaction.
During the summer of 1997, the Truth Commission lost only to "Legion of Doom". In September, Smith was replaced by Don Callis, the "Jackyl", as the WWF sought a more physically capable wrestler. Smith returned to South Africa, bringing an end to his wrestling career.
In addition to his wrestling career, Smith has also made appearances in film. He played a role in the 2006 film The Fall, set in 1920s Los Angeles. In 2009, he portrayed Johan De Villiers in Invictus, a film about the South African rugby team's fight to win the 1995 Rugby World Cup.
As of 2011, Smith resided in South Africa, working as a freelancer.
