RB
Raye Birk
ActorBorn May 27, 1943 (82 years)
Raye Birk (born May 27, 1943, Flint, Michigan) is an American film and television actor best known for playing the role of Pahpshmir in the first and last of the Naked Gun movies. He was the main villain in Naked Gun 331⁄3: The Final Insult. He has also starred in Due South as the terrorist Francis Bolt in the Episodes "All the Queens Horses", "Red, White and Blue", "Call of the Wild Part One" and "Call of the Wild Part Two". He also had roles in the X-Files and Babylon 5. His other film credits include roles in Best Defense (1984), Amazon Women on the Moon (1987), Throw Momma from the Train (1987), Doc Hollywood (1991) and Star Trek: Insurrection (1998).
In addition to these roles, he had a frequently occurring role as the assistant principal on The Wonder Years; starting with the pilot episode, when he had a conference with Kevin Arnold's parents for throwing food in the cafeteria. While generally antagonist, a more sympathetic role on the show was seen in the award winning episode "Goodbye" where he confides in Kevin that he is Kevin's new math teacher as Kevin's hardnosed algebra teacher has just died. He was also on a pair of Home Improvement episodes as one of Tim's poker buddies. Raye appeared in several episodes on the TV series Night Court. He appeared twice on The Golden Girls, both times playing a wedding caterer.
Furthermore, in 1985, 1986 and 1992, he appeared on three episodes of Cheers as Walt Twitchell, a mailman who got into minor altercations with Cliff Clavin. Birk reprised the role of Twitchell in a 2002 episode of the Cheers spinoff series, Frasier, in which the title character (played by Kelsey Grammer) returned to Boston and re-acquainted himself with old friends from the bar. He played a recurring role on Coach as university band director Riley Pringle from 1989 to 1993. He also appeared in an episode of Mr. Belvedere as an accordion player.
In 2004–2008, he played Ebenezer Scrooge in A Christmas Carol at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis.
Raye has been married to his wife Candace Barrett for 41 years. They have one son, Joshua, who is a professor of medieval history.
In addition to these roles, he had a frequently occurring role as the assistant principal on The Wonder Years; starting with the pilot episode, when he had a conference with Kevin Arnold's parents for throwing food in the cafeteria. While generally antagonist, a more sympathetic role on the show was seen in the award winning episode "Goodbye" where he confides in Kevin that he is Kevin's new math teacher as Kevin's hardnosed algebra teacher has just died. He was also on a pair of Home Improvement episodes as one of Tim's poker buddies. Raye appeared in several episodes on the TV series Night Court. He appeared twice on The Golden Girls, both times playing a wedding caterer.
Furthermore, in 1985, 1986 and 1992, he appeared on three episodes of Cheers as Walt Twitchell, a mailman who got into minor altercations with Cliff Clavin. Birk reprised the role of Twitchell in a 2002 episode of the Cheers spinoff series, Frasier, in which the title character (played by Kelsey Grammer) returned to Boston and re-acquainted himself with old friends from the bar. He played a recurring role on Coach as university band director Riley Pringle from 1989 to 1993. He also appeared in an episode of Mr. Belvedere as an accordion player.
In 2004–2008, he played Ebenezer Scrooge in A Christmas Carol at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis.
Raye has been married to his wife Candace Barrett for 41 years. They have one son, Joshua, who is a professor of medieval history.
Movies & Shows on Plex
Filmography
| 2009 | A Serious Man · as Dr. Shapiro |
| 2005 | North Country · as Tom Motel Clerk |
| 2005 | Sweet Land · as Postal Clerk |
| 2005 | |
| 2002 | My Sister's Keeper · as Justice Of The Peace |
| 2001 | Black Scorpion (TV Series) · as Dr. Phineas Phoenix |
| 1998 | Star Trek: Insurrection · as Son'a Doctor |
| 1997 | Mike Hammer, Private Eye (TV Series) · as Gustav Granville-Dawes |
| 1997 | Columbo: A Trace of Murder · as Howard Seltzer |
| 1996 | After Jimmy · as John Davies |
| 1996 | The Big Squeeze · as Contractor |
| 1996 | 3rd Rock from the Sun (TV Series) · as Jeweler |
| 1995 | Caroline in the City (TV Series) · as Danny |
| 1995 | Ned and Stacey (TV Series) · as Earl |
| 1995 | Illegal in Blue · as Gary Dedmarch |
| 1995 | Nowhere Man (TV Series) · as Tobe Alder |
| 1995 | My Brother's Keeper · as Dr. Roth |
| 1994 | |
| 1994 | Touched by an Angel (TV Series) · as Mr. Mcfarlane |
| 1994 | ER (TV Series) · as Mr. Hartley |
| 1994 | M.A.N.T.I.S. (TV Series) · as Mayor |
| 1994 | Untamed Love · as Cast |
| 1994 | Due South (TV Series) · as Francis Bolt |
| 1994 | Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult · as Papshmir |
| 1994 | The George Carlin Show (TV Series) · as Inspector Driscoll |
| 1993 | Josh and S.A.M. · as Hotel Manager |
| 1993 | Frasier (TV Series) · as Walt Twitchell |
| 1993 | Saved by the Bell: The New Class (TV Series) · as Superintendent Stoneman |
| 1993 | The X-Files (TV Series) · as Dr. Jeff Eckerle |
| 1993 | The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr. (TV Series) · as Prosecuting Attorney |
| 1993 | Caught in the Act · as Sterling |
| 1993 | Barbarians at the Gate · as Travis Gaines |
| 1993 | Babylon 5 (TV Series) · as William |
| 1992 | Shaky Ground (TV Series) · as Derek |
| 1992 | Picket Fences (TV Series) · as Mike Caton |
| 1992 | Class Act · as Principal Kratz |
| 1991 | Silk Stalkings (TV Series) · as Atticus Dunn |
| 1991 | Home Improvement (TV Series) · as Fred |
| 1991 | Nurses (TV Series) · as Chaplain |
| 1991 | Doc Hollywood · as Simon Tidwell, First Patient |
| 1991 | Morton & Hayes (TV Series) · as Butler |
| 1991 | |
| 1991 | Aftermath: A Test of Love · as Dr. Frenzel |
| 1991 | Under Cover · as Grimbach |
| 1990 | True Colors (TV Series) · as Mr. Warner |
| 1990 | Archie: To Riverdale and Back Again · as Judge Brown |
| 1990 | Wings (TV Series) · as Prince Restivon |
| 1990 | Working Girl (TV Series) · as Mr. Dixon |
| 1990 | Challenger · as Joseph Kilminster |
| 1989 | Martians Go Home · as Speaker On Tv |
| 1989 | Snoops (TV Series) · as Mr. Nelson |
| 1989 | Life Goes On (TV Series) · as Dr. Bryant |
| 1989 | Seinfeld (TV Series) · as Mr. Pless |
| 1989 | |
| 1989 | Coach (TV Series) · as Riley Pringle |
| 1989 | Perry Mason: The Case of the Lethal Lesson · as Sam Morgan |
| 1988 | The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! · as Pahpshmir |
| 1988 | Murphy Brown (TV Series) · as Barney |
| 1988 | Empty Nest (TV Series) · as Albert |
| 1988 | Dear John (1988) (TV Series) · as Dr. Hendricks |
| 1988 | Eisenhower & Lutz (TV Series) · as Bjorn |
| 1988 | The Wonder Years (TV Series) · as Mr. Diperna |
| 1987 | Throw Momma from the Train · as Pinsky |
| 1987 | Star Trek: The Next Generation (TV Series) · as Wrenn |
| 1987 | J.J. Starbuck (TV Series) |
| 1987 | Beauty and the Beast (TV Series) · as Edmonton |
| 1987 | Marblehead Manor (TV Series) · as Hansel |
| 1987 | Amazon Women on the Moon · as Vanya (segment "peter Pan Theatre" [tv Cut & Dvd Only]) |
| 1987 | Duet (TV Series) · as Dr. Dellerton |
| 1987 | Burglar · as The Jogger |
| 1987 | The Stepford Children · as George Larson |
| 1986 | Fresno (TV Series) · as Mr. Loats |
| 1986 | My Sister Sam (TV Series) · as Dave Carmichael |
| 1986 | Amen (TV Series) · as Mr. Evans |
| 1986 | |
| 1986 | L.A. Law (TV Series) · as Judge Steven Lang |
| 1986 | Throb (TV Series) · as John |
| 1986 | Perfect Strangers (TV Series) · as Mcnulty |
| 1986 | Tough Cookies (TV Series) · as Cast |
| 1986 | Matlock (TV Series) · as Simon Le Simple |
| 1985 | Mary (1985) (TV Series) · as Waiter |
| 1985 | The Twilight Zone (1985) (TV Series) · as (segment "lost And Found") |
| 1985 | Stir Crazy (TV Series) · as Caterer Herbert |
| 1985 | The Golden Girls (TV Series) · as Caterer |
| 1985 | Mr. Belvedere (TV Series) · as Earl |
| 1985 | Deadly Messages · as Harding |
| 1984 | |
| 1984 | |
| 1984 | Best Defense · as Sonny |
| 1984 | Mister Roberts · as Dowdy |
| 1984 | Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer (TV Series) · as Harry Stark |
| 1984 | Blue Thunder (TV Series) · as Martin C. Sharp |
| 1984 | Night Court (TV Series) · as Frank Pepitone |
| 1983 | Hardcastle and McCormick (TV Series) · as Cast |
| 1982 | St. Elsewhere (TV Series) · as Irish Patient |
| 1982 | Newhart (TV Series) · as Dean Dackman |
| 1982 | Remington Steele (TV Series) · as Cecil Cosgrove |
| 1982 | Cheers (TV Series) · as Walt Twitchell |
| 1981 | Hill Street Blues (TV Series) · as Singer |
| 1976 | The Taming of the Shrew · as Gremio |
| 1971 | Columbo (TV Series) · as Howard Seltzer |
| 1970 | Gas! -Or- It Became Necessary to Destroy the World in Order to Save It. · as Mort Catafalque |
| 1968 | Hawaii Five-O (TV Series) · as Parole Officer |
| 1965 | Days of our Lives (TV Series) · as Judge Broe |