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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 33​1⁄3: 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.

Movies & Shows on Plex

  • ALF
  • Baywatch
  • Factotum
  • Perfect Strangers
  • Hunter
  • Silk Stalkings
  • Sisters
  • Black Scorpion
  • Archie: To Riverdale and Back Again
  • My Sister's Keeper
  • My Brother's Keeper

Known For

  • The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!
  • Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult
  • Columbo: A Trace of Murder
  • Illegal in Blue
  • Mister Roberts
  • Challenger
  • The Stepford Children
  • Deadly Messages
  • Aftermath: A Test of Love
  • The Big Squeeze

Filmography

2009
A Serious Man · as Dr. Shapiro
2005
North Country · as Tom Motel Clerk
2005
Sweet Land · as Postal Clerk
2005
Factotum · as Heathercliff
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
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
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
Sisters (TV Series) · as Carlton Brunell
1991
Aftermath: A Test of Love · as Dr. Frenzel
1991
Under Cover · as Grimbach
1990
True Colors (TV Series) · as Mr. Warner
1990
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
Baywatch (TV Series) · as William Lanning
1989
Coach (TV Series) · as Riley Pringle
1989
1988
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
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
ALF (TV Series) · as Officer Griswald
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
Hunter (TV Series) · as Lt. Fifer
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
1971
Columbo (TV Series) · as Howard Seltzer
1970
1968
Hawaii Five-O (TV Series) · as Parole Officer
1965
Days of our Lives (TV Series) · as Judge Broe

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