Raye Birk

Raye Birk

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.

Acting

2009

2005

Sweet Land
Movie

Postal Clerk

2005

Factotum
Movie

Heathercliff

2005

North Country
Movie

Tom Motel Clerk

1996

1995

1995

Nowhere Man
Tv

Tobe Alder

1994

Due South
Tv

Francis Bolt

1994

1994

ER
Tv

Mr. Hartley

1994

1993

Frasier
Tv

Walt Twitchell

1993

The X-Files
Tv

Dr. Jeff Eckerle

1992

Class Act
Movie

Principal Kratz

1991

Silk Stalkings
Tv

Atticus Dunn

1991

Doc Hollywood
Movie

Simon Tidwell, First Patient

1990

Wings
Tv

Prince Restivon

1990

Challenger
Movie

Joseph Kilminster

1989

Seinfeld
Tv

Mr. Pless

1988

1988

1988

Empty Nest
Tv

Judge Talmadge

1988

1987

The Popcorn Kid
Tv

Leonard Brown

1987

Burglar
Movie

The Jogger

1986

Fresno
Tv

Mr. Loats

1986

L.A. Law
Tv

Judge Steven Lang

1986

Matlock
Tv

Simon Le Simple

1985

The Twilight Zone
Tv

(segment "Lost and Found")

1982

St. Elsewhere
Tv

Irish Patient

1981

1981

1981

1981

1981

1981

1968

Hawaii Five-O
Tv

Parole Officer

Infos

Full Name
Raye Birk
Gender
Male
Date of Birth
5/27/1943
Also Known As

Ray Birk