Midnight Express, Red Sonja, Popeye, Dune, Maverick
Similar People
Brad Davis, Sandahl Bergman, Juan Piquer Simon, Ray Walston, Richard Fleischer
A Tribute to my father paul l smith 1/5/10
Paul Lawrence Smith (June 24, 1936 – April 25, 2012), most frequently credited as Paul Smith or Paul L. Smith, was an American actor. Burly, bearded and imposing, he appeared in films and occasionally on television since the 1970s, generally playing "heavies" and bad guys. His most notable roles include Hamidou, the vicious prison guard in Midnight Express (1978), Bluto in Robert Altman's Popeye (1980), Gideon in the ABC miniseries Masada (1981) and Glossu Rabban in David Lynch's Dune (1984).
Born in Everett, Massachusetts, Smith was raised in Miami, graduating in 1954 from Miami Senior High School where he played football and became a High School All American. He transferred from Brandeis University to Florida State University on a football scholarship graduating in 1959 with a B.S. degree in Philosophy.
Career
Smith's first acting role was in Exodus, which was filmed in Israel. This was his first visit to the country. In 1967, Smith returned to Israel as a Mahal volunteer in the Six-Day War and stayed there until 1973. In that time, he participated in 5 productions filmed in Israel.
Afterwards, he moved to Italy where, due to his resemblance to Bud Spencer, he made a series of films with Michael Coby (pseudonym of Antonio Cantafora), Terence Hill lookalike. One of these films Convoy Buddies was picked up for American release by Film Ventures International where producer by Edward L. Montoro changed Smith's name to Bob Spencer and Cantafora's name to Terrance Hall. Smith sued successfully arguing that the only thing an actor has is his name and if that's taken away, he has nothing. The judicial system agreed with him and ruled against FVI who paid Smith damages and court costs.
Smith was of Jewish religion. He briefly attended Brandeis University, where he met and married his first wife, Norma Kalman. They had one son, Elliot. Paul and Norma were divorced in 1960. Smith married Eve Smith. In February 2006, they immigrated to Israel, adopting Ra'anana as their new home. After taking Israeli citizenship, the couple adopted Hebrew names: Adam and Aviva Eden.
Death
On April 25, 2012, Smith died in Ra'anana. The cause of death is unconfirmed.
Discography
I'm Mean (1980)
Filmography
Actor
1999
D.R.E.A.M. Team (TV Movie) as
Vladimir Corzon (as Paul Smith)
1994
Maverick as
The Archduke
1992
Desert Kickboxer as
Santos
1991
Eye of the Widow as
Elko
1990
Crossing the Line as
Joe Kapinski
1990
Caged Fury as
Head Guard (as Paul Smith)
1989
Crazy Camera (as Paul Smith)
1989
The Hired Gun as
Wounded Man
1989
You're Famous as
Paul (as Paul Smith)
1989
Ten Little Indians as
Mr. Rodgers
1989
Sonny Boy as
Slue
1988
Death Chase as
Steele (as Paul Smith)
1987
Terminal Entry as
Stewart (as Paul Smith)
1987
Outlaw Force as
Inspector Wainright
1987
Gor as
Surbus
1986
Haunted Honeymoon as
Dr. Paul Abbot
1985
Texas Godfather as
Duval (as Paul Smith)
1985
Red Sonja as
Falkon (as Paul Smith)
1985
The Protector as
Mr. Booar (uncredited)
1985
Crimewave as
Faron Crush
1984
Operation Shtreimel as
Saul the Priest
1984
Dune as
The Beast Rabban (as Paul Smith)
1984
Jungle Warriors as
Cesar Santiago
1983
Sadat (TV Mini Series) as
King Farouk
- Episode #1.2 (1983) - King Farouk (as Paul Smith)
- Episode #1.1 (1983) - King Farouk (as Paul Smith)
1982
Pieces as
Willard (as Paul Smith)
1982
When I Am King as
Sir Blackstone Hardtack
1981
The Salamander as
The Surgeon (as Paul Smith)
1981
Masada (TV Mini Series) as
Gideon
- Part IV (1981) - Gideon
- Part III (1981) - Gideon
- Part II (1981) - Gideon
- Part I (1981) - Gideon
1980
Popeye as
Bluto
1979
Going in Style as
Radio Announcer
1979
Disaster on the Coastliner (TV Movie) as
Jim Waterman / Victor Prescott
1979
Hawaii Five-O (TV Series) as
Andy Kamoku
- A Lion in the Streets (1979) - Andy Kamoku
1979
The Frisco Kid as
Person on Philadelphia dock (uncredited)
1979
The In-Laws as
Mo (as Paul Lawrence Smith)
1979
Barney Miller (TV Series) as
Leon Stipanich
- Graveyard Shift (1979) - Leon Stipanich (as Paul Lawrence Smith)
1979
Wonder Woman (TV Series) as
Simon Rohan
- Spaced Out (1979) - Simon Rohan (as Paul Lawrence Smith)
1978
CHiPs (TV Series) as
Announcer
- Disaster Squad (1978) - Announcer (as Paul Smith)
1978
Midnight Express as
Hamidou (as Paul Smith)
1977
Da juan tao as
Paul the Westerner (as Paul Smith)
1976
21 Hours at Munich (TV Movie) as
Gutfreund (as Paul Smith)
1976
Diamond Pedlars as
Simone / Toby (as Paul Smith)
1975
Conspiracy of Terror (TV Movie) as
Pound Supervisor (as Paul Smith)
1975
We Are No Angels as
Raphael McDonald (as Paul Smith)
1975
Convoy Buddies as
Butch (as Paul Smith)
1975
Carambola's Philosophy: In the Right Pocket as
Len (as Paul Smith)
1974
Emergency! (TV Series) as
Security Director
- The Bash (1974) - Security Director (as Paul Smith)
1974
Carambola as
Clem (as Paul Smith)
1974
Moses the Lawgiver (TV Mini Series)
1973
They Call Me Shmil as
Shmiel (as Paul Smith)
1973
Gospel Road: A Story of Jesus as
Peter (as Paul Smith)
1972
Nahtche and the General
1972
Tel Aviv Call Girls
1971
Fishke Goes to War as
Shmil (as Paul Smith)
1970
Madron as
Gabe Price (uncredited)
1970
Alle hatten sich abgewandt (TV Movie) as
Feister (as Paul Smith)
1965
Homicide (TV Series) as
Dudley Stark
- Dead on Two (1965) - Dudley Stark
1963
Have Gun - Will Travel (TV Series) as
Sven
- The Eve of St. Elmo (1963) - Sven (as P. L. Smith)
1960
Exodus as
Peretz Geffner - Jewish Prisoner (uncredited)
Director
1972
Tel Aviv Call Girls
1970
War of 20 Years (Documentary)
Producer
1990
Caged Fury (associate producer - as Paul Smith)
1987
Terminal Entry (associate producer - as Paul Smith)
Production Manager
1973
Gospel Road: A Story of Jesus (production manager)
Soundtrack
1980
Popeye (performer: "I'm Mean", "It's Not Easy Bein' Me" - uncredited)
Thanks
2014
Special Collector's Edition (TV Series) (in memory of - 1 episode)
- Dune: Edición Especial (2014) - (in memory of)
Self
2008
Paul Smith: The Reddest Herring (Video documentary) as
Self
2006
Deleted 'Dune' (Video documentary short) as
The Beast Rabban (uncredited)
1982
All-Star Family Feud Special (TV Series) as
Self - Celebrity Contestant
- Heroes vs. Villains (1982) - Self - Celebrity Contestant
1980
The Toni Tennille Show (TV Series) as
Self
- Episode #1.44 (1980) - Self
Archive Footage
2014
Eric Falk: Sunshine-Judo Auf Ibiza (Video documentary short) as
Gutfreund (uncredited)
2010
Red Sonja Vs. Kalidor: The Making of a Misunderstanding (Video documentary short) as
Falkon (uncredited)
2008
Midnight Express: The Finished Film (Video documentary short) as
Hamidou (uncredited)
2008
Midnight Express: The Production (Video documentary short) as
Hamidou (uncredited)
1977
I'm Healthy, I'm Alive and I'm Free (TV Short documentary) as
