Kurtwood Smith

Kurtwood Larson Smith (born July 3, 1943) is an American actor. He is known for playing Clarence Boddicker in RoboCop, Robert Griggs in Rambo III (1988), Thomas Perry in Dead Poets Society (1989), Stump Sisson in A Time to Kill (1996), as well as Red Forman in That '70s Show (1998–2006) and That '90s Show (2023–2024), along with his many appearances in science fiction films and television programs (Lou Grant, Star Trek, The X-Files). He also starred in the seventh season of 24. He voiced Gene on Regular Show (2012–2017), portrayed Leslie Claret on Patriot (2015–2018), and Old Man Peterson on The Ranch (2017–2020).

Early life and education Smith's father, Major George Smith, was killed in action on March 25, 1945, while returning from leading the 49th Troop Carrier Squadron, 313th Troop Carrier Group during Operation Varsity in World War II. Smith would later say of his father "Though I never knew him, I always remember him!"

Smith grew up in the San Fernando Valley and graduated from Canoga Park High School in Canoga Park, California in 1961; Smith graduated from San Jose State College (now San José State University) in 1965 with a B.A. and Stanford University in 1969 with an M.F.A. He was an instructor of theater arts at Cañada College from 1969 to 1975.

Career On stage, Smith won three Drama-Logue Awards for his performances in Billy Budd, Idiot's Delight, and Green Grow the Lilacs. In his film career, he portrayed Clarence Boddicker in Paul Verhoeven's science fiction film RoboCop and the father role as Red Forman on the Fox sitcom That '70s Show, which ran from 1998 to 2006. After That '70s Show ended, Smith played Senator Blaine Mayer in the seventh season of the action thriller 24, and portrayed Dick Clayton in the CBS series Worst Week. He enjoyed a recurring role as a rogue FBI agent in Seasons 3–5 of the NBC (later CBS) series Medium, appearing in later episodes as a ghost after his character's death. He played the main character Henry Langston in the ABC sci-fi/drama Resurrection which ran for two seasons (2014–15). He was a regular on the Amazon original dramedy series Patriot (2015-2018). In 2023, he reprised the role of Red Forman in That '90s Show, a sequel series of That '70s Show.

His other roles included playing the leader of the Ku Klux Klan, Stump Sisson, in A Time to Kill. He also played the role of Mr. Sue on Fox's "espionage comedy" The New Adventures of Beans Baxter in 1987. He also starred as Neil's father in 1989's Dead Poets Society. He made a number of appearances in the Star Trek franchise, playing the President of the Federation in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country, a Cardassian named Thrax in the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode "Things Past", and a Krenim scientist named Annorax in the Star Trek: Voyager episode "Year of Hell".

He also has an extensive voice acting résumé, appearing in computer games such as Fallout Tactics: Brotherhood of Steel, and FreeSpace 2, and on a number of animated series. He played a recurring role on the claymation series Gary & Mike as the vengeful Officer Dick and voiced the dinosaurian military commander character General Galapagos in the Fox animated series Terrible Thunderlizards. He played the voice of Bob Johnson on Squirrel Boy and Kanjar Ro in Green Lantern: First Flight and starred as the sheriff in Last of the Dogmen. Smith appeared on the Netflix series The Ranch as Mr. Peterson, a terminally ill farmer. Smith worked in the stop-motion AMC+ series Ultra City Smiths, where he voiced Carpenter K. Smith.

Filmography

Film Year Title Role Notes 1980 Roadie Security Guard Film debut 1981 Zoot Suit Sergeant Smith 1983 Staying Alive Choreographer Going Berserk Clarence 1984 Flashpoint Carson 1987 RoboCop Clarence Boddicker The Delos Adventure Arthur McNeil 1988 Rambo III Robert Griggs Two Idiots in Hollywood District Attorney 1989 True Believer Robert Reynard Dead Poets Society Mr. Perry Heart of Dixie Professor Flournoy 1990 Quick Change Russ Crane/Vince Lombino 1991 Oscar Lt. Toomey, Chicago PD Company Business Elliot Jaffe, CIA Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country Federation President Shadows and Fog Vogel's Follower 1992 Fortress Prison Director Poe 1993 Boxing Helena Dr. Alan Harrison The Crush Cliff Forrester Heart and Souls Patterson Uncredited Big Wave Daves Jack Lord RoboCop 3 Clarence Boddicker Archive footage from 1987 film 1994 Dead on Sight Julian Thompson 1995 To Die For Earl Stone Under Siege 2: Dark Territory General Stanley Cooper Last of the Dogmen Sheriff Deegan 1996 Citizen Ruth Norm Stoney Broken Arrow Secretary of Defense, Baird A Time to Kill Stump Sisson 1997 Prefontaine Curtis Cunningham 1998 Shelter Tom Cantrell Deep Impact Otis Hefter 1999 Girl, Interrupted Dr. Crumble 2002 Teddy Bears' Picnic Secretary of Transportation, William Easter 2004 Evil Remains Dr. Theodore Rosen 2005 The Trouble with Dee Dee William Rutherford 2006 Hard Scrambled Benno 2007 Entry Level Nick 2009 Green Lantern: First Flight Kanjar Ro (voice) All in the Bunker Adolf Hitler Short subject 2011 Cedar Rapids Orin Helgesson 2012 Men in a Box Dr. Skinner Short subject Hitchcock Geoffrey Shurlock 2013 Turbo Indy CEO (voice) 2019 Perpetual Grace, LTD Uncle Dave Recurring role (season 1) Suits Ted Tucker Episode: "Scenic Route" Perfect Harmony Tinsley Episode: "It's Electric" 2020 Star Trek: Lower Decks Clar (voice) Episode: "Veritas" 2021 Jupiter's Legacy Old Man Miller Episode: "All the Devils Are Here" Ultra City Smiths Carpenter K. Smith (voice) Recurring role 2022The Dropout David Boies Recurring role2023–2024That '90s Show Red Forman Main cast, spin-off of That '70s Show 2024Monsters at WorkAlistair Clawbottom (voice)3 episodes 2025The SimpsonsMr. Hubley (voice)Episode: "Guess Who's Coming to Skinner"

Video games Year Title Role Notes 2001 Fallout Tactics: Brotherhood of Steel General Dekker