Paul L. Smith

Paul Lawrence Smith (June 24, 1936 – April 25, 2012) was an American-Israeli actor. Burly, bearded and imposing, he appeared in feature films and occasionally on television since the 1960s, generally playing "heavies" and bad guys. His most notable roles include Hamidou, the vicious prison guard in Midnight Express, Bluto in Robert Altman's Popeye (1980), Gideon in the ABC miniseries Masada (1981), Glossu "Beast" Rabban in David Lynch's Dune (1984) and Falkon in Red Sonja (1985). He was most frequently credited as Paul Smith or Paul L. Smith, but was also billed as P. L. Smith and Paul Lawrence Smith.

Career Smith's first acting role, at age 24, was in Otto Preminger's 1960 epic 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 remained for six years, appearing in locally filmed features and television productions. He received director credit on the 1970 documentary Milhemet 20 HaShanim (War of 20 Years) and the 1972 crime drama Jacko Vehayatzaniot (Jacko and the Prostitute or Tel Aviv Call Girls).

Between 1973 and 1977, Smith made a series of Italian films with Michael Coby (pseudonym of Antonio Cantafora), a couple formed with the purpose of copying the successful films of the duo Terence Hill and Bud Spencer. Smith played Bud Spencer-like characters while Coby was a Terence Hill lookalike in Bud & Terence-fashion. One of these films, Convoy Buddies, was selected for American release by Film Ventures International, and producer Edward L. Montoro changed Smith's name to "Bob Spencer" and Cantafora's name to "Terrence Hall". Smith sued, successfully arguing that an actor's name recognition is vital to his career. The judicial system agreed and ruled against FVI, which paid Smith damages and court costs.

Smith made appearances in such films as 21 Hours at Munich (1976), Midnight Express (1978), as Bluto in Popeye (1980), and as Glossu Rabban in Dune (1984). On television, he appeared in such established series as Emergency!, CHiPS, Wonder Woman, Barney Miller and Hawaii Five-O.

Personal life On April 25, 2012, Smith died in Ra'anana from undisclosed causes, at the age of 75.

Filmography Year Title Role Notes 1960 Exodus Jewish Prisoner Peretz Geffner Uncredited 1963 Have Gun – Will Travel Sven Episode: "The Eve of St. Elmo" 1965 Homicide Dudley Stark Episode: "Dead on Two"1970 Alle hatten sich abgewandt Feister TV movie Madron Gabe Price Uncredited Milhemet 20 HaShanim Director 1971 Fishke Bemilu'im Shmil 1972 Nahtche V'Hageneral Also director Jacko Vehayatzaniot 1973 Koreyim Li Shmil Shmiel Gospel Road: A Story of Jesus Peter Also production manager 1974 Moses the Lawgiver Rebel TV miniseries Carambola! Clem Rodovam Emergency! Security Director Episode: "The Bash" Alcohol: The Choice Short film 1975 Carambola's Philosophy: In the Right Pocket Len Convoy Buddies Simone / Toby Conspiracy of Terror Pound Supervisor TV movieWe Are No Angels Raphael McDonald 1976 The Diamond Peddlers Simone / Toby 21 Hours at Munich Gutfreund TV movie 1977 Return of the Tiger Paul the Westerner 1978 CHiPs Announcer Episode: "Disaster Squad" Midnight Express Hamidou 1979 Wonder Woman Simon Rohan Episode: "Spaced Out" Barney Miller Leon Stipanich Episode: "Graveyard Shift" The In-Laws Mo The Frisco Kid Person on Philadelphia dock Uncredited Hawaii Five-O Andy Kamoku Episode: "A Lion in the Streets" Disaster on the Coastliner Jim Waterman TV movie Going in Style Radio Announcer Voice1980 Popeye Bluto The Toni Tennille Show Self Episode: "#1.44" 1981 Masada Gideon TV miniseries The Salamander The Surgeon1982 When I Am King Sir Blackstone Hardtack Pieces Willard 1983 Sadat King Farouk TV miniseries Raiders in Action Saul the Priest 1984 Jungle Warriors Cesar Santiago Dune Glossu Rabban 1985 Crimewave Faron Crush The Protector Mr. Booar Uncredited Red Sonja Falkon Sno-Line Duval 1986 Haunted Honeymoon Dr. Paul Abbot 1987 Gor Surbus Terminal Entry Stewart Also associate producer 1988 Outlaw Force Inspector Wainright Death Chase Steele 1989 Sonny Boy Slue Ten Little Indians Elmo Rodgers You're Famous Paul The Hired Gun Wounded Man Crazy Camera 1990 Crossing the Line Joe Kapinski Caged Fury Head Guard Also associate producer 1991 Eye of the Widow Elko 1992 Desert Kickboxer Santos 1994 Maverick Archduke 1999 D.R.E.A.M. Team Vladimir Corzon TV movie 2008 Paul Smith: The Reddest Herring Himself Extended interview featured on the North American DVD release of Pieces, where he discusses the film, his life, and career

Discography I'm Mean (1980)