Paul L. Smith
Smith in 1973
Born
Paul Lawrence Smith

(1936-06-24)June 24, 1936
DiedApril 25, 2012(2012-04-25) (aged 75)
NationalityAmerican, Israeli
Other namesPaul Smith
Paul Lawrence Smith
Bob Spencer
Adam Eden
Alma materBrandeis University, Florida State University
OccupationActor
Years active1960–1999
Height6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Spouses
  • Norma Kalman
    (div. 1960)
  • Eve Smith (m. ? – 2012; his death)
Children1

Paul Lawrence Smith (June 24, 1936 – April 25, 2012) was an American-Israeli actor and director. 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 (1978), 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 films with Michael Coby (pseudonym of Antonio Cantafora). Smith played Bud Spencer-like characters while Coby was a Terence Hill lookalike in Bud & Terence-fashion.[1] 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 "Terrance Hall". Smith sued,[2] 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.[3]

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.[4]

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
1960 Exodus Jewish Prisoner Peretz Geffner Uncredited
1970 Madron Gabe Price Uncredited
1971 Fishke Bemilu'im Shmil
1972 Nahtche V'Hageneral
Jacko Vehayatzaniot
1973 Koreyim Li Shmil Shmiel
Gospel Road: A Story of Jesus Peter
1974 Moses the Lawgiver Rebel TV miniseries
Carambola! Clem Rodovam
1975 Carambola's Philosophy: In the Right Pocket Len
Convoy Buddies Butch
We Are No Angels Raphael McDonald
1976 The Diamond Peddlers Simone / Toby
21 Hours at Munich Gutfreund TV movie
1978 Return of the Tiger Paul the Westerner
Midnight Express Hamidou
1979 The In-Laws Mo
The Frisco Kid Person on Philadelphia dock Uncredited
Disaster on the Coastliner Jim Waterman TV movie
Going in Style Radio Announcer
1980 Popeye Bluto
1981 Masada Gideon TV miniseries
The Salamander The Surgeon
When I Am King Sir Blackstone Hardtack
1982 Pieces Willard
1983 Sadat King Farouk TV miniseries
Raiders in Action Saul the Priest
1984 Mivtza Shtreimel
Jungle Warriors Cesar Santiago
Dune Glossu Rabban
1985 Crimewave Faron Crush
The Protector Mr. Booar Uncredited
Red Sonja Falkon
1986 Sno-Line Duval
Haunted Honeymoon Dr. Paul Abbot
1987 Gor Surbus
Terminal Entry Stewart
1988 Outlaw Force Inspector Wainright
Death Chase Steele
1989 Ochlim Lokshim
Sonny Boy Slue
Ten Little Indians Elmo Rodgers
Nipagesh Basafari Paul
The Hired Gun Wounded Man
1990 Crossing the Line Joe Kapinski
Caged Fury Head Guard
1991 Eye of the Widow Elko
1992 Desert Kickboxer Santos
1994 Maverick Archduke
2008 Paul Smith: The Reddest Herring Himself Extended interview with star Paul L. Smith featured on the North American DVD release of Pieces, where he discusses the film, his life, and career

Discography

  • I'm Mean (1980)

References

  1. Heger, Christian (2019). Die rechte und die linke Hand der Parodie - Bud Spencer, Terence Hill und ihre Filme (in German). Marburg, Germany: Schüren Verlag GmbH. p. 113. ISBN 978-3-7410-0333-2.
  2. "648 F2d 602, Smith v. L Montoro". OpenJurist.org. F2d (648): 602. 1980. Retrieved 2013-02-21.
  3. GreyWizard. "FVI: What You Didn't Know". The Unknown Movies. Bad Movie Planet. Archived from the original on June 7, 2007. Retrieved March 15, 2019.
  4. "RIP Paul Smith". westernsallitaliana.blogspot.com. February 13, 2013. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
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