Raye Birk

Male
May 27, 1943

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.

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Highest-Rated Video
Filmography
Movies
TV Series
Upcoming
New Neighbors
6.90
movie2016United States
Credit: Acting
A Serious Man
7.00
movie2009United States
Character: Dr. ShapiroCredit: Acting
Sweet Land
7.00
movie2005United States
Character: Postal ClerkCredit: Acting
Factotum
6.70
movie2005United States
Character: HeathercliffCredit: Acting
North Country
7.30
movie2005United States
Character: Tom Motel ClerkCredit: Acting
Star Trek: Insurrection
6.40
movie1998United States
Character: Son'a DoctorCredit: Acting
After Jimmy
6.90
movie1996United States
Character: John DaviesCredit: Acting
The Big Squeeze
6.70
movie1996United States
Character: ContractorCredit: Acting
Illegal in Blue
6.50
movie1995United States
Character: Gary DedmarchCredit: Acting
My Brother's Keeper
6.80
movie1995United States
Character: Dr. RothCredit: Acting
Cries from the Heart
6.90
movie1994United States
Credit: Acting
Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult
6.50
movie1994United States
Character: PapshmirCredit: Acting
Caught in the Act
6.80
movie1993United States
Character: SterlingCredit: Acting
Barbarians at the Gate
7.00
movie1993United States
Character: Travis GainesCredit: Acting
Class Act
6.30
movie1992United States
Character: Principal KratzCredit: Acting
Doc Hollywood
6.40
movie1991United States
Character: Simon Tidwell, First PatientCredit: Acting
Aftermath: A Test of Love
6.80
movie1991United States
Character: Dr. FrenzelCredit: Acting
Under Cover
0.00
movie1991United States
Character: GrimbachCredit: Acting
Archie: To Riverdale and Back Again
6.70
movie1990United States
Character: Judge BrownCredit: Acting
Challenger
6.80
movie1990United States
Character: Joseph KilminsterCredit: Acting