Paul Lawrence Smith (June 24, 1936 – April 25, 2012), better known as Paul L. Smith, was an American stand-up comedian, actor, singer, and comedian, best known for generally portraying villains and "heavies". His most notable roles include Hamidou, the vicious prison warden in Midnight Express (1978), Bluto in Popeye (1980), Gideon in Masada (1981), and Glossu Rabban in Dune (1984). Smith was sometimes credited as Paul Smith.On April 25, 2012, Smith died in Ra'anana, Israel. Currently, his cause of death is unconfirmed.
Maxïmo Park, The Badlees, Books From Boxes, Apply Some Pressure, Our Velocity
Movies
Popeye, Midnight Express, Red Sonja, Dune, Maverick, The Diamond Peddlers, Caged Fury, Convoy Buddies, Haunted Honeymoon, The In-Laws, Crimewave, Carambola!, We Are No Angels, 21 Hours at Munich, Return of the Tiger, Jungle Warriors, Pieces, Desert Kickboxer, The Gospel Road: A Story of Jesus, Gor, ...
TV Shows
One Night, Desperados, Murder Most Horrid, Colin's Sandwich, Bonjour la Classe
Star Sign
Cancer
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Trademark
1
Towering height and muscular frame
2
Often plays imposing, menacing villains
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Quote
1
Do I like acting? Let me put it this way: they pay me to do it what if I was rich I would pay them to let me do.
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Fact
1
While working in Italy in the mid-70s, because of his resemblance with Bud Spencer, Paul Smith teamed up with Terrence Hill look-alike actor Antonio Cantafora(re-christened Michael Coby)and played in a series of action-packed comedies.
2
Became an Israeli citizen in 2006, adopting the Hebrew name Adam Eden.
3
Was offered his first small role on screen in the movie Exodus (1960) by director Otto Preminger, while attending a party.
4
Usually played heavies on screen. Was most notable as a sadistic prison warden in Midnight Express (1978) and as Bluto in Popeye (1980).
5
Was already 200 pounds and six feet tall at age 12.
6
Weighed 17 pounds when he was born.
7
B.A. philosophy and psychology, Brandeis University
8
Worked as a bouncer and a bodyguard prior to acting.
9
Had a black belt in Tae Kwon Do.
Actor
Title
Year
Status
Character
D.R.E.A.M. Team
1999
TV Movie
Vladimir Corzon (as Paul Smith)
Maverick
1994
The Archduke
Desert Kickboxer
1992
Santos
Eye of the Widow
1991
Elko
Caged Fury
1990
Head Guard (as Paul Smith)
Crossing the Line
1990
Joe Kapinski
The Hired Gun
1989
Wounded Man
You're Famous
1989
Paul (as Paul Smith)
Ten Little Indians
1989
Mr. Rodgers
Sonny Boy
1989
Slue
Ochlim Lokshim
1989
as Paul Smith
Death Chase
1988
Steele (as Paul Smith)
Outlaw Force
1988
Inspector Wainright
Terminal Entry
1987
Stewart (as Paul Smith)
Gor
1987
Surbus
Haunted Honeymoon
1986
Dr. Paul Abbot
Texas Godfather
1986
Duval (as Paul Smith)
Red Sonja
1985
Falkon (as Paul Smith)
The Protector
1985
Mr. Booar (uncredited)
Crimewave
1985
Faron Crush
Dune
1984
The Beast Rabban (as Paul Smith)
Jungle Warriors
1984
Cesar Santiago
Mivtza Shtreimel
1984
Raiders in Action
1983
Saul the Priest
Sadat
1983
TV Series
King Farouk
Pieces
1982
Willard (as Paul Smith)
When I Am King
1981
Sir Blackstone Hardtack
Masada
1981
TV Mini-Series
Gideon
The Salamander
1981
The Surgeon (as Paul Smith)
Popeye
1980
Bluto
Going in Style
1979
Radio Announcer
Disaster on the Coastliner
1979
TV Movie
Jim Waterman / Victor Prescott
Hawaii Five-O
1979
TV Series
Andy Kamoku
The Frisco Kid
1979
Person on Philadelphia dock (uncredited)
The In-Laws
1979
Mo (as Paul Lawrence Smith)
Barney Miller
1979
TV Series
Leon Stipanich
Wonder Woman
1979
TV Series
Simon Rohan
CHiPs
1978
TV Series
Announcer
Midnight Express
1978
Hamidou (as Paul Smith)
Da juan tao
1978
Paul the Westerner (as Paul Smith)
21 Hours at Munich
1976
TV Movie
Gutfreund (as Paul Smith)
The Diamond Peddlers
1976
Simone / Toby (as Paul Smith)
Conspiracy of Terror
1975
TV Movie
Pound Supervisor (as Paul Smith)
Noi non siamo angeli
1975
Raphael McDonald (as Paul Smith)
Convoy Buddies
1975
Butch (as Paul Smith)
Carambola's Philosophy: In the Right Pocket
1975
Len (as Paul Smith)
Emergency!
1974
TV Series
Security Director
Moses the Lawgiver
1974
TV Mini-Series
Carambola
1974
Clem (as Paul Smith)
Gospel Road: A Story of Jesus
1973
Peter (as Paul Smith)
The Bull Buster
1973
Shmiel (as Paul Smith)
Jacko Vehayatzaniot
1972
Nahtche V'Hageneral
1972
Fishke Bemilu'im
1971
Shmil (as Paul Smith)
Madron
1970
Gabe Price (uncredited)
Alle hatten sich abgewandt
1970
TV Movie
Der Feiste (as Paul Smith)
Homicide
1965
TV Series
Dudley Stark
Have Gun - Will Travel
1963
TV Series
Sven
Exodus
1960
Jewish Prisoner Peretz Geffner (uncredited)
Director
Title
Year
Status
Character
Jacko Vehayatzaniot
1972
Milhemet 20 HaShanim
1970
Documentary
Producer
Title
Year
Status
Character
Caged Fury
1990
associate producer - as Paul Smith
Terminal Entry
1987
associate producer - as Paul Smith
Production Manager
Title
Year
Status
Character
Gospel Road: A Story of Jesus
1973
production manager
Soundtrack
Title
Year
Status
Character
Popeye
1980
performer: "I'm Mean", "It's Not Easy Bein' Me" - uncredited