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Raye Birk
Raye Birk
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Raye Birk (born May 27, 1943) is an American film and television actor. He appeared as Pahpshmir in the first and third installments of the Naked Gun films, and his television appearances include The Wonder Years, The Golden Girls, Wings, and Cheers, where he portrayed the mailman Walt Twitchell.

Key Information

Career

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Birk appeared as a villain in The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! (1988) and Naked Gun 33+13: The Final Insult (1994). 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 Mr. Diperna 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. (He originally read for the role of Coach Ed Cutlip).[1] While generally antagonistic, 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.

Furthermore, in 1985, 1986 and 1992, he appeared in 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 also appeared three times on ALF as Lenny Scott and Officer Griswald. Raye appeared in several episodes on the TV series Night Court. He was also on a pair of The Golden Girls episodes, both times playing a wedding caterer. 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.

Birk has also guest 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 Wings, The X-Files and Babylon 5. He was also on an episode of Home Improvement as one of Tim's poker buddies. His other appearances include Seinfeld, Touched by an Angel, ER, and the soap opera Days of Our Lives.

From 2004 to 2008, he played Ebenezer Scrooge in A Christmas Carol at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis.[2]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1970 Gas-s-s-s Mort Catafalque
1984 Best Defense Sonny, Dynatechnics
1984 The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension Reporter
1987 Burglar The Jogger
1987 Amazon Women on the Moon Vanya
1987 Throw Momma from the Train Pinsky
1987 Jake's M.O. Det. Bushkin
1988 The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! Pahpshmir
1989 Martians Go Home Speaker on TV
1991 Doc Hollywood Simon Tidwell
1992 Class Act Principal Kratz
1993 Josh and S.A.M. Hotel Manager
1994 Naked Gun 33+13: The Final Insult Pahpshmir
1995 Illegal in Blue Gary Dedmarch
1996 The Big Squeeze Contractor
1998 Star Trek: Insurrection Son'a Doctor
2005 Factotum Heathercliff
2005 North Country Tom Motel Clerk
2005 Sweet Land Postal Clerk
2009 A Serious Man Dr. Shapiro

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1976 The Taming of the Shrew Gremio Television film
1976 Hawaii Five-O Parole Officer Episode: "Target - A Cop"
1981 A Christmas Carol Marley's Ghost Television film
1983, 1984 Remington Steele Cecil Cosgrove / Maitre d' 2 episodes
1984 Hill Street Blues Singer Episode: "The End of Logan's Run"
1984 Blue Thunder Martin C. Sharp Episode: "Clipped Wings"
1984 Mister Roberts Dowdy Television film
1984 Earthlings Vince Martoni
1984 Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer Harry Stark Episode: "Torch Song"
1984, 1989 Newhart Dean Dackman / Whitley McVeigh 2 episodes
1985 Deadly Messages Harding Television film
1985 Off the Rack Crimmins Episode: "Here Comes the Bribe"
1985 Stir Crazy Caterer Herbert Episode: "Where's Mary"
1985, 1986 The Twilight Zone Bearded Man / Time-Traveller 2 episodes
1985, 1988 Mr. Belvedere Mr. Grant / Earl
1985–1991 Night Court Frank Pepitone / Ward / God No. 1 5 episodes
1985–1992 Cheers Walt Twitchell 3 episodes
1986 Mary Waiter Episode: "Table for Two"
1986 Fresno Mr. Loats 4 episodes
1987 The Stepford Children George Larson Television film
1987 The Popcorn Kid Leonard Brown 6 episodes
1987 Throb John Episode: "Moving In"
1987 Hunter Lt. Fifer Episode: "City of Passion: Part 1"
1987 Amen Mr. Evans Episode: "Thelma's Reunion"
1987 Star Trek: The Next Generation Wrenn Episode: "Haven"
1987–1988 ALF Officer Griswald / Lenny Scott 3 episodes
1987, 1989 Duet Dr. Dellerton / Vladimir Horowitz 2 episodes
1988 Marblehead Manor Hansel Episode: "Tea for Tuba"
1988 Beauty and the Beast Edmonton Episode: "Fever"
1988 Eisenhower and Lutz Bjorn Episode: "Blast from the Past"
1988 My Sister Sam Dave Carmichael Episode: "Good Neighbor Sam"
1988, 1989 The Golden Girls Caterer 2 episodes
1988–1991 The Wonder Years Mr. Diperna 10 episodes
1988, 1993 Empty Nest Judge Talmadge / Albert 2 episodes
1988–1993 L.A. Law Judge Steven Lang 7 episodes
1989 Perry Mason: The Case of the Lethal Lesson Sam Morgan Television film
1989 Matlock Simon Le Simple Episode: "The Clown"
1989 Snoops Mr. Nelson Episode: "A Pretty Girl Is Like a Malady"
1989–1993 Coach Riley Pringle 5 episodes
1990 Challenger Joseph Kilminster Television film
1990 Archie: To Riverdale and Back Again Judge Brown
1990 Perfect Strangers McNulty Episode: "Safe at Home"
1990–1992 Dear John Dr. Hendricks 4 episodes
1990, 1995 Murphy Brown Judge Quinn / Barney 2 episodes
1991 Aftermath: A Test of Love Dr. Frenzel Television film
1991 True Colors Mr. Warner Episode: "A Matter of Principal"
1991 Morton & Hayes Butler / Reginald 2 episodes
1991 Under Cover Grimbach 13 episodes
1992 Home Improvement Fred Episode: "Luck Be a Taylor Tonight"
1992 Sisters Carlton Brunell Episode: "Empty Rooms"
1992 Picket Fences Mike Caton Episode: "Pilot"
1992, 1993 Nurses Chaplain / Mr. Eckworth 2 episodes
1993 Life Goes On Dr. Bryant Episode: "Bedfellows"
1993 Barbarians at the Gate Travis Gaines Television film
1993 Shaky Ground Derek Episode: "Toupee or Not Toupee"
1993 Caught in the Act Sterling Television film
1993–1995 Silk Stalkings Atticus Dunn / Earl Elliott 7 episodes
1994 The George Carlin Show Inspector Driscoll Episode: "George Speaks His Mind"
1994 The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr. Prosecuting Attorney Episode: "High Treason: Part 1"
1994 Saved by the Bell: The New Class Superintendent Stoneman Episode: "Belding's Prank"
1995 M.A.N.T.I.S. Mayor Episode: "Fast Forward"
1995 My Brother's Keeper Dr. Roth Television film
1995 Seinfeld Mr. Pless Episode: "The Face Painter"
1995 Nowhere Man Tobe Adler Episode: "The Enemy Within"
1996 The X-Files Dr. Jeff Eckerle Episode: "War of the Coprophages"
1996 Wings Prince Restivon Episode: "A Tale of Two Sister Cities"
1996 Due South Francis Bolt Episode: "Red, White or Blue"
1996 After Jimmy John Davies Television film
1996 ER Mr. Hartley Episode: "Let the Games Begin"
1997 3rd Rock from the Sun Jeweler Episode: "A Dick on One Knee"
1997 Caroline in the City Danny Episode: "Caroline and the Critics"
1997 Baywatch William Lanning Episode: "Trial By Fire"
1997 Columbo Howard Seltzer Episode: "A Trace of Murder"
1997 Babylon 5 William Episode: "Intersections in Real Time"
1997 Ned and Stacey Earl Episode: "I Like Your Moxie"
1998 Mike Hammer, Private Eye Gustav Granville-Dawes Episode: "The Art of Murder"
1999–2003 Days of Our Lives Various roles 6 episodes
2000 Touched by an Angel Mr. McFarlane Episode: "Monica's Bad Day"
2001 Black Scorpion Dr. Phineas Phoenix 6 episodes
2002 My Sister's Keeper Justice of the Peace Television film
2002 Frasier Walt Twitchell Episode: "Cheerful Goodbyes"

References

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Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
Raye Birk (born May 27, 1943) is an American actor renowned for his work in film, television, and theater, particularly his portrayal of the villainous terrorist Pahpshmir in the comedy films The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! (1988) and The Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult (1994). Born in Flint, Michigan, Birk graduated from Southwestern High School in 1961, earned a B.A. in theater from Northwestern University in 1965, and obtained an M.F.A. from the University of Minnesota in 1967. He began his career in regional theater, performing leading roles at venues such as the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Milwaukee Repertory Theater, American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco, and the Tyrone Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis, where he appeared in 27 productions including Hamlet, Pride and Prejudice, and portrayals of Ebenezer Scrooge in A Christmas Carol (2005–2008). Birk transitioned to film and television after moving to Los Angeles in 1983, amassing over 100 credits with recurring roles such as high school principal Mr. DiPerna on The Wonder Years (1988–1993), mailman Walt Twitchell on Cheers (1989–1993) and Frasier (2002), and guest appearances on series including Star Trek: The Next Generation as Wrenn in "Haven" (1987), as well as The Golden Girls, Malcolm in the Middle, and The X-Files. His film roles also include supporting parts in The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension (1984), a Son'a doctor in Star Trek: Insurrection (1998), A Serious Man (2009), and Sweet Land (2005). Now based in Saint Paul, Minnesota, since 2003, Birk continues to perform in theater and teach acting workshops while maintaining a selective screen career spanning over five decades; in recent years, including 2024, he has led workshops and appeared in productions in Minnesota.

Early life and education

Upbringing

Raye Birk was born on May 27, 1943, in Flint, Michigan. Growing up in Flint during the mid-20th century, Birk was immersed in the city's industrial environment, dominated by the automobile industry, where General Motors was a major employer. His family background reflected this working-class milieu, with many relatives employed as automobile workers, alongside a strong tradition of educators in the family. There were no artistic influences in his household, providing little early model for a creative career. As a high school athlete at Southwestern High School, Birk initially focused on sports, but he discovered his passion for through participation in school productions. His breakout role came in a high school play titled The Man in the Dog Suit, where he portrayed the titular character, marking a pivotal moment that ignited his interest in . Birk graduated from Southwestern High School in 1961. Following high school, Birk began higher education at in Springfield, Massachusetts, before transferring to , where his enthusiasm for theater deepened.

Academic training

Raye Birk began his college education after graduating from Southwestern High School in Flint, Michigan, in 1961. He enrolled at intending to study physical education, but during his freshman year there, he was cast as Reverend Tooker in a production of Tennessee Williams's Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, an experience that profoundly shifted his career trajectory toward professional acting. This led him to transfer to in Evanston, Illinois, in the fall of 1962, where he pursued theater studies and earned a in Theatre Arts in 1965. Following his undergraduate studies, Birk pursued advanced training at the , where he completed a (MFA) in directing in 1967. The MFA program emphasized rigorous performance techniques and directorial skills, equipping him with a deeper understanding of ensemble work and character development essential for his future stage and screen roles. This graduate coursework built on his Northwestern foundation, fostering a methodical approach to interpreting complex scripts and collaborating in repertory theater environments. Immediately after earning his MFA, Birk joined the faculty at (SMU) in , , where he taught and performed in productions from 1967 to 1970. This early teaching role allowed him to apply his academic training practically, instructing students in scene study and while honing his own performance through on-campus theater work. The experience at SMU solidified his dual commitment to and , bridging the gap between scholarly preparation and professional demands.

Acting career

Theater work

Birk joined the Actors' Equity Association in 1971, marking the start of his professional stage career, during which he initially performed in regional theater productions in for several years. Following a period of teaching after earning his MFA from the in 1967, he transitioned to full-time professional stage work, including roles and directing assignments across the . Throughout the 1970s and beyond, Birk appeared in 12 productions at the in (formerly known as the Tyrone Guthrie Theater), showcasing his versatility in classical and modern works. Notable performances included Mr. Collins in (1973), Alfred Doolittle in Pygmalion (1979), and Polonius in (1980), among others that highlighted his skill in character roles. His association with the Guthrie deepened after returning to the in 2003, leading to additional appearances in plays such as (2018), (2017), and (2012). Birk also performed at other prominent regional venues, including the Repertory Theater, where he took on roles in the early , such as in The White House Murder Case (1972). At the , he appeared in several Shakespearean productions during the same decade, notably as Cassius in Julius Caesar (1970), in (1970), and the Porter in (1971). One of Birk's most enduring stage contributions was his portrayal of in the Guthrie Theater's annual production of , which he played from 2005 to 2008. Directed by Gary Gisselman, this run established Birk as a holiday staple, with critics praising his transformation of the miserly character from acerbic isolation to redemptive warmth, drawing on his extensive experience in ensemble-driven theater. In recent years, Birk has remained active in theater in Massachusetts, particularly in the Pioneer Valley, where he has performed and directed at local stages as of 2024. Alongside his wife, Candace Barrett Birk, he has contributed to community productions and workshops, including readings and new play developments with groups like the Play Incubation Collective. In 2025, Birk participated in the 15th Annual Historic North Hall Arts Festival, bringing The Story Cafe, and appeared as Rudy in Curve of Departure at the Chester Theatre Company.

Film roles

Raye Birk made his feature film debut in 1970 as Mort Catafalque in the Roger Corman-directed satirical comedy Gas! -Or- It Became Necessary to Destroy the World in Order to Save It, a low-budget production that marked his entry into cinema alongside emerging talents like Bud Cort and Talia Shire. Throughout the 1980s and early 1990s, Birk established himself in supporting roles within comedic films, often portraying quirky or antagonistic characters. In 1987, he appeared as Pinsky, a hapless neighbor, in Danny DeVito's dark comedy Throw Momma from the Train, contributing to the film's ensemble dynamic alongside Billy Crystal and DeVito himself. That same year, he played Vanya in the anthology sketch comedy Amazon Women on the Moon, a spoof project produced by Robert K. Weiss and Michael Peyser. His breakthrough in the genre came with the role of Pahpshmir, a bumbling Middle Eastern villain and henchman to Frank Drebin's adversaries, in the 1988 hit The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!, directed by David Zucker, where his deadpan delivery amplified the film's slapstick humor. Birk reprised a version of this comedic villain archetype as Pahpshmir in the 1994 series finale Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult, again under Zucker direction, providing continuity to the franchise's terrorist subplot while meeting a explosive end alongside Fred Ward's character. Birk's film work extended into more varied supporting parts in the , blending with light drama. He portrayed Simon Tidwell, a local judge, in the 1991 romantic Doc Hollywood, directed by , where his authoritative yet affable presence supported Michael J. Fox's lead performance in the small-town narrative. His genre versatility shone in 1998's Star Trek: Insurrection, directed by , where he played the Son'a Doctor, a clinical alien in the sci-fi franchise's exploration of ethics and immortality, adding subtle menace to the led by . In the 2000s, Birk transitioned toward dramatic roles in independent and character-driven films, culminating in his appearance as Dr. Shapiro, a doctor, in the Coen brothers' 2009 dark comedy-drama A Serious Man, where he delivered a poignant supporting performance. Other notable entries from this period include Factotum (2005) as Earl, a bar patron in the Charles Bukowski adaptation directed by Bent Hamer; North Country (2005) as Tom Motel Clerk in Niki Caro's workplace drama; and Sweet Land (2005) as Postal Clerk in the romantic period piece by Alan Cumming and Robert Alan Beuth. Over a career spanning nearly four decades, Birk contributed to more than 20 feature films from 1970 to 2009, demonstrating remarkable versatility by navigating between broad comedic archetypes—like the inept terrorists in the Naked Gun series—and more restrained dramatic turns in films such as A Serious Man and Star Trek: Insurrection, often drawing on his extensive theater background to infuse performances with precise timing and emotional depth.

Television roles

Raye Birk amassed over 150 television credits across a career spanning more than five decades, beginning with guest spots in early medical dramas such as St. Elsewhere, where he portrayed an Irish patient in a 1985 episode. His extensive work in episodic television established him as a reliable , often bringing comedic timing and authority to supporting roles in both sitcoms and dramas. One of Birk's most notable recurring television roles was as the stern school principal Mr. DiPerna on , appearing in 10 episodes from 1988 to 1991 and serving as a frequent to the young protagonist Kevin Arnold. This portrayal highlighted Birk's ability to embody bureaucratic authority with subtle humor, contributing to the show's nostalgic depiction of suburban adolescence. He also had a recurring role as the quirky mailman Walt Twitchell on , appearing in three episodes between 1985 and 1992, where his character engaged in lighthearted rivalries with postal worker . Birk reprised Twitchell in the 2002 Frasier episode "Cheerful Goodbyes," providing continuity to the universe during a crossover storyline set in . Beyond these recurring parts, Birk made memorable guest appearances across a range of popular series, including five episodes of from seasons 2 through 9 in various supporting roles that showcased his comedic versatility. He appeared twice on —once as a flamboyant caterer in the two-part episode "Sophia's Wedding" (1989) and as Judge Talmadge in "" (1990)—delivering scene-stealing moments amid the ensemble's wit. Additional guest spots included Prince Restivon on Wings in the 1996 episode "A Tale of Two Sister Cities" and entomologist Dr. Jeff Eckerle on in the 1996 episode "," where he added eccentric depth to the sci-fi procedural's paranoid tone. These diverse roles across sitcoms like and and more dramatic fare like solidified Birk's reputation for enhancing ensemble dynamics with precise, often humorous characterizations.

Personal life

Marriage and family

Raye Birk married actress Candace Barrett Birk on March 27, 1966, after meeting her as fellow acting students at Northwestern University. As of 2025, their marriage has lasted nearly 60 years. The couple has one son, Joshua Birk, an associate professor of history specializing in medieval Mediterranean political and cultural history at Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts. Birk's family has relocated multiple times in support of his career, including moves from after university to for work with the , then to , and back to the area in 2003. In June 2019, the family moved from to , to be closer to their son Joshua. The Birks maintain a private family life centered on mutual support and a shared appreciation for , with Candace's background in complementing Raye's without overlapping professionally in their personal routines.

Teaching and community involvement

Following his academic training at the , where he earned a degree in 1967, Raye Birk began his teaching career at in , , where he instructed and performed in theater productions from 1967 to 1970. Birk later established The Actors WorkOut, an ongoing training studio at the in , , designed for professionally oriented performers, where he served as lead instructor and contributed to the development of emerging talent through structured scene work and skill-building exercises. In recent years, particularly after relocating to the region of in 2019, Birk has focused on community-based education and outreach, leading workshops such as an audition preparation class in fall 2023 and an eight-week Scene Study acting workshop starting February 19, 2024, at the Center for Arts & Equity in . These sessions emphasize practical scene analysis and performance techniques to mentor aspiring actors in regional theater programs. In 2025, Birk continued these efforts, participating in events such as the North Hall Arts Festival's "The Story Café" in June. Birk's activities have extended to directing select productions and supporting equity initiatives in the , often in collaboration with local organizations like the Northampton Senior Center, where he has promoted healthy aging through arts engagement, such as screenings of theater-health content. Previously in , he facilitated over 100 sessions of the Cafe theater-health program. Through these efforts at institutions like , he advances inclusive theater education by providing residencies and guest instruction that prioritize diverse participation and professional growth.

References

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