Kurtwood Larson Smith is an American character actor, known for numerous roles in film and television. However, he is perhaps most notably known for playing stern father characters such as on That 70s Show. Born on July 3, 1943 in New Lisbon, Wisconsin, he studied theater at San Jose State University and earned a drama fellowship from Stanford University’s Master of Fine Arts program. Kurtwood Smith moved to Los Angeles to pursue an acting career, working on numerous shows and movies. During the 1970s, he worked regularly with the California Actors Theater and also attended Santa Clara University.
Kurtwood Smith is best known for his portrayal of the evil Mr. Sue in the Fox espionage comedy The New Adventures of Beans Baxter during the late 1980s. He later landed the part of Red Forman on the popular series That ‘70s Show, in which he appeared from 1998 to 2006. His career mostly involves shows dealing with sci-fi themes, and Smith has certainly been acclaimed for his performances. He became known for his early role as the villainous Clarence Boddicker in the influential film RoboCop. Smith later landed a part in Dead Poets Society, as well as making several appearances in the Star Trek franchise. He played the President of the Federation in Star Trek VI: Undiscovered Country, was cast as Thrax the Cardassian in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, and got the part of the Krenim scientist Annorax in Star Trek: Voyager.
Smith’s other film credits include roles in Girl, Interrupted in 1999, the thriller Trespassing, and the comedy The Trouble with Dee Dee. Smith’s resume has also been noted for its array of voiceover roles. He has appeared in games like Fallout Tactics: Brotherhood of Steel and FreeSpace 2. In addition, Smith can be heard on the claymation series Gary & Mike, on the Fox animated series Terrible Thunder Lizards, on Seth Green’s Robot Chicken and on Squirrel Boy. He later joined the cast of the series Worst Week, portraying the character Dick Clayton. Smith’s other credits include appearances in House M.D., Psych, Medium and 24. In 2011, he appeared as the character Higgins in the CBS drama Chaos.
- He is the father of actress Laurel Garner.
- His first wife is Cecilia Souza. They divorced in in 1974 and he married Joan Pirkle in 1988.
- He has done voice work for the Chicago White Sox in a series of radio ads.
- He was educated at Santa Clara University and Canoga Park High School.
- His son is Shannon Smith, who is also known as Dr. Sauce. He hosted a radio show at Stanford University in the mid-to-late 1990s and played guitar in a band called The Vulcaneers.
2011: Billion Dollar Freshmen (TV movie) - General Newcombe
2011: Chaos (TV series) - Higgins
2011: Cedar Rapids - Orin Helgesson
2010: Childrens' Hospital (TV series short) - Ben Hayflick
2010: Neighbors from Hell (TV series) - Don Killbride/Killbride
2010: Hitched (TV movie)
2010: Team Spitz (TV movie) - Principal Charles Kersey
2010: All American Tooles (short) - Dr. Vermillion
2009: Titan Maximum (TV series) - Mercury General
2009: Green Lantern: First Flight (video) - Kanjar Ro (voice)
2008-2009: Worst Week (TV series) - Dick Clayton
2006-2009: Medium (TV series) - F.B.I. Agent Edward Cooper
2009: 24 (TV series) - Senator Blaine Mayer
2009: All in the Bunker (short) - Adolf Hitler
2008: Untitled Barry Sonnenfeld TV Pilot (TV movie) - Gene Whitacre
2006-2007: Squirrel Boy (TV series) - Mr. Johnson/Bob Johnson/Mister J/…(voice)
2007: Insatiable (TV series)
2007: Entry Level - Nick
2007: Robocop: Villains of Old Detroit (video short) - Clarence J. Boddicker
2007: Shorty McShorts' Shorts (TV series) - Truant Officer Fabian
2007: House M.D. (TV series) - Dr. Obyedkov
2007: Psych (TV series) - Brett Connors
2007: Supreme Courtships (TV movie) - Justice Henry Greenberg
2004-2006: The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy (TV series) - Grim's Dad
1998-2006: That '70s Show (TV series) - Reginald "Red" Forman/Reginald 'Red' Forman/Red Forman
2006: Hard Scrambled - Benno
2006: Grand Union (TV movie) - Al McBride
2005: Super Robot Monkey Team Hyperforce Go! (TV series) - Ciracus
2005: The Trouble with Dee Dee - William Rutherford
2005: Peace (short) - Howard
2005: Robot Chicken (TV series) - Bodyguard/Lemming/Matt Trakker/…
2004: Lonely Place (short)
2004: Trespassing - Dr. Theodore Rosen
2004: Malcolm in the Middle (TV series) - Principal Block
2003: Battle Force: Andromeda (TV series) - Kronos (voice)
2002: Fillmore! (TV series) - Mr. Galser
2001-2002: The Zeta Project (TV series) - Agent James Bennett/Agent Bennet
2002: Teddy Bears' Picnic - Sec. of Transportation William Easter
2001: Justice League (TV series) - Prosecutor
2001: UC: Undercover (TV series) - William Murphy
2001: Batman Beyond (TV series) - Agent Bennett
2001: Fallout Tactics: Brotherhood of Steel (Video Game) - General Dekker (voice)
2001: Gary & Mike (TV series) - Officer Dick
1999: Girl, Interrupted - Dr. Crumble
1999: Spawn (TV series) - Robert Sullivan
1999: 3rd Rock from the Sun (TV series) - Jacob Solomon
1999: Freespace 2 (Video Game) - Colossus Scene Voiceover (voice)
1998: A Bright Shining Lie (TV movie) - General Westmoreland
1998: Deep Impact - Otis Hefter
1998: Safety Patrol (TV movie) - The Principal (uncredited)
1998: Shelter - Tom Cantrell
1998: The Magnificent Seven (TV series) - Col. Emmett Anderson
1998: Black Jaq (TV movie)
1997: Star Trek: Voyager (TV series) - Annorax
1997: Prefontaine - Curtis Cunningham
1993-1997: Eek! the Cat (TV series) - Dinosaur Military Commander (voice)
1996: Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (TV series) - Thrax
1996: A Time to Kill - Stump Sisson
1996: Broken Arrow - Secretary of Defense Baird
1996: The X-Files (TV series) - Agent Bill Patterson
1996: Citizen Ruth - Norm Stoney
1995: Last of the Dogmen - Sheriff Deegan
1995: Under Siege 2: Dark Territory - General Stanley Cooper
1995: To Die For - Earl Stone
1995: 500 Nations (TV mini-series)
1994: While Justice Sleeps (TV movie) - Leonard Rosenglass
1994: Dead on Sight - Julian Thompson
1993: Big Wave Dave's (TV series) - Jack Lord
1993: Heart and Souls - Patterson
1993: The Crush - Cliff Forrester
1993: Picket Fences (TV series) - Barry Jenkins
1993: Boxing Helena - Dr. Alan Harrison
1993: Doorways (TV movie)
1992: Fortress - Prison Director Poe
1991: Shadows and Fog - Vogel's Follower
1991: Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country - Federation President
1991: Company Business - Elliot Jaffe
1991: Oscar - Lt. Toomey, Chicago PD
1990: Quick Change - Russ Crane/Lombino
1990: The Nightmare Years (TV mini-series) - Dr. Josef Goebbels
1990: The Famous Teddy Z (TV series)
1990: 12:01 PM (short) - Myron Castleman
1989: Heart of Dixie - Professor Flournoy
1989: Dead Poets Society - Mr. Perry
1989: True Believer - Robert Reynard
1988: Rambo III - Griggs
1988: It's Garry Shandling's Show. (TV series) - Paul Bosgang
1988: Homesick (short) - Dad
1988: Two Idiots in Hollywood - Defense Attorney
1987: The New Adventures of Beans Baxter (TV series) - Mr. Sue
1987: 21 Jump Street (TV series) - Spencer Phillips
1987: RoboCop - Clarence J. Boddicker
1987: The Delos Adventure - Arthur McNeil
1986: The Christmas Gift (TV movie) - Jake Richards
1986: Newhart (TV series) - Chet
1986: North and South, Book II (TV mini-series) - Col. Hram Berdan
1986: Stingray (TV series) - Sgt. Edward Fiddler
1985: Making a Living (TV series)
1985: The Midnight Hour (TV movie) - Captain Warren Jensen
1985: Stir Crazy (TV series) - Bo Carter
1985: The Paper Chase (TV series)
1985: International Airport (TV movie) - Gilbert
1985: Deadly Messages (TV movie) - Lieutenant Burton
1984: Riptide (TV series) - Agent Merl Wilson
1984: Flashpoint - Carson
1984: Blue Thunder (TV series) - Bill Spradley
1984: The A-Team (TV series) - Mr. Carson
1983: Renegades (TV series) - Capt. Scanlon
1983: Going Berserk - Clarence
1983: Staying Alive - Choreographer
1983: Missing Pieces (TV movie) - Sincoff
1982: The Renegades (TV movie) - Captain Frank Scanlon
1981: Zoot Suit - Sergeant Smith
1981: Murder in Texas (TV movie) - Gus Kalb
1980-1981: Lou Grant (TV series) - Deropp/Fire Captain/Policeman
1980: Me and Maxx (TV series) - Dwayne
1980: Roadie - Security Guard
1980: Soap (TV series) - Guy in Laundromat
1978: The Deer Hunter - POW in River Cage