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 331⁄3: 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.
2016
2009
as Dr. Shapiro
2005
as Postal Clerk
2005
as Heathercliff
2001
as Dr. Phineas Phoenix
1999
as (voice)
1998
as Son'a Doctor
1996
as John Davies
1996
as Jeweler
1995
as Danny
1995
as Earl
1995
as Gary Dedmarch
1995
as Tobe Alder
1995
as Dr. Roth
1994
1994
as Francis Bolt
1994
as Mr. McFarlane
1994
as Mr. Hartley
1994
as Papshmir
1994
as William
1993
as Walt Twitchell
1993
as Superintendent Stoneman
1993
as Dr. Jeff Eckerle
1993
as Prosecuting Attorney
1993
as Sterling
1992
as Principal Kratz
1991
as Atticus Dunn
1991
as Fred
1991
as Simon Tidwell, First Patient
1991
as Dr. Frenzel
1991
as Grimbach
1991
as Grimbach
1990
as Judge Brown
1990
as Prince Restivon
1990
as Joseph Kilminster
1989
as Mr. Nelson
1989
as Mr. Pless
1989
as Riley Pringle
1989
as Sam Morgan
1988
as Pahpshmir
1988
as Barney
1988
as Judge Talmadge
1988
as Albert
1988
as Dr. Hendricks
1988
as Bjorn
1988
as Mr. Diperna
1987
as Pinsky
1987
as Wrenn
1987
as Leonard Brown
1987
as The Jogger
1987
as George Larson
1986
as Mr. Loats
1986
as Officer Griswald
1986
as Lenny Scott
1986
as Judge Steven Lang
1986
as Simon Le Simple
1985
1985
as Caterer
1985
as Harding
1984
as Sonny
1984
as Dowdy
1984
as Dworkin
1984
as God #1
1984
as Ward
1984
as Frank Pepitone
1982
as Walt Twitchell
1981
as Marley's Ghost
1976
as Gremio
1971
as Howard Seltzer
1970
as Mort Catafalque
1968
as Parole Officer