Please Rewind Talent Wall

Kurtwood Smith

Kurtwood Smith has built a career on characters who carry authority—and often make everyone around them nervous. Whether playing a ruthless antagonist, an exasperated father or a formidable official, he brings a clipped, grounded intensity that works equally well in drama, science fiction and comedy. Born on July 3, 1943, in New Lisbon, Smith grew up in California’s San Fernando Valley. He earned a B.A. from San Jose State College and an M.F.A. from Stanford University, then taught theatre arts at Cañada College from 1969 to 1975. His stage work earned him three Drama-Logue Awards, for performances in Billy Budd, Idiot’s Delight and Green Grow the Lilacs. On film, Smith is closely associated with Clarence Boddicker, the vicious criminal at the center of Paul Verhoeven’s RoboCop. He also appeared as Neil’s father in Dead Poets Society, played Sheriff Deegan in Last of the Dogmen and portrayed Ku Klux Klan leader Stump Sisson in A Time to Kill. These roles show how effectively he can turn sternness into menace, pressure or dark humour depending on the material. Television gave Smith one of his defining parts: Red Forman on That ’70s Show, which ran from 1998 to 2006. His dry delivery and permanently tested patience made Red more than a stock sitcom father. Smith reprised the role in 2023 for That ’90s Show. His television work also includes 24, Medium, Resurrection, Patriot, Worst Week and The Ranch. Smith has repeatedly ventured into science fiction, including three distinct Star Trek roles: the Federation President in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country, Thrax on Deep Space Nine and Annorax on Voyager. He has also built an extensive voice-acting career across animation, video games and stop-motion projects, including Ultra City Smiths. Across formats, his great strength remains the same: making forceful characters feel specific rather than merely severe.