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Paul L. Smith

Paul L. Smith

Actor and producer · Died April 25, 2012, aged 73 · Everett, Massachusetts, USA

Paul L. Smith (February 5, 1939 – April 25, 2012) was an American character actor. Burly, bearded, and imposing, he has appeared in films and occasionally on TV since the 1970s, generally playing "heavies" and bad guys. His most notable roles include Hamidou, the vicious prison warden in Midnight Express (1978), Bluto in Robert Altman's Popeye (1980) and the Beast Rabban in David Lynch's Dune (1984). He is sometimes credited as Paul Smith or Paul Lawrence Smith.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
February 5, 1939
Died
April 25, 2012 (aged 73)
From
Everett, Massachusetts, USA
Works as
Actor and producer
Titles
30 on MovieCove · 55 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 63 days to Oct 26Up 20% in 30 days

What are Paul L. Smith's films like?

Usually the Shadow: 7 of 12 analyzed roles.

Genres

Action13 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 18th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Comedy3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 29th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Roles they play

12 analyzed roles
Shadow
7 of 12
Ally
1 of 12
Hero
1 of 12
Trickster
1 of 12
Mentor
1 of 12
Threshold guardian
1 of 12
Show the 12 roles

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Paul L. Smith's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 21 of their 30 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (13).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Paul L. Smith's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

55 credits, 30 with a MovieCove page.

  • Eric Falk: Sunshine-Judo auf Ibiza (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    as (archive footage)

  • D.R.E.A.M. Team(1999)

    as Vladimir Corzon (as Paul Smith)

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • Maverick(1994)

    as The Archduke

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Desert Kickboxer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Santos

  • Eye of the Widow(1991)

    as Elko

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films

  • Crossing the Line(1990)

    as Joe Kapinski

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films

  • Caged Fury(1990)

    Associate Producer · as Head Guard

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films

  • Ten Little Indians (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    as Elmo Rodgers

  • Sonny Boy(1989)

    as Slue

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • Crazy Camera (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Actor

  • The Hired Gun (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    as Wounded Man

  • You're Famous (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Actor

  • Death Chase (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    as Steele

  • Outlaw Force (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    as Inspector Wainright

  • Terminal Entry (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    as Stewart

  • Gor(1987)

    as Serbus

    Midcredits score: 2nd percentile of all films

  • Haunted Honeymoon(1986)

    as Dr. Paul Abbot

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Sno-Line (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    as Duval

  • The Protector(1985)

    as Mr. Booar (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Crimewave(1985)

    as Faron Crush

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Red Sonja(1985)

    as Falkon

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • Dune(1984)

    as The Beast Rabban

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Operation Shtreimel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Actor

  • Jungle Warriors(1984)

    as Cesar Santiago

    Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all films

  • Pieces(1982)

    as Willard

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • When I Am King (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    as Sir Blackstone Hardtack

  • The Salamander(1981)

    as The Surgeon

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films

  • Masada (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Show 4 episodes · as Gideon

  • Popeye(1980)

    as Bluto

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Going in Style(1979)

    as Radio Announcer

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Disaster on the Coastliner(1979)

    as Jim Waterman / Victor Prescott

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • The In-Laws(1979)

    as Mo

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Midnight Express(1978)

    as Hamidou

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • The Three Hostages (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    as David Warcliff (as Saul Eden Smith)

  • CHiPs(1977)

    Show 1 episode · as Announcer

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all shows

  • Return of the Tiger(1977)

    as Paul the Westerner

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • 21 Hours at Munich(1976)

    as Guttfruend

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • The Diamond Peddlers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    as Matteo / Butch

  • Wonder Woman(1975)

    Show 1 episode · as Simon Rohan

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all shows

  • We Are No Angels(1975)

    as Raphael McDonald

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Convoy Buddies(1975)

    as Butch

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Conspiracy of Terror (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    as Pound Supervisor

  • Barney Miller(1975)

    Show 1 episode · as Leon Stipanich (as Paul Lawrence Smith)

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • Carambola's Philosophy: In the Right Pocket (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    as Len

  • Alcohol: The Choice (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Actor

  • Carambola! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    as Len

  • Gospel Road: A Story of Jesus (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    as Peter

  • They Call Me Shmil (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    as Shmiel

  • Tel Aviv Call Girls (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Director

  • Nahtche and the General (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Actor

  • Emergency!(1972)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows

  • Fishke Bemilu'im (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    as שמיל

  • Madron(1970)

    as Gabe Price (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • Love, American Style (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Hawaii Five-O(1968)

    Show 2 episodes · as Andy Kamoku

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all shows

Career shape

Biggest box office

Maverick (1994)

$183M worldwide

Highest rated

Midnight Express (1978)

Midcredits 91st

Film career

19781994

Peak 1985 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

Billing

usually 7th · top billed in 0% of 13 roles
7883

Counts over their MovieCove titles; a title counts in every role they held on it. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.