Updated Feb 20, 2026
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Actor
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羊 Goat
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Raye Birk is known for acting.
Born in Flint, Michigan, USA (age 82).
Raye Birk has 4 credits in our database.
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Filmography (4)
Biography
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 Minneapoli
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Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Raye Birk?
Raye Birk is 82 years old, born on .
Where was Raye Birk born?
Raye Birk was born in Flint, Michigan, USA .
What movies or shows has Raye Birk been in?
Raye Birk has 4 credits in our database. Notable titles include Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult (1994), Class Act (1992), Doc Hollywood (1991), The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! (1988).
What is Raye Birk known for?
Raye Birk is primarily known as an actor. 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…
Where can I find more information about Raye Birk?
You can find more about Raye Birk on IMDB, TMDB, Wikidata. Their full profile and filmography is available on this page.