Park Walkers #6: Because They're Classic
 

Kurtwood Smith says strangers often approach him on the street, pleading to be called a dumb-ass as only Smith can utter the insult. "Dumb-ass" became his catch phrase in eight seasons as the paternally gruff Reginald "Red" Forman on That '70s Show. He was offered the role because the producers wanted a no-nonsense, Chuck Norris type, and Norris himself turned it down. He says his performance was inspired by his own stepfather, who died just as That '70s Show first went into production.

Smith was an infant when his real father, a fighter pilot in World War II, died after being shot down on a bombing run over Germany. His mother wanted to name him Kurt, but she added the extra 'wood' because she thought the name 'Kurt Smith' sounded too curt and insignificant. Smith suspects he is the world's only Kurtwood.

He was a longtime character actor before his sitcom success, usually playing cops, crooks, and other tough guys. On TV, he played the coldhearted Capt Joseph Scanlon on the mid-1980s undercover cop show Renegades with Patrick Swayze and Tracy Scoggins. In the late-80s New Adventures of Beans Baxter, Smith played the sinister mastermind who perpetually threatened the teenage spy Beans. In a funny but short-lived 1993 sitcom about a Hawaiian surf shop, Big Wave Dave's with David Morse and Jane Kaczmarek, Smith played a wacky freeloader who improbably claimed to be Hawaii Five-O's Jack Lord. He also provides the voice of Andy's father on Squirrel Boy. Fans of Star Trek know Smith as the Cardassian Thrax on Deep Space Nine, the time traveler Annorax on Voyager, and the President of the Federation in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country.

In his best-remembered movie roles, he played John Travolta's choreographer in Staying Alive, the sadistic second-string bad-guy who worked for Ronny Cox in RoboCop, Robert Sean Leonard's domineering father in Dead Poets Society, Nicole Kidman's clueless father in To Die For, the Secretary of Defense in Travolta's Broken Arrow, and one of Winona Ryder's several psychiatrists in Girl, Interrupted. In his quintessential film performance, he played the cruel warden of a privatized prison in Fortress with Christopher Lambert, and he took a rare leading role in Hard Scrambled, an independent drama where his thuggish character wants control of a run-down diner.

Smith's wife is actress Joan Pirkle. They both worked on Robocop, where she played Cox's secretary, and Smith's character made a pass at her. Off-camera, Smith and Pirkle are longtime activists for single-payer universal health care.


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Future Thread Titles:

Because They fill Our Hearts with Hope
Because She Bought Him a Nice Beer to Celebrate His New Job

From the last thread:

Thanks for posting the trailer, Chris! Gotta see Eric Foreman bring Red Forman his son (not Eric Forman) back. :look: :lol:

It's won't quite be the same, but there will be elements. :nod:

Yeah, I agree. A T7S friend of mine on tumblr suggested that Eric and Donna shouldn't have gotten engaged in S5 but dealt with the issues that led them to break up. Then they could've gotten engaged in season six.

Had Eric and Donna just said theirs was a long engagement, that actually getting married wouldn't happen until after college, then I think Red and Kitty might've calmed down about it.

Probably lots of advice of how to deal with an angry or upset wife/girlfriend. I would've liked Red giving Eric advice that Eric takes but blows up in his face since Donna and Kitty are different people (though they do have some similarities). Then maybe Eric would go to Kitty for advice, and she'd give advice based on keeping Red happy -- and that would work.

Eric would be happy about it at first. Then he'd freak out that his girlfriend/fiancée is like his dad.

Eric: Oh, God -- I'm marrying my dad.

Thanks for the new thread Lisa! So cool that my title got used and it was my favorite if the three :)

Wanted to share this link with you all:Kurtwood Smith talks Robocop and nude scenes, then gives his Bill Murray story · Random Roles · The A.V. Club

It's a really great but really long interview with Kurtwood Smith where they pretty much talk about everything he's been in. T7S, Robocop, Dead Poets, and Ressurection. Also smaller parts like in SOAP, Lou Grant, and his deleted scene in Staying Alive-I knew there had to be more to his role than just watching the dancers! But anywoo it's a really nice interview that worth the read. :)

Thanks for the new thread, Lisa.

And thank you for the interview, Prissy. :)

Prissy. thank you for that link! The interview is a good read.

OMG, the intro to Renegades is hilarious! Full of '80s cheesy goodness. :P

Loved reading about his experiences with Star Trek. It took me forever to realize he'd played the Federation President in Star Trek VI. Freaked me out. :lol:

He did a nude scene! I didn't know that. Well, Eric would be traumatized seeing his dad's butt. :goof:

Aww, I :love: what he says about doing That '70s Show.

Did anyone watch Resurrection? I just finished the first episode and I really liked it!

I haven't seen it yet.

Oh shoot! I forgot to record it. Maybe it's on Hulu. If not I'm sure it will be on on-demand, at least I hope. It looks interesting. :nod:

:)

No problem! I was happy to share the interview and I’m glad you liked reading it. I think he got to talk about some a lot of the work he’s done even that 12;01 movie! The only thing I wish they’d asked him about was The Christmas Wish and working with John Denver…Oh and Last of the Dogmen. An HBO movie but it’s one of my dad’s favorites. We both got a kick out of seeing Kurtwood in it.

Oh and I saw Resurrection! Twice in fact! :D And I thought it was just terrific! It’s a little slow but it’s the pilot you can’t expect everything to be thrown at you right away. Kurtwood, I thought did an amazing job, my favorite scene of his was the part where he’s running. No dialogue but the emotions it gives, wow!

So far the show has gotten mixed reviews. It’s being compared to That French movie The Returned (I think) and that’s what’s making it look dull in comparison but the cast and crew have said it’s not based off of the film but rather a novel. The show also was one of the most watched shows of the night. I’m definitely staying tuned, the preview for what’s to come this season has me hooked :D

Oh, yeah! I enjoyed reading what he had to say about 12:01, too.

Twice? Well, now I'm looking forward to seeing it even more. Think I'll watch it on Sunday.

I think The Returned was a TV series that lasted one season? I see A LOT of reviews comparing it to that series and saying that it's not as good. The Resurrection crew though says that it's NOT based on that series. Who knows. What I do know though is that it attracted 13.9 million viewers and that I'll definitely be checking it out again on Sunday. I'm excited to Kurtwood. I hope it sticks!

Lisa, yeah well I saw it twice because the first time was when it actually premiered. Second time was later on with my mom, who wanted to see it but wasn't home for the orginal airing so I recorded it for her.

Chris, that was just what I was saying about the reviews and the high number of viewers (thanks for the exavt figure, i couldnt remember). It keeps getting compared to The Returned, honestly I don't know if it's a series or movie, I just know its French lol. But I've read good things about KS performance though.

I'm eager for the second episode already read the description and it sounds like a good one! :)

Prissy thanks for sharing that interview! I loved what he said about "That 70's show". I still need to watch " Resurrection".

No problem Colleen!

Anyone see last nights episode of Ressurection? Was even better than the first and the preview of next weeks almost had me in tears.

Also I THINK Kurtwood Smith is coming out on The View Friday with costar Frances Fisher. I say THINK because setting the recording for it I only saw her name on the info and not his. I stil set it though :) I read online he'd be there.