Kurtwood Smith

Graduated from Canoga Park High School, Canoga Park, California class of 1961. (Bryan Cranston graduated from the same school, class of 1974).

Played two heavies named Clarence: "Going Berserk" (1983) and "RoboCop" (1987).

Was considered for the role of Al Bundy on "Married with Children" (1987).

Tends to play well meaning but stubbornly misguided characters, like "Mr. Perry" on Dead Poets Society (1989) and the Captain-Nemo-like alien "Annorax" on "Star Trek: Voyager" (1995).

His son, Shannon Smith, who goes by the stage name Dr. Sauce, hosted a radio show at Stanford University in the mid-to-late 1990s and played guitar in a band called The Vulcaneers.

Has played three different characters in the Star Trek universe: the Federation President in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (1991), Thrax on "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" (1993) and Annorax on "Star Trek: Voyager" (1995).

Won the role of "Red Foreman" on "That '70s Show" (1998) when the original choice, Chuck Norris, was unavailable because of his commitment to filming "Walker, Texas Ranger" (1993). Set near Milwaukee, Wisconsin, he was the only cast member to actually be from the state. Wisconsin is a Native American term for "land of red stone".

Played the father of Eric Forman on "That '70s Show" (1998) and played the father of a patient treated by Dr. Eric Foreman on "House M.D." (2004).

"Kurtwood" is his real first name. According to an interview with Smith on Caroline Rhea's syndicated television show (8 April 2003), his mother was a fan of a country singer named Kurt (or Curt) in the early 1940s. However, she thought "Kurt Smith" was too short a name, so she added "wood" -- "she just tacked it on to the end", said Smith. He noted that he's likely the only Kurtwood.

Presented actress Barbara Bain with the California Lottery's "Hero in Education" Award on "The Big Spin" show on December 18, 2004.