---
name: "Raye Birk"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/raye-birk"
fi1m_id: "raye-birk"
imdb_id: "nm0083541"
tmdb_id: 13422
wikidata_id: "Q7298430"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "27 May 1943"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 5
average_fi1m_score: 74
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 4
updated: "2026-10-04T23:42:37.941886+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Raye Birk

## Identity

Raye Birk

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/raye-birk
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** raye-birk
- **IMDb ID:** nm0083541
- **TMDB ID:** 13422
- **Wikidata ID:** Q7298430
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raye_Birk, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7298430, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0083541/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/13422

Actor. Born 27 May 1943 in Flint, Michigan, USA.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 27 May 1943, Flint, Michigan, USA
- **Active:** 1987–2009
- **Also known as:** Ray Birk
- **Titles on Fi1m:** 5: 4 acting, 1 other
- **Frequently works with:** [David Zucker](https://film.one/person/david-zucker.md), [George Kennedy](https://film.one/person/george-kennedy.md), [Leslie Nielsen](https://film.one/person/leslie-nielsen.md), [O. J. Simpson](https://film.one/person/o-j-simpson.md), [Pat Proft](https://film.one/person/pat-proft.md), [Priscilla Presley](https://film.one/person/priscilla-presley.md), [Robert K. Weiss](https://film.one/person/robert-k-weiss.md)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 74, as actor, over 4 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1980s 77 (3), 1990s 58 (1), 2000s 84 (1)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 74 to 72 across 4 titles
- **Score spread:** 2 at 80+, 1 at 60–79, 1 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 0 of 2 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Comedy 3, Crime 2, Thriller 2, Action 1, Adventure 1, Drama 1
- **Screen time:** 6 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $354m across 4 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raye_Birk, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7298430, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0083541/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/13422

## Streaming the US now

- **Hulu:** [*The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!*](https://film.one/film/the-naked-gun-from-the-files-of-police-squad.md) (88)
- **Apple TV:** [*Throw Momma from the Train*](https://film.one/film/throw-momma-from-the-train.md) (68)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Biography

Raye Birk is an American actor. Born on 27 May 1943 in Flint, Michigan, he graduated with a degree in theatre from Northwestern University in 1965 and received an MFA from the University of Minnesota in 1967. He taught acting and performed at Southern Methodist University from 1967 to 1970, then worked in regional theatre in Oregon, Milwaukee and San Francisco for the next thirteen years.

Birk moved to Los Angeles in 1983 to pursue film and television work. He is known for playing Pahpshmir in *The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!* (1988) and *Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult* (1994). His other film credits include *Throw Momma from the Train* (1987), *Doc Hollywood* (1991), *Star Trek: Insurrection* (1998) and *A Serious Man* (2009). Television appearances include recurring roles on *The Wonder Years* and guest spots on *Cheers* as Walt Twitchell, *The X-Files*, *Seinfeld* and *Star Trek: The Next Generation*.

He has continued stage work, appearing in productions at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis since moving to Saint Paul, Minnesota in 2003, including multiple performances as Ebenezer Scrooge in *A Christmas Carol*.

*Sources: imdb.com, en.wikipedia.org.*

## On Fi1m (5)

### Performed in (4) — the average rests on these

- *A Serious Man* (2009), Fi1m 84, as Dr. Shapiro — [page](https://film.one/film/a-serious-man.md)
- *Star Trek: Insurrection* (1998), Fi1m 58, as Son'a Doctor — [page](https://film.one/film/star-trek-insurrection.md)
- *The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!* (1988), Fi1m 88, as Pahpshmir — [page](https://film.one/film/the-naked-gun-from-the-files-of-police-squad.md)
- *Throw Momma from the Train* (1987), Fi1m 68, as Pinsky — [page](https://film.one/film/throw-momma-from-the-train.md)

### Also credited (1) — thanks, archive footage, uncredited

- *The War of the Roses* (1989), Fi1m 75, as Auctioneer (uncredited) — [page](https://film.one/film/the-war-of-the-roses.md)

## Complete filmography (74)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *New Neighbors* (2016), Actor
- *A Serious Man* (2009), as Dr. Shapiro — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/a-serious-man.md)
- *Sweet Land* (2005), as Postal Clerk
- *Factotum* (2005), as Heathercliff
- *North Country* (2005), as Tom Motel Clerk
- *Black Scorpion* (2001), series, as Dr. Phineas Phoenix
- *Star Trek: Insurrection* (1998), as Son'a Doctor — Fi1m 58, [page](https://film.one/film/star-trek-insurrection.md)
- *After Jimmy* (1996), as John Davies
- *The Big Squeeze* (1996), as Contractor
- *3rd Rock from the Sun* (1996), series, as Jeweler
- *Caroline in the City* (1995), series, as Danny
- *Nowhere Man* (1995), series, as Tobe Alder
- *Illegal in Blue* (1995), as Gary Dedmarch
- *My Brother's Keeper* (1995), as Dr. Roth
- *Cries from the Heart* (1994), Actor
- *Due South* (1994), series, as Francis Bolt
- *Touched by an Angel* (1994), series, as Mr. McFarlane
- *ER* (1994), series, as Mr. Hartley — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/er.md)
- *Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult* (1994), as Papshmir
- *Babylon 5* (1994), series, as William — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/tv/babylon-5.md)
- *Frasier* (1993), series, as Walt Twitchell — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/frasier.md)
- *Saved by the Bell: The New Class* (1993), series, as Superintendent Stoneman
- *The X-Files* (1993), series, as Dr. Jeff Eckerle — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-x-files.md)
- *The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr.* (1993), series, as Prosecuting Attorney
- *Caught in the Act* (1993), as Sterling
- *Barbarians at the Gate* (1993), as Travis Gaines
- *Class Act* (1992), as Principal Kratz
- *Silk Stalkings* (1991), series, as Atticus Dunn
- *Home Improvement* (1991), series, as Fred
- *Doc Hollywood* (1991), as Simon Tidwell, First Patient
- *Aftermath: A Test of Love* (1991), as Dr. Frenzel
- *Under Cover* (1991), series, as Grimbach
- *Under Cover* (1991), as Grimbach
- *Archie: To Riverdale and Back Again* (1990), as Judge Brown
- *Wings* (1990), series, as Prince Restivon
- *Working Girl* (1990), series, as Mr. Dixon
- *Challenger* (1990), as Joseph Kilminster
- *The War of the Roses* (1989), as Auctioneer (uncredited) — Fi1m 75, [page](https://film.one/film/the-war-of-the-roses.md)
- *Snoops* (1989), series, as Mr. Nelson
- *Seinfeld* (1989), series, as Mr. Pless — Fi1m 90, [page](https://film.one/tv/seinfeld.md)
- *Coach* (1989), series, as Riley Pringle
- *Perry Mason: The Case of the Lethal Lesson* (1989), as Sam Morgan
- *The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!* (1988), as Pahpshmir — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/film/the-naked-gun-from-the-files-of-police-squad.md)
- *Murphy Brown* (1988), series, as Barney — Fi1m 77, [page](https://film.one/tv/murphy-brown.md)
- *Empty Nest* (1988), series, as Judge Talmadge, Albert
- *Dear John* (1988), series, as Dr. Hendricks
- *Eisenhower and Lutz* (1988), series, as Bjorn
- *The Wonder Years* (1988), series, as Mr. Diperna — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-wonder-years.md)
- *Throw Momma from the Train* (1987), as Pinsky — Fi1m 68, [page](https://film.one/film/throw-momma-from-the-train.md)
- *Star Trek: The Next Generation* (1987), series, as Wrenn — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/star-trek-the-next-generation.md)
- *J.J. Starbuck* (1987), series, Actor
- *Beauty and the Beast* (1987), series, as Edmonton
- *The Popcorn Kid* (1987), series, as Leonard Brown
- *Burglar* (1987), as The Jogger
- *The Stepford Children* (1987), as George Larson
- *Fresno* (1986), series, as Mr. Loats
- *ALF* (1986), series, as Officer Griswald, Lenny Scott
- *L.A. Law* (1986), series, as Judge Steven Lang
- *Matlock* (1986), series, as Simon Le Simple
- *The Twilight Zone* (1985), series, as Time-Traveller (segment "Lost and Found")
- *The Golden Girls* (1985), series, as Caterer — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-golden-girls.md)
- *Deadly Messages* (1985), as Harding
- *Best Defense* (1984), as Sonny
- *Mister Roberts* (1984), as Dowdy
- *Blue Thunder* (1984), series, as Martin C. Sharp
- *Night Court* (1984), series, as Dworkin, God #1, Ward, Frank Pepitone
- *St. Elsewhere* (1982), series, as Irish Patient — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/tv/st-elsewhere.md)
- *Cheers* (1982), series, as Walt Twitchell — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/cheers.md)
- *A Christmas Carol* (1981), as Marley's Ghost
- *The Taming of the Shrew* (1976), as Gremio
- *Columbo* (1971), series, as Howard Seltzer — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/tv/columbo.md)
- *Gas! -Or- It Became Necessary to Destroy the World in Order to Save It.* (1970), as Mort Catafalque
- *Hawaii Five-O* (1969), series, as Parole Officer
- *Seed of Doubt*, as Dr. Bill Larson

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/raye-birk