Biography
Supporting actor Kurtwood Smith initially gained recognition as cold-blooded killer Clarence Boddicker in the sci-fi action movie "RoboCop" (1988), although it was for his portrayals of gruff, no-nonsense fathers - most notably "Red" Foreman on "That '70s Show" (Fox, 1998-2006) - that Smith would be best known for. After earning acclaim on the theater stages of California for a number of years, Smith gradually began to break into film and television with minor roles in features such as "Zoot Suit" (1981) and "Staying Alive" (1983), as well as the miniseries "North & South: Book II" (ABC, 1986). Audiences sat up and took notice, however, with his deliciously evil turn as the sociopathic Boddicker in "RoboCop" - a role that provided Smith with some of the best lines of dialogue in the movie. He convincingly played stern patriarchs in the films "Dead Poets Society" (1989) and "To Die For" (1995), effectively laying the groundwork for the other major role of his career. Smith struck just the right balance as the hard-as-nails dad with the heart-of-gold on the period sitcom "That '70s Show" (Fox, 1998-2006), opposite young rising stars Topher Grace, Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis. Post "'70s Show" Smith worked steadily in efforts like the comedy feature "Cedar Rapids" (2011), remaining one of the more sought after, dexterous character actors in the industry.
