Ray Smith

Person

Ray Smith

Acting May 1, 1936

Trealaw, Glamorgan, Wales, UK

Ray Smith (1 May 1936 – 15 December 1991) was a Welsh actor who played the tough-talking police chief, Detective Superintendent Gordon Spikings, in the television series Dempsey a…

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Known for

Popular titles

Crown Court

Crown Court

5.7 1972 TV Show
ITV Playhouse

ITV Playhouse

7.0 1967 TV Show
No Hiding Place

No Hiding Place

4.8 1959 TV Show
Thriller

Thriller

7.0 1973 TV Show
Dempsey and Makepeace

Dempsey and Makepeace

6.8 1985 TV Show
The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes

The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes

7.5 1971 TV Show
Public Eye

Public Eye

8.2 1965 TV Show
Masada

Masada

7.1 1981 TV Show
Callan

Callan

7.0 1967 TV Show
New Scotland Yard

New Scotland Yard

6.3 1972 TV Show
The Main Chance

The Main Chance

8.3 1969 TV Show
Target

Target

7.0 1977 TV Show

Biography

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Ray Smith (1 May 1936 – 15 December 1991) was a Welsh actor who played the tough-talking police chief, Detective Superintendent Gordon Spikings, in the television series Dempsey and Makepeace. He was the first actor to play Brother Cadfael for BBC radio, and played a memorable Dai Bando in the BBC's 1975 adaptation of How Green Was My Valley - a touching performance given that Smith;s own father was a miner killed in a pit accident when Smith was just three years old. His final role work was in the TV adaptation of Kingsley Amis' novel, The Old Devils. He died just before filming concluded at the age of 55 from a massive heart attack and won the posthumous BAFTA Cymru Award for Best Actor in 1992.

Filmography

Movies and shows, newest first

  1. 1992
    The Old Devils

    Movie Charlie Norris

  2. 1987
    The Trial of Klaus Barbie

    Movie Margaine

  3. 1985
    Dempsey and Makepeace

    TV show Spikings

  4. 1983
    Struggle

    TV show Sir Bert

  5. 1983
    Bewitched

    Movie Sylvester Brand

  6. 1983
    Shades of Darkness

    TV show Sylvester Brand

  7. 1982
    We'll Meet Again

    TV show Albert Mundy

  8. 1981
    Masada

    TV show Lentius

  9. 1981
    Plays for Pleasure

    TV show Clive Lewis

  10. 1981
    The Life and Times of David Lloyd George

    Movie Aneurin Bevan

  11. 1980
    A Question of Guilt

    TV show Supt Foley

  12. 1979
    The Atom Spies

    Movie Doctor Cockcroft

  13. 1978
    The Mill on the Floss

    TV show Mr Tulliver

  14. 1978
    The Sailor's Return

    Movie Fred Leake

  15. 1978
    Mucking Out

    Movie Thomas Loftus

  16. 1978
    Enemy at the Door

    TV show John Weston

More credits
  1. 1977
    The Mayor's Charity

    Movie Charlie Harris

  2. 1977
    1990

    TV show

  3. 1977
    Target

    TV show MP Jack Sissons

  4. 1977
    The Sunday Drama

    TV show Harry

  5. 1976
    Rogue Male

    Movie Fisherman

  6. 1976
    Bill Brand

    TV show Moores

  7. 1975
    How Green Was My Valley

    TV show Dai Bando

  8. 1975
    Operation: Daybreak

    Movie Hájek

  9. 1975
    Madame Bovary

    TV show Homais

  10. 1975
    The Next Voice You See

    Movie Ben Tamplin

  11. 1975
    The Hanged Man

    TV show Josef Milcjek

  12. 1974
    King Lear

    Movie Kent

  13. 1973
    Second City Firsts

    TV show Thomas Loftus

  14. 1973
    Sam

    TV show George Barraclough

  15. 1973
    Thriller

    TV show Ben Tamplin

  16. 1973
    Britannia: A Bridge

    Movie Narrator (Voice)

  17. 1972
    Colditz

    TV show Hans Hugenberg

  18. 1972
    Crown Court

    TV show

  19. 1972
    Made

    Movie Policeman

  20. 1972
    The Mill

    Movie Holland

  21. 1972
    Country Matters

    TV show Mr Holland

  22. 1972
    Villains

    TV show Dave Swift

  23. 1972
    The Frighteners

    TV show The Guvnor

  24. 1972
    New Scotland Yard

    TV show Arthur Clevedon, QC