Ray Smith (actor)

Infobox actor
name = Ray Smith
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birthname =
birthdate = 1 May, 1936
birthplace = Trealaw, WAL
deathdate = Dda|1991|12|15|1936|05|1
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occupation = Television actor
yearsactive =
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Ray Smith (1 May 1936 - 15 December 1991) was a Welsh actor who found fame playing the tough talking police chief, Detective Superintendant Gordon Spikings, in the hit TV show, "Dempsey & Makepeace".

Smith was born in Trealaw in the Rhondda Valley but lived for most of his later adult life in Dinas Powys. He had a busy and successful career as a versatile classical actor appearing in many stage productions as well as frequent British film and TV roles, although real celebrity came very late in his life through his Spikings character. He had also featured as Detective Insp. Firbank on the long-running British TV series "Public Eye". Although better remembered for his tough hard man roles, Ray was also well capable of displaying sensitivity and tenderness in his roles if required.

Ray Smith died at Llandough Hospital after a major heart attack in 1991 at the age of 55.

TV Roles and Filmography

* Nick of the River (1959)

* The House under the Water (1960)

* Edgar Wallace Mystery Theatre (1960) (Candidate for Murder)

* The Terrorists (1961)

* Ben Casey (1962)

* No Hiding Place (1960 - 1963) (2 episodes)

* The painted smile (1962)

* Mystery Submarine (1963)

* Suspense (1963)

* Murder Can Be Deadly (1963)

* The Indian Tales of Rudyard Kipling (1964)

* Ring out an Alibi (1964) (TV mini series)

* Tomorrow at Ten (1964)

* Moulded in Earth (1965) (TV mini series)

* Z Cars (1965 - 1970) (4 appearances)

* Public Eye (1965-1975) (TV series) (1971-1975)

* Candidate for Murder (1966)

* Softly Softly (1966 - 1967) (4 episodes)

* The Informer (1967)

* The Wednesday Play (1968) (Mrs Lawrence will look after it)

* Half Hour Story (1968) (Stella)

* Shaggy Dog (1968) (TV movie)

* The Company of Five (1969)

* Special Branch (1969)

* Detectives (1969)

* Saturday Night Theatre (1969) (Bangelstein's Boys)

* A Family at War (1970) (TV serial)

* Shadows of Fear (1970 - 1971)

* Man at the Top (1971)

* Callan (1967-1972) (TV series)

* Made (1972)

* Country Matters (1972)

* Jackanory (1972 - 1985) (24 appearances)

* Colditz (1972)

* The New Adventures of Black Beauty (1972)

* New Scotland Yard (1972-1974) (TV series)

* Under Milk Wood (1973)

* The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes (1973)

* Sam (1973-1975) (TV series)

* The Main Chance (1975)

* Thriller (1975)

* Crown Court (1975)

* The Next Voice You See (1975) (TV movie)

* Look Back in Darkness (1975) (TV movie)

* Madame Bovary (1975) (TV mini series)

* The Hanged Man (1975) (TV series)

* How Green was my Valley (1975)

* Hunter's Walk (1973-1976) (TV series)

* Operation Daybreak (1976)

* Bill Brand (1976)

* King Lear (1976)

* Little Lord Fauntleroy (1976)

* Rogue Male (1976) (TV movie)

* "1990" (1977-1978) (TV series) (episode "Health Farm", 1977)

* Plays for Today (2 episodes 1977 and 1980)

* The Sailor's Return (1978)

* The Mill on the Floss (1978) (TV mini series)

* The Hills of Heaven) (1978) (TV mini series)

* Enemy at the Door (1978)

* Target (1978) (1 episode)

* The Beast (1979) TV special

* Juliet Bravo (1980) (1 Episode)

* Masada (1981) (TV mini series)

* The life and times of David Lloyd George (1981)

* Plays for Pleasure (1981) (episode "Like I've never been gone" 1981)

* Maybury (1983)

* We'll Meet Again (1982) (TV series)

* The Citadel (1983) (TV movie)

* Struggle (1983) TV series

* Shades of Darkness - Bewitched (1983)

* Dempsey & Makepeace (1985-1986) (TV series)(30 Episodes)

* King Lear (1987)

* Three for the Road (1987)

* The District Nurse (1987) (TV Series) (episode "Bedside Manners" 1987)

* The Old Devils (1992) (TV Mini series) - recorded before his death