Ray Smith (actor)
Ray Smith ( born May 1, 1936 in Trealaw, Rhondda, Wales; † 15 December 1991 in Llandough, Vale of Glamorgan, Wales ) was a British actor.
Life
Smith grew up the son of a miner, who in a work accident was killed when Smith was three years old. After his schooling and military service in the British Army, he played at The Prince of Wales Theatre in Cardiff. He retired in the late 1950s to London in order to record a career as an actor. In 1959 he made his debut in an episode of the BBC series BBC Sunday - Night Theatre. In the same year, he starred in four episodes of the series Nick of the River a police officer. In the early 1960s he also received minor roles in British films such as The Last Ride of U 153 in the children's program Jackanory he stepped 1967-1971 in 23 episodes as a storyteller on. From 1971 to 1975 he played in the crime series Public Eye again a police officer. Better known in the German speaking he gained through his portrayal of Chief Superintendent Gordon Spikings in the TV series Dempsey & Makepeace.
Smith suffered during the filming of the television adaptation of Kingsley Amis's novel The Old Devils a heart attack and died at the age of 55 years.