Trivia

Won the role of Red Forman on That '70s Show (1998), which is set near Milwaukee, WI. Smith was the only cast member who actually was from Wisconsin (which is a Native American term for "land of red stone").

Originally auditioned for the role of Dick Jones in Robocop, el defensor del futuro (1987), and when he found out he had been cast, he thought that was the role he had gotten. He later found out that he would be playing Clarence Boddicker.

Has played four different characters in the Star Trek universe: the Federation President in Viaje a las estrellas VI: La tierra desconocida (1991), Thrax on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993), Annorax on Viaje a las estrellas: Voyager (1995), and Clar on Star Trek: Lower Decks (2020).

Received his Master's degree in Fine Arts from Stanford University in Stanford, California (1969).

"Kurtwood" is his real first name. According to an interview with him on Caroline Rhea's syndicated television show (April 8, 2003), his mother was a huge fan of a country singer named Kurt (or Curt) in the early 1940s. However, she thought "Kurt Smith" was too short a name, so she added "wood"--"she just tacked it on to the end", said Smith. His mother because she felt there already too many people named Kurt.

Received his Bachelor's degree in Theatre from San Jose State College in San Jose, California (1965).

In the 20th-anniversary DVD release of Robocop, el defensor del futuro (1987), he claimed that the scene where he was taken into the precinct was the first scene he had done, and proposed the spitting of blood and swearing to give the scene more punch.

Has played the father of Eric Forman on That '70s Show (1998) and played the father of a patient treated by Dr. Eric Foreman on Dr. House (2004).

Tends to play well-meaning but stubbornly misguided characters, like Mr. Perry in La sociedad de los poetas muertos (1989) and the Captain-Nemo-like alien Annorax on Viaje a las estrellas: Voyager (1995).

His second wife, Joan Pirkle, appeared opposite him in Robocop, el defensor del futuro (1987) as the secretary he flirts with at the precinct before his meeting with Ronny Cox's character, Dick Jones. He is the father of Laurel Garner and Shannon Smith. The latter goes by the stage name Dr. Sauce, hosted a radio show at Stanford University in the mid-to-late 1990s and played guitar in a band called The Vulcaneers.

The son of George and Mabel Annette (nee Lund) Smith, the actor grew up in the San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles and graduated from Canoga Park High School in Canoga Park, California (1961).

For a long time, Kurtwood Smith was mistakenly thought to have been in "The Deer Hunter" (1978). In the bamboo cage/river scene, there is one man in the cage, who has no lines but has a similar look. In a January 17, 2012 interview with the website WeAreMovieGeeks, Kurtwood Smith was asked if he was in the film: W.A.M.G.: Were you in "The Deer Hunter"? Smith: "No, I was not in 'The Deer Hunter'... but I keep hearing that I was. I really need to go back and watch that film again and see why everyone thinks I'm in there." At the time, IMDb listed him as "P.O.W. in Cage " (Uncredited - Unconfirmed). This has since been deleted. Kurtwood's actual first acting job was in a January 10th, 1980 episode of the series, "Soap" as "Guy In Laundromat".

Currently doing voice-over work for the Chicago White Sox in a series of radio commercials.

Along with Peter Weller, Ronny Cox and Miguel Ferrer, he is one of only four actors from Robocop, el defensor del futuro (1987) to appear in the "Star Trek" universe. He appeared in Viaje a las estrellas VI: La tierra desconocida (1991), Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993), Viaje a las estrellas: Voyager (1995) and Star Trek: Lower Decks (2020).

His breakout role was as crime boss Clarence Boddicker in the 1987 feature "RoboCop." He has since often portrayed villains.

Presented Barbara Bain with the California Lottery's "Hero in Education" Award on "The Big Spin" show on December 18, 2004.

He was an instructor of theater arts at Cañada College from 1969 to 1975.

He was an instructor of theater arts at Cañada College, Redwood City, California from 1969 to 1975.