Paul Birch
Biography
Paul Birch was an American actor of stage and film, born Paul Smith on January 13, 1912, in Atmore, Alabama, and died on May 24, 1969, in St. George's, Grenada. He was a veteran of 39 movies, 50 stage dramas, and various television shows, including Hallmark Hall of Fame in 1951. In the late 1950s, he starred alongside William Campbell in the syndicated Canadian half-hour drama and adventure series Cannonball, which focused on truckers. He was also the original television commercial Marlboro Man and portrayed both Union General Ulysses S. Grant and Confederate General Robert E. Lee in multiple historical plays. Birch was married twice, first to Margaret Evelyn Farish, with whom he had a daughter named Cindy, and was later survived by his second wife, Betsy Ann Ross Smith, and their three children.
Career overview
Paul Birch was an American actor of stage and film who was born Paul Smith on January 13, 1912, in Atmore, Alabama. Throughout his career, he appeared in a large number of television shows, stage dramas, and movies. Among his television credits, he appeared in Hallmark Hall of Fame, which was broadcast beginning in 1951. In the late 1950s, he starred alongside William Campbell in the syndicated Canadian half-hour drama and adventure series about truckers titled Cannonball, which aired in 1958. Additionally, he was the original Marlboro Man in television commercials and portrayed both Union General Ulysses S. Grant and Confederate General Robert E. Lee in several historical plays.
Birch was a veteran of thirty-nine movies, fifty stage dramas, and numerous television shows. His work in film and television included appearances in productions such as The Hardy Boys: The Mystery of the Ghost Farm and I Led 3 Lives. He was also one of the first original members of the Pasadena group, beginning his career there.
Regarding his personal life, Birch was married twice. His first marriage was to Margaret Evelyn Farish, with whom he had a daughter named Cindy. Cindy had a son, actor Ned Luke, who was born in 1958. At the time of his death, Birch was survived by his second wife, the former Betsy Ann Ross Smith, and their three children. Birch passed away on May 24, 1969, in St. George's, Grenada.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
94 titles- Counterpoint (1967)
- Welcome to Hard Times (1967) as Mr. Fee
- A Covenant with Death (1967) as Governor
- Dead Heat on a Merry-Go-Round (1966) as Bill Simpson (uncredited)
- The John Forsythe Show (1965)
- The Glory Guys (1965) as Commanding General
- The Fugitive (1963) as Police Captain Carpenter
- The Fugitive (1963)
- Arrest and Trial (1963)
- The Raiders (1963) as Paul King
- The Virginian (1962) as Sheriff Halsey
- The Virginian (1962) as Carl Bruner
- The Virginian (1962) as Ben Carter
- The Virginian (1962) as John Carver
- The Virginian (1962) as Mack Lewis
- Sam Benedict (1962)
- The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962) as Mayor Winder
- General Electric True (1962)
- A Public Affair (1962) as Malcomb Hardy
- Cain's Hundred (1961) as Sheriff Rainey
- Two Rode Together (1961) as Judge Edward Purcell
- The Tall Man (1960)
- Portrait in Black (1960) as Detective lieutenant
- Too Soon to Love (1960)
- Hawaiian Eye (1959)
- Riverboat (1959) as Sergeant Major Carmody
- Black Saddle (1959) as Mr. Simpson
- Tightrope (1959)
- The Alaskans (1959)
- Gunmen from Laredo (1959) as Marshal Matt Crawford
- The Texan (1958)
- 77 Sunset Strip (1958) as Zachary Latimer
- Sea Hunt (1958)
- Bronco (1958)
- Cannonball (1958) as "Cannonball" Mike Malone
- Queen of Outer Space (1958) as Prof. Konrad
- Gunman's Walk (1958) as Bob Selkirk
- The Gun Runners (1958) as Sy Phillips
- Wild Heritage (1958) as Jake Breslin
- The World Was His Jury (1958) as Martin Ranker
- Perry Mason (1957) as Security Officer Frank Crawford
- Wagon Train (1957) as Gen. Ulysses Simpson 'Sam' Grant
- Wagon Train (1957) as Sam Benson
- Maverick (1957)
- Have Gun, Will Travel (1957)
- Sugarfoot (1957) as Emmett Clark
- M Squad (1957) as Police Lt. Ruddy
- Trackdown (1957)
- Panic! (1957)
- The Court of Last Resort (1957)
- The Tattered Dress (1957) as Prosecutor Frank Mitchell
- The Spirit of St. Louis (1957) as Blythe (uncredited)
- Not of This Earth (1957) as Paul Johnson
- The 27th Day (1957) as Admiral
- Joe Dakota (1957) as Frank Weaver
- The Hardy Boys: The Mystery of the Ghost Farm (1957) as Banker
- Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre (1956) as Sheriff Cutler
- Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre (1956) as Sheriff
- Telephone Time (1956)
- The Fastest Gun Alive (1956) as Sheriff Bill Toledo (Yellowfork)
- Gun for a Coward (1956) as Andy Niven
- The White Squaw (1956)
- Everything But the Truth (1956) as Sen. Winter
- When Gangland Strikes (1956) as Sheriff Mack McBride
- The Family Nobody Wanted (1956)
- Cheyenne (1955)
- Gunsmoke (1955) as Boss
- Gunsmoke (1955) as Jessie
- The 20th Century Fox Hour (1955)
- Navy Log (1955)
- Science Fiction Theatre (1955)
- Crossroads (1955) as Chief Crane
- Rebel Without a Cause (1955) as Police Lieutenant (uncredited)
- Man Without a Star (1955) as Mark Toliver
- Day the World Ended (1955) as Jim Madison
- Five Guns West (1955) as J.C. Haggard
- Strange Lady in Town (1955) as Sheriff
- The Beast with a Million Eyes (1955) as Allan Kelley
- Apache Woman (1955) as Sherrif
- The Fighting Chance (1955) as Auctioneer
- Cattle Queen of Montana (1954) as Col. Carrington
- Ride Clear of Diablo (1954) as Fred Kenyon
- You Are There (1953)
- I Led Three Lives (1953)
- The War of the Worlds (1953) as Alonzo Hogue (uncredited)
- Hopalong Cassidy (1952)
- Death Valley Days (1952) as Mike Walsh
- Death Valley Days (1952) as Jim Davidson
- Assignment: Paris (1952) as Colonel Mannix (uncredited)
- Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951) as Secretary of Agriculture
- The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show (1950) as Police Desk Sergeant
- Lux Video Theatre (1950) as Doctor
- Studio One (1948) as Big George
- Adventure (1945) as First Mate (uncredited)
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Paul Birch best known for?
Paul Birch is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Counterpoint (1967), Tokyo Mew Mew New (2022), The Glory Guys (1965), No Way Out (1987).
When and where was Paul Birch born?
Paul Birch was born on January 13, 1912 in Atmore, Alabama, USA. They passed away on May 24, 1969.
How many credits does Paul Birch have?
Paul Birch has accumulated over 94 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1945 to 1967.
What is Paul Birch's background in cinema and television?
Paul Birch was an American actor of stage and film, born Paul Smith on January 13, 1912, in Atmore, Alabama, and died on May 24, 1969, in St. George's, Grenada. He was a veteran of 39 movies, 50 stage dramas, and various television shows, including Hallmark Hall of Fame in 1951. In the late 1950s, he starred alongside ...