Paul Kent

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Paul Kent

Occupation Character actor
Years active 1955—present

Paul Kent is an American character actor who has starred in film, television and theater for over five decades. Kent is perhaps best known for his portrayal of Lieutenant Commander Beach, a Starfleet officer on the USS Reliant, in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan.

Contents

[edit] Biography

[edit] Early life

Kent studied acting at the Desilu Workshop in Hollywood, California, where he was taught by Lucille Ball. Kent was part of a select group of actors signed by Ball as the next generation of actors in television, which at that time was still a medium in its infancy. Later he appeared in "Marineland Mystery", an episode of the 1950s television series Richard Diamond, Private Detective, where he played a police lieutenant.

[edit] Acting career

Throughout his career, Kent has played a variety of characters, often ones in the legal or medical profession. He starred in the 1976 television movie Helter Skelter as well as the 2004 remake, playing different characters in both versions. In his early career, Kent portrayed police officers, detectives and other law enforcement operatives. Sometimes he played different characters in multiple episodes of a series, including his appearances in Lou Grant, T. J. Hooker and Falcon Crest. In 1987 he portrayed Harry M. Daugherty in a made-for-TV biopic of J. Edgar Hoover, produced by Showtime.

Kent has most commonly played judges or doctors, such as the character of "Doctor Carver" in A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors. In 1999 Kent played "Doctor Noel Clinton" in Port Charles, a spinoff of General Hospital (the character had previously been played on General Hospital by actors Dean Harens and Ron Husmann). Besides doctors, Kent has also portrayed medical patients, such as his guest appearances in ER and Ghost Whisperer.

As of 2008, Kent's most recent acting appearance was the character of "Miles Mason" in the 2006 short film Viagra Falls.

[edit] Acting instruction

In 1965, Kent and actress Carole Cook were invited to appear as guest contestants opposite Lucille Ball and Gary Morton on the CBS game show Password. Ball announced the winnings from that competition would be used by the actors to start a theater on Theatre Row Hollywood. Kent consequently founded the Melrose Theater in 1977, located at 733 Seward Street in Hollywood. For over twenty years, Kent served as the theater's artistic director and taught as an acting instructor, with co-founder JoMarie Ward serving as administrator. In 2000 the theater was acquired by the National Comedy Theatre chain. It is currently the home of ComedySportz LA.

[edit] Partial filmography

[edit] Film

Title Character Year
The Astronaut (TV) Carl Samuels 1972
Family Flight First Controller 1972
Pray for the Wildcats (TV) Doctor Harris 1974
Lifeguard Jack Gilmore 1976
Helter Skelter (TV) Dennis Ranson 1976
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan Commander Beach 1982
Perfect Judge 1985
A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors Doctor Carver 1987
A Killer Among Us (TV) Uncredited Character 1990
The Road Home Coach Dale 2003
Helter Skelter (TV) Van Nuys Judge 2004

[edit] Television

Title Episode(s) Character(s) Year(s)
My Three Sons Bub's Butler Announcer 1963
The Outer Limits The Man With The Power Detective 1963
Mission: Impossible Elena Frederico (Uncredited) 1966
The Man From U.N.C.L.E. The Master's Touch Affair Valandros's Aide 1967
Hawaii Five-O Strangers In Our Own Land Milner 1968
Bonanza The Night Virginia City Died Doctor Martin 1970
Starsky and Hutch The Plague (Part 1)/(Part 2) Lieutenant Anderson 1977
Three's Company Jack Moves Out/Professor Jack Alvin Morrell/Doctor Anderson 1979/1981
Diff'rent Strokes Small Claims Court/Fire Judge Roscoe C. Briggs/Chief Scott 1980/1982
The Dukes of Hazzard Cletus Falls In Love Mister Hodges 1981
Doogie Howser, M.D. Doogenstein Philip Leonetti 1990
Coach Vegas Odds Mister Burrows 1993
Frasier Burying a Grudge Doctor Sternstein 1994
The Practice Trial And Error Judge Skully (Uncredited) 1997
Boy Meets World The Honeymooners Tourist #1 1999
The West Wing Inauguration, Part I Cardinal Patrick 2003
ER Get Carter Mister Morgan 2004
Ghost Whisperer Mended Hearts Patient 2005

[edit] External links