Paul Kent, American actor (Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, Three's Company), died from multiple myeloma he was 80.

Paul Kent was an American character actor who starred in film, television and theater for over five decades. Kent is perhaps best known for playing Lieutenant Commander Beach in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan

(October 13, 1930 – October 7, 2011)

Early life

Kent was born on October 13, 1930 in Brooklyn, New York. His acting career officially began in 1958, when he and his parents moved from New York to California. He studied acting under Sanford Meisner and later assisted Meisner with his classes. The two became close friends and colleagues during Meisner's life, and when Meisner left Los Angeles to go back to New York, he left his teaching methods to be carried on in the West by Kent who consequently taught acting for many years through his theater.
Kent played a part in the formation of Lucille Ball's Desilu Workshop, where he became the first acting student signed by the workshop. According to Hedda Hopper, when Kent appeared at the workshop to help a female friend at an audition, he was discovered by Ball and promptly signed to an actor-stage manager contract. Kent's acting roles during this period included a part in an episode of December Bride.

Acting instruction

In 1964, Kent founded the Melrose Theater in West Hollywood with the assistance of fellow actors including Tom Troupe, Carole Cook, Richard Bull and Don Eitner. Funds for the theater were partially raised by a guest appearance with Lucille Ball and Gary Morton on the popular game show Password. Kent later recalled in an interview with The Los Angeles Times:

“

I was scared to death. I wasn't working steadily, I didn't know where the next rent would come from, and I had no experience in building a theater...I bought seats from a defunct movie house on Washington Boulevard. I'll never forget. Two dollars a seat. Linden Chiles and the students and I literally unbolted the seats from the floor and brought them back here.

”

Throughout the 1960s, the Melrose employed actors who went on to become well-known performers, including Richard Dreyfuss. Many of the theater's plays were broadcast on local CBS television affiliates.
In 1976, Kent entered into a partnership with workshop organizer Jomarie Ward to purchase a former bakery and photographer's studio at 733 North Seward Street in Hollywood. With the assistance of Ward and members of the workshop, the building was renovated and converted to the new Melrose Theater in 1977. The new, larger theater became the permanent headquarters of the Melrose, with Kent installed as artistic director and Ward as managing director.

Acting career

While serving as artistic director of the Melrose Theater, Kent also acted in many of its plays, and continued acting in film and television. He often worked with directors Robert Michael Lewis and Gene Reynolds, Star Trek producer Harve Bennett, and actor William Shatner.
One of Kent's acting appearances in the 1970s was a small part in the television miniseries Helter Skelter. The part was notable because Kent later played a different character in the 2004 reimagining of that film, directed by John Gray. Gray later bought Kent back to play a spirit in an episode of his TV series, Ghost Whisperer ("Mended Hearts"). In addition, Kent often played different characters in multiple episodes of a series, including his appearances in Lou Grant, T. J. Hooker and Falcon Crest.
In 1987 Kent played Harry M. Daugherty in a made-for-TV biographical film of J. Edgar Hoover, produced by Showtime. In 1999 Kent became the third actor to play the character of "Doctor Noel Clinton" in Port Charles, a spinoff of General Hospital, succeeding actors Dean Harens and Ron Husmann. Recently Kent had a lead starring role as the character of "Miles Mason" in Viagra Falls, a television pilot. One of his final acting roles was his portrayal of Mack Sennett in Return to Babylon, a film completed in 2008 but never commercially released.
In 1975, having acted for almost twenty years, Kent reflected on his craft to Los Angeles Times reporter Lawrence Christon:

“

Acting is my sanity, the thing I run to when things go wrong in my life. My special joy is rehearsing, making discoveries about the ins and outs of character. I love it so much that the actual performance, to me, is like the cigarette after the affair.

”

In 2002 the Melrose Theater was acquired by the National Comedy Theatre chain. It is currently the home of ComedySportz LA.

Personal life

Kent was the father of several children. At the time of his death he had been married to actress and author Madelyn Cain.

Death

Kent died on October 7, 2011 from multiple myeloma. He was buried in Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Hollywood Hills.

Partial filmography

Film

Title	Character	Year
The Astronaut (TV)	Carl Samuels	1972
Family Flight (TV)	First Controller	1972
The Alpha Caper (TV)	John Woodbury	1973
Pray for the Wildcats (TV)	Doctor Harris	1974
Lifeguard	Jack Gilmore	1976
Helter Skelter (TV)	Dennis Ranson	1976
Ruby	Louie	1977
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan	Commander Beach	1982
Perfect	Judge	1985
A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors	Doctor Carver	1987
The Road Home	Coach Dale	2003
Helter Skelter (TV)	Van Nuys Judge	2004

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	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

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