According to the biography on Imdb.com on Paul Smith
http://www.imdb.com/board/20809544/?ref_=tt_cl_t5
Born: June 24, 1936 in Everett, Massachusetts, USA
Died: April 25, 2012 (age 75) in Ra'anana, Israel
He has an impressive list as an actor, not all parts were heavies. He was on Hawaii Five-O, Barney Miller, Chips, Emergency, Have Gun will Travel. How could such a person be a bad guy.
The biograhy also mentions he immigrated to Isreal and adopted the hewbrew name Adam Eden.

The real head warden that Paul Smith played, Hamidou, was actually shot to death outside a coffee shop in Turkey. I think Billy says in his book he treated him badly, but nowhere near what Hamidou did in the movie.
I don't think in the movie, Hamidou is called by name.
Joe

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That's a sign of a great actor.

It was the same for William Smith, who played Falconetti in Rich man, Poor man. Oh, how we hated that character.
"I've seen things you people wouldn't believe" - Roy Batty, Blade Runner

Yes, The Beast Rabban. Doesn't say many words in Dune but he sure is a haunting presence there as well, he's eyes are so evil.
Gecmic olsun ayip!

I hear he's retired now living in Israel with his wife.
Dr. Cynic Has Spoken

He also played the nasty "The Beast" Raben in Dune.

Why are so many people unable to distinguish films from reality? That's the only explanation for the "shock" they feel when they find out that TV's Mr. Evil is really a nice man or TV's hero/Mr. Nice guy is a nasty SOB.
Just because an actor portrays a villain or a hero in a movie convincingly doesn't mean that he has to be either in life. In fact, a competent actor should be able to do both equally well. It ought to be self-evident, but for some folks

he looks like James Gandolfini:P

He's also in the movie "The In-Laws" (the original 1979 version, not the crappy remake). He plays one of the hired thugs keeping guard outside Peter Falk's office building. I was stunned to discover he's an American he seemed so convincing as a Turkish thug.

I read an interview with Paul L. Smith some years back, and he seems like a real cool dude. It would be great if he played more heroic characters, like he did before he was in Midnight Express.

Well, Paul L. Smith, who played Hamidou, was just acting. He also played Bluto in Popeye and seemed mean there too. Just because you play a bad guy in a film doesn't mean you aren't nice. It is the same thing with talented singers, like Robert Goulet, who was a nasty SOB to some people.

A few years ago I saw a short interview clip with Paul L Smith who plays the warden, he had a strong New York accent, and was saying that even off filming he would scare Brad Davis. Guess it shows the great acting from both actors

yeah, its frequent that the actors who portray villains are very nice in real life and the actors who portray heroes are asses.