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Ronald Ralph Schell (born December 23, 1931) is an American actor and stand-up comedian. He appeared on the May 28, 1959, episode of the TV quiz show You Bet Your Life, hosted by Groucho Marx. Schell demonstrated a comic barrage of beatnik jive talk.[1] As a stand-up comedian, he first developed his act at the hungry i nightclub in San Francisco, California, and is heard (presumably as the opening act) introducing the Kingston Trio at the start of the group's 1962 College Concert album. Schell is probably best known for his 1960s television role as Duke Slater in Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.
Ronnie Schell | |
|---|---|
 Schell in Good Morning World, 1967 | |
| Born | Ronald Ralph Schell December 23, 1931 Richmond, California, U.S. |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1958–present |
| Spouse |
Janet Rodeberg (m. 1968) |
| Children | 2 |
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Schell was born in Richmond, California, on December 23, 1931. Upon graduation from high school, he served four years in the United States Air Force, where he became an airman first class.[citation needed]
In his role as Duke Slater on Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C., Schell's character was cast for three seasons as a Marine private and best friend of Gomer Pyle. Schell left for a season to star as a disc jockey in his own sitcom, Good Morning World. He then returned to Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. as a corporal for its fifth and final season. Schell played Duke Slater as an urban, streetwise character, compared to Pyle's rural, bucolic character, as portrayed by Jim Nabors. Returning as a corporal, Slater acted more as a mediator between Pyle and Sgt. Carter, portrayed by Frank Sutton, than as a buddy to Pyle.
Schell lent his voice to "Jason" on the animated series Battle of the Planets and co-starred as "Mr. Brown" on The Mouseketeers at Walt Disney World episode of The Wonderful World of Disney.
His other television guest credits include The Andy Griffith Show, The Patty Duke Show, Phil of the Future, Yes, Dear, The Wayans Bros., Step by Step, Coach, The Golden Girls, 227, Saved by the Bell, Empty Nest, Mr. Belvedere, Santa Barbara, Trapper John, M.D., Too Close for Comfort, The Brian Keith Show, The New Temperatures Rising Show, The Love Boat, Love, American Style, Alice, Mork & Mindy, One Day at a Time, Charlie's Angels, The Dukes of Hazzard, Sanford and Son, Emergency!, Happy Days, Adam-12, The New Dick Van Dyke Show, That Girl, Black Sheep Squadron, and Jessie.
Schell's gradual ascendency into the public's attention earned him the title "America's Slowest Rising Comedian".[2][3][4]
Schell also acted in a few Pacific Southwest Airlines (PSA) commercials such as "Smile Inspection" and "PSA Gives You A Lift Pageant". At the end of a Jerry Lewis PSA jingle, a voice said "That was Jerry Lewis for PSA, and this is Ronnie Schell. What did I do wrong?"[5] Schell was the voice for the hockey puck-shaped character on the Peter Puck cartoons, which aired during televised National Hockey League games in the 1970s. From the mid to late 1980s, Schell appeared in numerous television commercials for Shakey's Pizza.
In 2007, Schell was part of a touring cabaret show titled, 5 Star Revue with Gary Collins, Mary Ann Mobley, Ruta Lee, and Steve Rossi. He starred in the 2009 off-Broadway production of Don't Leave it All to Your Children!, a comedic and musical revue dedicated to aging baby boomers.[6]
Schell was the comedy advisor to Richard Dreyfuss in the 2019 Netflix film The Last Laugh.
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He married Janet Rodeberg in 1968; they have two sons, Greg and Chris Schell.[7]
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | The Strongest Man in the World | Referee | |
| 1976 | Gus | Joe Barnsdale | |
| The Shaggy D.A. | TV Director | ||
| 1978 | The Cat from Outer Space | Jake / Sgt. Duffy | Voice |
| 1979 | Love at First Bite | Guy in Elevator | |
| 1980 | How to Beat the High Cost of Living | Bill Pike | |
| 1981 | The Devil and Max Devlin | Greg Weems | |
| 1986 | The Check Is in the Mail... | Dr. Brannigan | |
| 1987 | Dutch Treat | Lou Winters | |
| Ultraman: The Adventure Begins | Samson | Voice; credited as Ronald Schell | |
| 1990 | Jetsons: The Movie | Rudy 2 | Voice |
| 1991 | Rover Dangerfield | Eddie | Voice |
| 1993 | Fatal Instinct | Conductor | |
| Dorf Goes Fishing | DIP Host | Direct-to-video | |
| 1994 | Revenge of the Red Baron | Lou | |
| 1997 | The Good Bad Guy | Chief Harrison | |
| Venus Envy | Simon Sayes | ||
| 2000 | Family Jewels | Bill Taller | |
| The View from the Swing | Man in Diner | ||
| 2001 | Recess Christmas: Miracle on Third Street | Mayor Fitzhugh | Voice, direct-to-video |
| 2002 | The Biggest Fan | Mr. Wastedberg | |
| 2006 | Pennies | Mr. Tinker | Short film |
| 2010 | Soupernatural | Bob | |
| 2017 | The Candle | Grandpa Joe | Short film |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1964-1969 | Gomer Pyle: USMC | Duke Slater | Main cast, 92 episodes |
| 1967-1968 | Good Morning World | Larry Clarke | Main cast, 26 episodes |
| 1973 | Butch Cassidy | Additional voices | 13 episodes |
| Goober and the Ghost Chasers | Gilly | Voice, 16 episodes | |
| Peter Puck | Peter Puck | Voice, 9 episodes | |
| 1973-1974 | Wait Till Your Father Gets Home | Additional voices | 3 episodes |
| 1974 | Adam-12 | Jack | S7E1: "Camp" |
| 1976 | Emergency! | Jasper | S5Ep16 |
| Sanford and Son | Mr. Wilkens | Episode: "Committee Man" | |
| 1977 | The Skatebirds | Additional voices | 16 episodes |
| The Wonderful World of Disney | Mr. Brown | Episode: "The Mouseketeers at Walt Disney World" | |
| 1977–1978 | Fred Flintstone and Friends | Gilly | Voice, 95 episodes (Goober and the Ghost Chasers segments) |
| 1977-1980 | Captain Caveman and the Teen Angels | Additional voices | 39 episodes |
| 1978 | Battle of the Planets | Jason / Additional voices | 85 episodes |
| Yogi's Space Race | Additional voices | 13 episodes | |
| 1979 | Casper and the Angels | Additional voices | Episode: "Love at First Fright/Saving Grace in Outer Space" |
| 1982 | Jokebook | Additional voices | 3 episodes |
| Madame's Place | Frederico Felluci | Episode: "I Am What I Am" | |
| 1982-1983 | Meatballs & Spaghetti | Additional voices | 25 episodes |
| Shirt Tales | Rick Raccoon | Voice, main role (23 episodes) | |
| 1982-1988 | The Smurfs | Pushover Smurf / Reporter Smurf / Additional voices | 8 episodes |
| 1985 | Snorks | Additional voices | Episode: "Snorkitis is Nothing to Sneeze At/The Whole Toot and Nothing But" |
| 1986 | Pound Puppies | Buster / Mr. Hubert | Voice, 2 episodes |
| 1986-1988 | The Flintstone Kids | Yuckster | Voice, 4 episodes |
| 1987 | Scooby-Doo Meets the Boo Brothers | Freako / Demonstrator Ghost | Voice, television film |
| DuckTales | Ping the Pitiless | Episode: "The Right Duck" | |
| 1988 | Scooby-Doo and the Ghoul School | Colonel Calloway | Voice, television film |
| Mr. Belvedere | Contest Judge | Episode: "Marsha's Secret" | |
| 1988-1989 | Fantastic Max | Additional voices | 3 episodes |
| 1989 | A Pup Named Scooby-Doo | Additional voices | 8 episodes |
| Saved by the Bell | Principal Elliot Stingwell | Episode: "Save That Tiger" | |
| 1990 | The Golden Girls | Thomas | Episode: "Triple Play" |
| Midnight Patrol: Adventures in the Dream Zone | Additional voices | 13 episodes | |
| 1991 | Out of This World | Pinky Starr | Episode: "Mayor Evie" |
| Yo Yogi! | Calvin Klunk | Voice, 9 episodes | |
| 1992 | The Legend of Prince Valiant | Master Fezzick | Voice, 2 episodes |
| Tom & Jerry Kids | Additional voices | Episode: "Penthouse Mouse/12 Angry Sheep/The Ant Attack" | |
| Rugrats | Fish / Clerk | Voice, episode: "Visitors from Outer Space/The Case of the Missing Rugrat"; credited as Ronald Schell | |
| Duckman | Eric Duckman | Voice, unaired pilot: "The Case of the Missing Chromosome" | |
| 1993 | I Yabba-Dabba Do! | Additional voices | Television film |
| Droopy, Master Detective | Additional voices | 13 episodes | |
| Hollyrock-a-Bye Baby | Additional voices | Television film | |
| 1995-1996 | Coach | Dr. Howard / Customer | 2 episodes |
| 1997 | What a Cartoon! | Mel | Voice, episode: "Strange Things" |
| 1997-1999 | Recess | Mayor Fitzhugh | Voice, 3 episodes |
| 2004 | Yes, Dear | Cliff Marshall | Episode: "Dead Aunt, Dead Aunt" |
| Phil of the Future | 75-Year-Old Phil | Episode: "Age Before Beauty" | |
| Megas XLR | Mac | Voice, 2 episodes | |
| 2004-2007 | The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy | Real Estate Agent / Toadblatt | Voice, 2 episodes |
| 2008 | Easy to Assemble | Ronnie Schell | 2 episodes |
| 2011 | Jessie | Ranger Bill | Episode: "Zuri's New Old Friend" |
| 2012 | Retired at 35 | Sal | Episode: "Poker Face" |
| 2014-2015 | You'll Be Fine | Harry | 3 episodes |
| 2017 | Heaven's Waiting Room | Vic | Unknown episodes |
| 2018 | Kaplan's Corner | Ronnie | Episode: "Marvin's Ghost" |
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