Ronnie Schell, the beloved comic actor who made generations of TV fans laugh on Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. and That Girl, has died. He was 94.
The veteran performer died Friday in Los Angeles of natural causes, his publicist confirmed.
Schell, a San Francisco native, built a long and colorful career in Hollywood, racking up more than 140 acting credits across television, film, stage and voice work.
But to many fans, he will always be remembered as Duke Slater, the wisecracking Marine buddy on the classic 1960s sitcom Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.
Schell appeared in 92 episodes of the show, becoming a familiar face to millions of Americans during TV’s golden comedy era.
He also popped up on That Girl alongside Marlo Thomas and appeared on other beloved shows including The Patty Duke Show and The Andy Griffith Show.
During the same busy stretch, Schell co-starred with Goldie Hawn on Good Morning World, further cementing himself as one of the dependable comic actors of his generation.
Before Hollywood came calling, Schell got his start in comedy while still a senior at San Francisco State University. He auditioned for the famous Purple Onion nightclub in San Francisco, a hot spot that helped launch the careers of several major performers.
He also served in the Air Force before making his mark in entertainment.
Schell’s talents went far beyond live-action sitcoms.
Over the years, he appeared in films including Fatal Instinct, The Devil and Max Devlin and The Revenge of the Red Baron.
He also became a familiar voice to younger audiences through animated and family-friendly projects, lending his voice to The Cat from Outer Space, The Jetsons, Rover Dangerfield, Battle of the Planets and Goober and the Ghost Chasers.
Behind the scenes, Schell worked as a dialogue coach on the 1984 Steve Martin and Lily Tomlin comedy All of Me, directed by the legendary Carl Reiner.
Even later in life, Schell kept performing. His recent credits included the TV shows See Ya and Kaplan’s Korner. He also appeared in the musical comedy Don’t Leave it All to Your Children!
Schell is survived by his wife, Janet, his sons Gregory and Christian, and his granddaughter, Chiara.
His death marks the loss of another familiar face from a cherished era of American television, when sitcom stars became weekly guests in living rooms across the country.