Ronnie Schell
Ronald Ralph Schell (born December 23, 1931) is an American actor, stand-up comedian, and voice actor. He appeared on the May 28, 1959, episode of the TV quiz program 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. Schell is probably best known in 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 |
| Occupation | Actor, comedian and voice actor |
| Years active | 1958–present |
| Spouse(s) | Janet Rodeberg (since 1968) |
| Children | 2 |
Early life
Schell was born in Richmond, California on December 23, 1931.
Career
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.
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 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.
Schell was the comedy advisor to Richard Dreyfuss in the 2019 Netflix film The Last Laugh.
Personal life
He married Janet Rodeberg in 1968; they have two children.
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | The Strongest Man in the World | Referee | |
| 1976 | Gus | Joe Barnsdale | |
| 1976 | The Shaggy D.A. | TV Director | |
| 1978 | The Cat from Outer Space | Jake (voice) / Sgt. Duffy | |
| 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 | |
| 1987 | Scooby-Doo Meets the Boo Brothers | Freako, Demonstrator Ghost (voices) | |
| 1990 | Jetsons: The Movie | Rudy 2 (voice) | |
| 1991 | Rover Dangerfield | Eddie (voice) | |
| 1993 | Fatal Instinct | Conductor | |
| 1993 | Dorf Goes Fishing | DIP Host | Direct-to-video |
| 1994 | Revenge of the Red Baron | Lou | |
| 1997 | Killer per caso | Chief Harrison | |
| 1997 | Venus Envy | Simon Sayes | |
| 2000 | Family Jewels | Bill Taller | |
| 2000 | 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 |
| 1976 | Emergency! | Jasper | S5Ep16 |
| 1978 | Yogi's Space Race | Additional Voices (voice) | 7 episodes |
| 1983 | Shirt Tales | Rick the Raccoon (voice) | Main Character |
| 1987 | DuckTales | Additional Voices (voice) | Episode: "The Right Duck" |
| 1988 | Scooby-Doo and the Ghoul School | Colonel Calloway (voice) | Television movie |
| 1988 | Mr. Belvedere | Contest Judge | Episode: "Marsha's Secret" |
| 1990 | The Golden Girls | Thomas | Episode: "Triple Play" |
| 1991 | Out of This World | Pinky Starr | Episode: "Mayor Evie" |
| 1991 | Yo Yogi! | Calvin Klunk (voice) | 9 episodes |
| 1992 | The Legend of Prince Valiant | Master Fezzick (voice) | Episodes: "The Road Back" and "The Fist of Iron" |
| 1992 | Rugrats | Fish / Clerk (voices) | Credited as Ronald Schell Episode: "Visitors from Outer Space/The Case of the Missing Rugrat" |
| 1995-1996 | Coach | Dr. Howard / Customer | Episodes: "Turtle World" and "Grimmworld" |
| 1997-1999 | Recess | Mayor Fitzhugh (voice) | 3 episodes |
| 2002 | What's New, Scooby-Doo? | Additional Voices (voice) | Episode: "Space Ape at the Cape" |
| 2004 | Yes, Dear | Cliff Marshall | Episode: "Dead Aunt, Dead Aunt" |
| 2004 | Phil of the Future | 75-Year-Old Phil | Episode: "Age Before Beauty" |
| 2004-2007 | The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy | Real Estate Agent, Toadblatt (voices) | 2 episodes |
| 2004 | Megas XLR | Mac (voice) | Episodes: "Bad Guy" and "S-Force S.O.S." |
| 2008 | Easy to Assemble | Ronnie Schell | Episodes: "Actors Anonymous" and "Gotcha!" |
| 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 |
| 2016-2018 | Yu-Gi-Oh!: Game On | Sylvester Maxwell (voice) | 7 episodes English version |
| 2017 | Heaven's Waiting Room | Vic | Unknown episodes |
| 2018 | Kaplan's Corner | Ronnie | Episode: "Marvin's Ghost" |
References
- Groucho Marx - You Bet Your Life (April 21, 2014). "You Bet Your Life #58-36 Creators of Honey West (Secret word 'Table', May 28, 1959)". Retrieved July 4, 2017 – via YouTube.
- "Comedy Veterans Reunite / Annual gig recalls North Beach days". SFGate. March 1, 2001. Retrieved January 8, 2017.
- "The impresario of North Beach". sfgate.com. Retrieved July 4, 2017.
- "Acres of backyard diamonds". sfgate.com. Retrieved July 4, 2017.
- "The PSA History Page". Psa-history.org. Retrieved January 8, 2017.
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ronnie Schell. |
- Ronnie Schell on IMDb
- Ronnie Schell at the TCM Movie Database
- Ronnie Schell - Kliph Nesteroff interview
- Appearance on You Bet Your Life