Jump to content

Ronnie Schell

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 78.144.27.233 (talk) at 14:42, 3 August 2020 (→Television: Added content). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Ronnie Schell
Schell in Good Morning World, 1967
Born
Ronald Ralph Schell

(1931-12-23) December 23, 1931 (age 92)
Richmond, California, U.S.
Occupation(s)Actor, comedian and voice actor
Years active1958–present
SpouseJanet Rodeberg (since 1968)
Children2
Ronnie Schell and Goldie Hawn on Good Morning World (1967)

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.

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 The Good Bad Guy 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

1979 Dukes of Hazzard "Daisy's Song"
Year Title Role Notes
1964-1969 Gomer Pyle: USMC Duke Slater Main cast
92 episodes
1976 Emergency! Jasper S5Ep16
1978 Battle of the Planets Jason 85 episodes
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

  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ "Comedy Veterans Reunite / Annual gig recalls North Beach days". SFGate. March 1, 2001. Retrieved January 8, 2017.
  3. ^ "The impresario of North Beach". sfgate.com. Retrieved July 4, 2017.
  4. ^ "Acres of backyard diamonds". sfgate.com. Retrieved July 4, 2017.
  5. ^ "The PSA History Page". Psa-history.org. Retrieved January 8, 2017.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ronnie Schell.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ronnie_Schell&oldid=970983362"