William Schallert obit

William Schallert, 93, Dies; Prolific Actor Was Father on ‘The Patty Duke Show’

He was not on the list.

William Schallert, a familiar presence on prime-time television for decades, notably as the long-suffering father and uncle to the “identical cousins” played by Patty Duke on the hit 1960s sitcom “The Patty Duke Show,” died on Sunday in Pacific Palisades, Calif. He was 93.

His son Edwin confirmed the death.

Mr. Schallert’s career spanned generations and genres. Over more than 60 years he racked up scores of credits in episodic television as well as noteworthy performances in motion pictures, on the Off Broadway stage and as a voice-over artist.

With his preternaturally mature, intelligent but (by Hollywood standards) unremarkable looks, he was cast almost from the beginning as an authority figure — a father or a teacher, a doctor or a scientist, a mayor or a judge. Most active from the 1950s through the ’80s, Mr. Schallert remained seemingly unchanged in appearance and persona over time, and he was still working in his 90s, dismissing any thoughts of retirement.

On television it sometimes seemed as if he was everywhere. A versatile character actor with a comforting presence, he was equally at home in comedies and dramas, with a résumé ranging from “Leave It to Beaver,” “The Twilight Zone,” “Dr. Kildare” and “The Wild Wild West” to “Melrose Place,” “True Blood” and “Desperate Housewives.”

Before joining the ranks of harried sitcom fathers as Martin Lane on “The Patty Duke Show” (1963-66), he was the equally harried teacher Leander Pomfritt, bane of the title character, on “The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis” (1959-62). He also earned a permanent place in the hearts of “Star Trek” fans in 1967 when he played Nilz Baris, under secretary in charge of agricultural affairs for the United Federation of Planets, in “The Trouble With Tribbles,” often cited by fans and critics as one of the best episodes of the original “Star Trek” series.

Never a leading man, Mr. Schallert was instead a high-caliber embodiment of the working actor.

In an interview for this obituary in 2009, Mr. Schallert said he had never been particularly selective about the roles he played. “That’s not the best way to build a career,” he admitted, “but I kept on doing it, and eventually it paid off.”

While the typical William Schallert character was focused and serious, he expressed particular affection for an atypical role: the wildly decrepit Admiral Hargrade, a recurring character on the spy spoof “Get Smart” (1967-70), who operated in a perpetual state of confusion. (“He reminded me of my grandmother when she got dotty,” Mr. Schallert said.)

His film career, which began in 1947 with small roles in “The Foxes of Harrow” and “Doctor Jim,” was memorable at first for its kitsch value. He made his mark playing intense doctors and scientists in science-fiction fare like “The Man From Planet X” (1951), “Gog” (1954) and “The Incredible Shrinking Man” (1957). Years later, the director Joe Dante paid tribute to Mr. Schallert’s cinematic roots by casting him in his valentine to 1950s schlock cinema, “Matinee” (1993), where he was seen in the film within the film, a black-and-white horror sendup called “Mant.”

He went on to play more substantial screen parts, particularly as the small-town Mississippi mayor in “In the Heat of the Night” (1967) and as the judge in “The Trial of the Catonsville Nine” (1972). He had won an Obie Award for playing the same role in the Off Broadway play on which that movie was based, drawn from the trial of nine Roman Catholic activists who burned military draft files in Maryland in 1968 to protest the Vietnam War. (One character, and actual participant, was the Rev. Daniel Berrigan, who died on April 30.)

Behind the scenes, Mr. Schallert was the versatile voice of various characters in the cartoon series “The Smurfs,” animated characters in commercials, and Abraham Lincoln at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in Springfield, Ill.

Mr. Schallert was president of the Screen Actors Guild from 1979 to 1981, a bitter period in its history highlighted by a protracted 1980 strike over rates and residuals for cable and satellite television and home video. Resentment over the final settlement ran high, and when he ran for re-election in 1981 he was defeated by Edward Asner, although Mr. Asner had no experience as a board member or officer. (Mr. Schallert’s former television daughter Patty Duke was president of the union from 1985 to 1988. Ms. Duke died on March 29.)

William Joseph Schallert was born on July 6, 1922, in Los Angeles. His father, Edwin Francis Schallert, was a longtime critic and drama editor for The Los Angeles Times; his mother, the former Elza Emily Baumgarten, was a celebrity journalist and radio commentator.

He attended the University of California, Los Angeles, with the intention of becoming a composer, studying at one point under Arnold Schoenberg. But, he said, he came to the conclusion that he could not “work fast enough to make a living” in music, and his interest turned to acting. He found his father’s name helpful in opening doors in Hollywood.

Mr. Schallert became active in theater while a student and in 1946 was a founder with the actor Sydney Chaplin and others of the highly regarded Circle Theater in Hollywood, where he appeared in a production of W. Somerset Maugham’s “Rain” directed by Mr. Chaplin’s father, Charlie Chaplin.

In 1952, Mr. Schallert traveled to Britain on a Fulbright Fellowship to study British repertory theater. He was a guest lecturer at Oxford before returning to Los Angeles.

He married Rosemarie Diann Waggner, an actress known professionally as Leah Waggner, in 1949. She died last year. Besides his son Edwin, he is survived by three other sons, Joseph, Mark and Brendan, and seven grandchildren.

Looking back on his career in 2009, Mr. Schallert was philosophical. “I’ve never been single-minded in my pursuit of acting as a career,” he said. “Whatever it was that got me hired and kept me working probably was just me.”

Selected filmography

    The Foxes of Harrow (1947) as Philadelphia Banker (uncredited, film debut)

    Doctor Jim (1947) as George Brant

    Mighty Joe Young (1949) as Gas Station Attendant (uncredited)

    The Reckless Moment (1949) as Police Lieutenant (uncredited)

    Perfect Strangers (1950) as Jury Selection Committee Man (uncredited)

    Lonely Heart Bandits (1950) as Dave Clark

    Belle Le Grand (1951) as Clerk (uncredited)

    M (1951) as Rorschach Test Subject (uncredited)

    The Man from Planet X (1951) as Dr. Mears

    The People Against O'Hara (1951) as Intern with Ambulance (uncredited)

    The Red Badge of Courage (1951) as Union Soldier (uncredited)

    Bannerline (1951) as Cass - Reporter (uncredited)

    Anne of the Indies (1951) as Pirate (uncredited)

    Rose of Cimarron (1952) as Gold Bullion Guard

    Just This Once (1952) as Secretary (scenes deleted)

    Hoodlum Empire (1952) as Inquiry Clerk (uncredited)

    Singin' in the Rain (1952) as Messenger on Screen (uncredited)

    Paula (1952) as Reporter (uncredited)

    Storm Over Tibet (1952) as Aylen

    Sally and Saint Anne (1952) (uncredited)

    Holiday for Sinners (1952) as Priest (uncredited)

    Captive Women (1952) as Carver

    Flat Top (1952) as Ens. Longfellow

    Invasion U.S.A. (1952) as Third Newscaster (uncredited)

    Torpedo Alley (1952) as Minor Role (uncredited)

    The Jazz Singer (1952) as Assistant Stage Manager (uncredited)

    Sword of Venus (1953) as Valmont

    The Girls of Pleasure Island (1953) as Orderly (uncredited)

    Port Sinister (1953) as Collins

    Riot in Cell Block 11 (1954) as Reporter

    Captain Kidd and the Slave Girl (1954) as Priest (uncredited)

    The High and the Mighty (1954) as Dispatcher

    Gog (1954) as Engle

    Them! (1954) as Ambulance Attendant (uncredited)

    The Raid (1954) as Rebel Soldier (uncredited)

    Shield for Murder (1954) as Assistant D.A.

    Tobor the Great (1954) as Johnston - a Reporter (uncredited)

    Down Three Dark Streets (1954) as Ben (uncredited)

    Black Tuesday (1954) as Collins (uncredited)

    Smoke Signal (1955) as Pvt. Livingston

    An Annapolis Story (1955) as Tony's Instructor (scenes deleted)

    Top of the World (1955) as Capt. Harding

    Bobby Ware Is Missing (1955) as Police Radio Dispatcher (uncredited)

    Hell's Horizon (1955) as Capt. Ben Morgan

    Glory (1956) as Party Guest (uncredited)

    The Lone Ranger (1956) as Clive (uncredited)

    Raw Edge (1956) as Missionary

    Gunslinger (1956) as Marshal Scott Hood

    Written on the Wind (1956) as Reporter

    Friendly Persuasion (1956) as Young Husband (uncredited)

    The Incredible Shrinking Man (1957) as Doctor Arthur Bramson

    The Tattered Dress (1957) as Court Clerk

    The Girl in the Kremlin (1957) as Jacob Stalin

    Band of Angels (1957) as Union Lieutenant (uncredited)

    Man on Fire (1957) as Charles, Court Stenographer (uncredited)

    The Story of Mankind (1957) as Earl of Warwick

    The Tarnished Angels (1957) as Ted Baker

    The Monolith Monsters (1957) as Weatherman (uncredited)

    Man in the Shadow (1957) as Jim Shaney

    Juvenile Jungle (1958) as Bit Role (uncredited)

    Cry Terror! (1958) as Henderson, Bank Representative

    Torpedo Run (1958) as Capt. Randy Vandercook - Skipper of the 'Bluefin' (uncredited)

    Some Came Running (1958) as Al - Jewelry Store Clerk (uncredited)

    Day of the Outlaw (1959) as Preston (uncredited)

    The Beat Generation (1959) as Father Dinelli (uncredited)

    Blue Denim (1959) as George - Bank Vice President (uncredited)

    Pillow Talk (1959) as Hotel Clerk

    The Gallant Hours (1960) as Thomas George Lanphier Jr. (uncredited)

    Lonely Are the Brave (1962) as Harry

    Paradise Alley (1962) as Jack Williams

    Shotgun Wedding (1963) as Preacher Parsons

    In the Heat of the Night (1967) as Mayor Schubert

    Hour of the Gun (1967) as Herman Spicer

    Will Penny (1967) as Dr. Fraker

    Speedway (1968) as Abel Esterlake

    Sam Whiskey (1969) as Mr. Perkins

    The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes (1969) as Professor Quigley

    Colossus: The Forbin Project (1970) as CIA Director Grauber

    Tora! Tora! Tora! (1970) as Harry Hopkins - Roosevelt's Aide (scenes cut)

    The Trial of the Catonsville Nine (1972) as Judge

    Charley Varrick (1973) as San Miguel Sheriff Bill Horton

    Hijack! (1973, TV Movie) as Frank Kleiner

    Peege (1973, Short) as Dad

    The Strongest Man in the World (1975) as Prof. Quigley

    Tunnel Vision (1976) as Francis X. Cody

    Dawn: Portrait of a Teenage Runaway (1976, TV Movie) as Harry

    The Jerk (1979) as Judge M.A. Loring (uncredited)

    Hangar 18 (1980) as Professor Mills

    Twilight Zone: The Movie (1983) as Father (segment "It's a Good Life")

    Gremlins (1984) as Father Bartlett (uncredited)

    Teachers (1984) as Horn

    Innerspace (1987) as Dr. Greenbush

    House Party 2 (1991) as Dean Kramer

    Matinee (1993) as Dr. Grabow, DDS (uncredited)

    Beethoven's 2nd (1993) as Steve - M.C. at Pet & Owner Burger Binge (uncredited)

    Shake, Rattle and Rock! (1994, TV Movie) as Judge Boone

    Sweetzer (2007) as Barnaby

Television

    It's a Great Life (1955-1956, 2 episodes) as Travel Bureau Clerk / 3rd Telephone Man

    Zorro (1957) as San Fernando Innkeeper (uncredited)

    Leave It to Beaver (1957) as Mr. Bloomgarden

    The Gray Ghost (1957) as Ebans

    The Adventures of Jim Bowie (1957-1958, 8 episodes) as Justinian Tebbs / Teeters Hill

    The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show (1955-1958) as The Army Sergeant / The Waiter / Charlie Irwin Jr. / Pete

    Father Knows Best (1958) as Jennings

    Hey, Jeannie! (1958, 4 episodes) as Herbert

    The Ray Bolger Show (1958)

    Maverick (1959) as Carl

    Peter Gunn (1959) as First Vice President

    Richard Diamond, Private Detective (1957-1959) as Charlie Kane / Johnny Prescott / Charlie

    The Donna Reed Show (1959) as Bert Rose

    Wanted Dead or Alive (1958-1959) as Link Damon / Craig the Bartender / James Hendricks / Hotel Clerk

    Lawman (1960) as Reed Smith

    The DuPont Show with June Allyson (1960) as Lt. Barnes

    Johnny Midnight (1960) as Richard Bissell

    The Twilight Zone (1960, TV series) as Policeman

    Johnny Ringo (1959-1960) as Tom Ferris / Bogan

    Sea Hunt (1960) as Dr. Ken Madison

    Dante (1960) as Prof. Louis Hastings

    The Rifleman (1959-1961) as Joe Lovering / Marshall Truce / Fogarty

    Coronado 9 (1961) as Alfred Bates

    The Andy Griffith Show (1961) as Sam Becker

    The Rebel (1961) as Charles Ashbaugh

    Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1962) as Lt. Gunderson

    Hennesey (1961–1962, 2 episodes) as Conrad Musk / Wally Shafer, Jr.

    The Dick Van Dyke Show (1962) as Rev. Kirk

    Bonanza (1962) as George Norton

    Perry Mason (1957-1962) as Len Dykes / Dr. Bradbury / Donald Graves

    The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis (1959-1962) as Mr. Leander Pomfritt / Prof. Leander Pomfritt

    Death Valley Days (1955-1962) as Sam Clemens / Dave Meiser / Carl Sprenger / Charlie Tetlow / Ellis Higby / Jesse Lee Reno / Albert Johnson / Mr. Loomis

    Hazel (1963) as Kemper

    Have Gun – Will Travel (1957-1963) as Chee Yan / Dallas Burchfield / Soldier / Clyde Broderick

    Empire (1963) as Sully Mason

    Rawhide (1959-1963) as Lieutenant Carter / Lt. Hill / The Salesman

    The Lucy Show (1963) as Mr. Cresant

    The Patty Duke Show (1963-1966) as Martin Lane / Kenneth Lane / Uncle Jed Lane

    The Virginian (1966) as Harry Foley

    The Rat Patrol (1967) as Dr. Schneidermann

    Mission: Impossible (1967) as Dr. Harrison Selby

    Star Trek (1967) as Nilz Baris

    The Wild Wild West (1967-1969) as Frank Harper / Rufus Krause / Silas Grigsby

    The Mod Squad (1969) as Father Bob Hughes

    Bewitched (1969) as Dr. Anton

    Room 222 (1969) as Dr. Charles Garrett

    Land of the Giants (1969, Season 2, The Clones) as Dr. Arno

    Get Smart (1967-1970) as Admiral Hargrade / Earl Kibbee

    Hawaii Five-O (1969-1970) as Defense Counsel Herbert / Craig Wilkie

    The Partridge Family (1971) as Red Woodloe

    Gunsmoke (1957-1973) as Judge Ray Cordelius / Jake Spence / Ezra Thorpe / Jess / Capt. Grant / Alben Peavy / Eben Hakes

    The Girl with Something Extra (1973) as Mr. Everett

    Love, American Style (1973) asLouis (segment "Love and Carmen Lopez") / Steve (segment "Love and the Favorite Family")

    The Six Million Dollar Man (1974) as Lorin Sandusky

    Barnaby Jones (1974) as Mr. Freels

    The Bionic Woman (1976) as Bill Elgin

    The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries (1977–1979) as Carson Drew

    One Day at a Time (1978) as Mr. Morton

    Little Women (1978, TV Mini-Series) as Jonathan March

    Archie Bunker's Place (1979) as Dr. Wakeford

    Blind Ambition (1979, TV Mini-Series) as Herbert Kalmbach

    Little House on the Prairie (1976-1979) as Dean Russell Harmon / Snell

    The Waltons (1980-1981, in Seasons 8 and 9) as Stanley Perkins, the salesman and Rose's beau

    Lou Grant (1979-1982) as Frank Obler / Mark Worth

    Magnum, P.I. (1983) as Bob, the Foster Father

    North and South: Book II (1986, TV miniseries) as Gen. Robert E. Lee

    Highway to Heaven (1987) as Grandpa Raines

    Matlock (1987) as Judge Elliot Franklin

    The New Gidget (1986-1988, TV series) as Russ Lawrence

    War and Remembrance (1988-1989, TV miniseries) as Harry Hopkins

    Quantum Leap (1989) as Judge Eugene Haller

    In the Heat of the Night (1990) as Carl Tibbetts

    The Torkelsons (1991-1992) as Wesley Hodges

    Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993) as Varani

    Coach (1994) as Bert Wilkins

    My Name Is Earl (2007) as Dr Rudin

    How I Met Your Mother (2007) as Brady

    The Suite Life of Zack & Cody (2008) as David

    Desperate Housewives (2009) as Ken

    According to Jim (2009) as Ed

    Green Lantern: First Flight (2009) as Appa Ali Apsa (voice)

    The Deep End (2010) as Hal Douglas

    Bag of Bones (2011, TV miniseries) as Max Devore