William Schallert
William Joseph Schallert (July 6, 1922 – May 8, 2016) was an American character actor who appeared in dozens of television shows and films over a career spanning more than 60 years. He is known for his roles on Richard Diamond, Private Detective (1957–1959), Death Valley Days (1955–1962), and The Patty Duke Show (1963–1966). Schallert was born in Los Angeles, California, the son of Edwin Francis Schallert, a longtime drama critic for the Los Angeles Times, and Elza Emily Schallert (née Baumgarten), a magazine writer and radio host. He began acting while a student at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) but left to become an Army Air Corps fighter pilot in World War II. He returned to UCLA after the war and graduated in 1946. After graduating from UCLA, Schallert began his acting career in the theater. He appeared in several productions at the Circle Theatre in Los Angeles, including a staging of W. Somerset Maugham's Rain in 1948, which was directed by Charlie Chaplin. Schallert made his television debut in 1951, and he quickly became a familiar face on the small screen. He appeared in numerous guest roles on shows such as The Adventures of Superman, The Twilight Zone, and The Dick Van Dyke Show. He also had recurring roles on The Patty Duke Show, The Nancy Drew Mysteries, and The Torkelsons. In addition to his work on television, Schallert also appeared in several films, including The Bridges of Toko-Ri (1954), The Apartment (1960), and The Sting (1973). Schallert died in Pacific Palisades, California, in 2016, at the age of 93. He was survived by his wife, Leah Waggner, and their four children.
Filmography · 264
Perry Mason
1957 · Graves
Desperate Housewives
2004 · Ken
How I Met Your Mother
2005 · Brady
The Rifleman
1958
Lassie
1954
Star Trek
1966 · Nilz Baris
The Andy Griffith Show
1960 · Sam Becker
Coach
1989 · Bert Wilkins
Quantum Leap
1989 · Judge Eugene Haller
ER
1994 · Mitchell Jennings
Melrose Place
1992 · Dr. Curtis
Medium
2005 · J. Donald Kessinger
Little House on the Prairie
1974 · Snell
Hawaii Five-O
1968 · Defense Counsel Herber...
The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show
1950 · Pete
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
1993 · Varani
Peter Gunn
1958
Ironside
1967
True Blood
2008 · Maire Norris
Murphy Brown
1988 · Ken Hamilton
Rawhide
1959 · The Salesman
Magnum, P.I.
1980 · Bob
Maverick
1957
Lawman
1958
Bewitched
1964 · Dr. Anton
Wagon Train
1957 · Miles Van Vander
The Wild Wild West
1965 · Rufus Kraus
The Lucy Show
1962 · Mr. Cresant
The Dick Van Dyke Show
1961 · Mr. Kirk
The Twilight Zone
1959 · Policeman
Simon & Simon
1981
Mission: Impossible
1966 · Dr. Harrison Selby
Get Smart
1965 · Admiral Hargrade
The Waltons
1972
The Virginian
1962 · Harry Foley
Matlock
1986 · Judge Elliot Franklin
Have Gun, Will Travel
1957
Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman
1993 · Al
St. Elsewhere
1982 · Olan Standley
Matinee Theater
1955
Room 222
1969
Combat!
1962 · Maj. Fisher
Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre
1956 · Yarbrough
Climax!
1954 · David
The Suite Life of Zack & Cody
2005 · David
My Name Is Earl
2005 · Dr. Rudin
The Six Million Dollar Man
1974 · Lorin Sandusky
Gunsmoke
1955 · Eben Hakes
Leave It to Beaver
1957 · Mr. Bloomgarden
Highway to Heaven
1984
Four Star Playhouse
1952 · Airline Clerk
Dr. Kildare
1961 · Inspector
Thriller
1960 · Prof. John MacFarland...
Wanted: Dead or Alive
1958 · Hotel Clerk
The Bionic Woman
1976
The F.B.I.
1965 · Paul Ganz
Richard Diamond, Private Detective
1957 · Johnny Prescott (uncre...
The Twilight Zone
1985 · (segment "Shadow Play"...
Dinosaurs
1991 · Wesayso Scientist (voi...
The Untouchables
1959 · Edward Garth
Bat Masterson
1958 · Dr. Harold Dunsmore
Surfside 6
1960 · Marty Kemp
Hotel
1982
Lou Grant
1977 · Larry Hill
Pacific Blue
1996 · Walter
Barnaby Jones
1973 · Mr. Freels
The Rebel
1959 · Charles Ashbaugh
Hazel
1961 · Kemper
Close to Home
2005 · Harold Jensen
The Guns of Will Sonnett
1967 · Lawyer
Stoney Burke
1962
What's New, Scooby-Doo?
2002 · Professor Pomfrit (voi...
North and South
1985 · Gen. Robert E. Lee
The Partridge Family
1970 · Red Woodloe
One Step Beyond
1959 · Doctor Sanders
Marcus Welby, M.D.
1969 · Brian Cullen
Scarecrow and Mrs. King
1983
Matt Houston
1982
Land of the Giants
1968 · Dr. Arno
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
1955 · Lt. Gunderson
That Girl
1966
The Ford Television Theatre
1952 · Union Official
The Angry Beavers
1997
Switch
1975 · Wayne Buford
Family Law
1999 · Manager
Sugarfoot
1957 · Cole
The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis
1959
77 Sunset Strip
1958
The Texan
1958
The Hardy Boys / Nancy Drew Mysteries
1977 · Carson Drew
Dream On
1990 · Judith's Father
Sea Hunt
1958
The Mod Squad
1968
Gremlins
1984 · Father Bartlett (uncre...
Police Story
1973
CHiPs
1977 · Rev. Warmer
Singin' in the Rain
1952 · Messenger on Screen (u...
Judd, for the Defense
1967
Banacek
1972 · Leo Osburn
The Patty Duke Show
1963 · Martin Lane
Sam Benedict
1962 · Neil Carlson
Ellery Queen
1975
The DuPont Show with June Allyson
1959 · Lt. Barnes
The Rat Patrol
1966 · Dr. Schneidermann
The Adventures of Jim Bowie
1956
Black Saddle
1959 · Chet Mallet
87th Precinct
1961
Lock-Up
1959
War and Remembrance
1988 · Harry Hopkins
The Zeta Project
2001
Son of the Beach
2000
The Torkelsons
1991 · Wesley "Boarder" Hodge...
The New Breed
1961 · Gilbert Condon
Rebel Highway
1994 · Judge Patrick Eugene B...
Johnny Ringo
1959 · Mr. Ferris
The Manhunter
1974
Philip Marlowe
1959
Gunslinger
1961 · Lieutenant Gilmore
Mr. & Mrs. North
1952
Here Come the Brides
1968
The Whistler
1954
Stagecoach West
1960 · Aeneas Longbridge
Twilight Zone: The Movie
1983 · Father
The Jerk
1979 · Judge M.A. Loring
Coronado 9
1960 · Alfred Bates
Steve Canyon
1958 · Major Karl Richmond
A Year in the Life
1987 · Larry
The Lloyd Bridges Show
1962 · The Ballad Singer
Innerspace
1987 · Dr. Greenbush
Wichita Town
1959
In the Heat of the Night
1967 · Mayor Schubert
The Deep End
2010 · Hal Douglas
Them!
1954 · Ambulance Attendant
Ensign O'Toole
1962 · Douglas Harper
Beethoven's 2nd
1993 · Steve - M.C. at Pet &...
Fish Police
1992 · Additional Voices (voi...
Pistols 'n' Petticoats
1966
Pillow Talk
1959 · Hotel Clerk
Death Valley Days
1952 · Ellis Higby
Bag of Bones
2011 · Max Devore
The New Gidget
1986 · Russ Lawrence
Ike
1979 · Gen. Mark Clark
The Good Life
1994 · Judge Milligan
Letter to Loretta
1953 · Roy Smith
General Electric Theater
1953 · Red Myers
The Incredible Shrinking Man
1957 · Doctor Arthur Bramson
All's Fair
1976
Green Lantern: First Flight
2009 · Appa Ali Apsa (voice)
The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes
1969 · Professor Quigley
Blind Ambition
1979 · Herbert Kalmbach
The Duck Factory
1984 · Skip's Father
Colossus: The Forbin Project
1970 · CIA Director Grauber
Ike
1979 · Gen. Mark Clark
Mighty Joe Young
1949 · Gas Station Attendant...
Delphi Bureau
1972 · Maury Stapleton
The Strongest Man in the World
1975 · Prof. Quigley
Lonely are the Brave
1962 · Harry
Will Penny
1967 · Dr. Fraker
Hallmark Hall of Fame
1951 · Dr. Janeway
The High and the Mighty
1954 · Dispatcher
Little Women
1978 · Jonathan March
The Lone Ranger
1956 · Clive - Secretary (unc...
Shotgun Wedding
1963 · Preacher Parsons
Charley Varrick
1973 · Bill Horton
Hangar 18
1980 · Professor Mills
The Raid
1954 · Rebel Soldier (uncredi...
The Nancy Walker Show
1976 · Teddy Futterman
Friendly Persuasion
1956 · Young Husband (uncredi...
Funny Face
1971
Teachers
1984 · Horn
Some Came Running
1958 · Al (Jewelry Store Cler...
Matinee
1993 · Dr. Grabow (uncredited...
Cross of Fire
1989 · Reverend
Recount
2008 · Justice John Paul Stev...
House Party 2
1991 · Dean Kramer
Paula
1952 · Reporter
Remember When
1974 · Dick Hodges
Written on the Wind
1956 · Reporter
Escape
1971 · Senator Lewis Harrison
The Tarnished Angels
1957 · Ted Baker
Commando Cody: Sky Marshal of the Universe
1955 · Ted Richards
The Reckless Moment
1949 · Police Lieutenant (unc...
The Gallant Hours
1960
Raw Edge
1956 · Missionary
The Second Civil War
1997 · Secretary of Defense
The Tattered Dress
1957 · Court Clerk
Legends of the Superheroes
1979 · Retired Man/Scarlet Cy...
Speedway
1968 · Abel Esterlake
Kung Fu
1972 · Willis Roper
The Monolith Monsters
1957 · Weatherman
Sam Whiskey
1969 · Mr. Perkins
The People Against O'Hara
1951 · Intern with Ambulance...
Hour of the Gun
1967 · Judge Herman Spicer
Doomsday Chronicles
1979 · Host
Archie
1964 · Fred Andrews
Torpedo Run
1958 · Captain of the Bluefin
The Beat Generation
1959 · Father Dinelli
The Red Badge of Courage
1951 · Union Soldier (uncredi...
A Century of Science Fiction
1996 · Self
Man in the Shadow
1957 · Jim Shaney
Confessions of the D.A. Man
1978
Bannerline
1951 · Cass
The Incident
1990 · Wallace
Riot in Cell Block 11
1954 · Reporter
Edgar G. Ulmer: The Man Off-Screen
2004 · Self
Philbert (Three's a Crowd)
1963 · Griff M.
Cry Terror!
1958 · Henderson, Bank Repres...
The Girl in the Kremlin
1957 · Jacob Stalin
Tunnel Vision
1976 · Francis X. Cody
Top of the World
1955 · Harding
Tail Gunner Joe
1977 · Gen. Zwicker
Mrs. Lambert Remembers Love
1991 · Sheriff
Day of the Outlaw
1959
Man on Fire
1957 · Charles (uncredited)
The Patty Duke Show: Still Rockin' in Brooklyn Heights
1999 · Martin Lane
The Man from Planet X
1951 · Dr. Mears
Sex, Shock & Censorship in the 90's
1993 · Judge
Black Tuesday
1954 · Collins (uncredited)
Dawn: Portrait of a Teenage Runaway
1976 · Harry
Gog
1954 · Engle
Down Three Dark Streets
1954 · Ben
The Smurfs: 'Tis the Season to Be Smurfy
1987 · Willem (voice)
Smoke Signal
1955 · Private Livingston
Flat Top
1952 · Ens. Longfellow
Shake, Rattle and Rock!
1994 · Judge Boone
Legends of the Super Heroes
1979 · Retired Man
Circle of the Day
1957 · Reporter
Under the Influence
1986 · Cade
Harvey
1996 · Judge Gaffney
Hollywood in the Atomic Age: Monsters! Martians! Mad Scientists!
2021 · Self
Blue Denim
1959 · George - Bank Vice Pre...
Gidget's Summer Reunion
1985 · Russ Lawrence
Bring Me the Head of Dobie Gillis
1988 · Mr. Pomfritt
Shield for Murder
1954 · Asst. Dist. Atty. Andy...
Death Sentence
1974 · Tanner
Through Naked Eyes
1983 · Terry Parrish
Amazons
1984 · Congressman Stanford B...
Grace Kelly
1983 · Father Tucker
Gunslinger
1956 · Marshal Scott Hood
Held Hostage: The Sis and Jerry Levin Story
1991 · Landrum Bolling
The Jazz Singer
1953 · Assistant Stage Manage...
Tobor the Great
1954 · Johnston - a Reporter
Hoodlum Empire
1952 · Inquiry Clerk
Bobby Ware Is Missing
1955 · Police Radio Dispatche...
Promise Him Anything
1975 · Silver
Captain Kidd and the Slave Girl
1954 · Priest (uncredited)
Rose of Cimarron
1952 · Gold Bullion Guard
Lonely Heart Bandits
1950 · Dave Clark
To Dance with Olivia
1997 · Judge Shelton
The Stableboy's Christmas
1978 · The Innkeeper
Partners in Crime
1973 · Oscar
Man on a String
1972 · William Connaught
Port Sinister
1953 · Collins
Hijack!
1973 · Frank Kleiner
Massacre at Sand Creek
1956 · Defense Attorney
Paradise Alley
1962 · Jack Williams
Hell's Horizon
1955 · Capt. Ben Morgan
Storm Over Tibet
1952 · Aylen
The Trial of the Catonsville Nine
1972 · Judge
The Hired Man
1957 · Mr. Clay
Captive Women
1952 · Carver, the Mutate tra...
Sword of Venus
1953 · Valmont
Commando Cody: Sky Marshal of the Universe
1953 · Ted Richards
Monster Madness: Mutants, Space Invaders, and Drive-Ins
2014 · Self