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