David Ketchum

David Ketchum (February 4, 1928 – August 10, 2025) was an American actor and comedian, best known for his appearances in television sitcoms, including The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Camp Runamuck, and Get Smart.

Life and career Ketchum was born on February 4, 1928, in Quincy, Illinois. He studied physics at UCLA and joined other UCLA students in entertaining military personnel around the world for the USO.

Ketchum had a radio program for seven years in San Diego, California. On television, he portrayed Counselor Spiffy in Camp Runamuck. He was also a regular on I'm Dickens, He's Fenster, playing the role of Mel Warshaw.

In Get Smart, he played Agent 13, and was often seen in recurring jokes on the show hiding in unusual places such as mailboxes or fire hydrants. Ketchum reprised the role in the 1989 TV movie Get Smart Again as well as an episode of the 1995 revival of Get Smart on Fox. Ketchum also co-wrote one episode of the third season of the original series, titled "Classification: Dead." He also wrote scripts for other programs, including The Andy Griffith Show and Petticoat Junction.

In 1962, his comedy album The Long-Playing Tongue of Dave Ketchum was released. Billboard gave it a 4-star prefix for strong sales potential.

Films in which Ketchum appeared included Young Doctors in Love (1982) and The Other Sister (1999). He died of heart failure on August 10, 2025, in Thousand Oaks, California, at the age of 97. However, his death was not reported until August 22, 2025.

Selected filmography

Film + Film Year Title Role Notes 1964 Good Neighbor Sam Dave – Hertz Commercial Actor Uncredited 1970 The Grasshopper Football Conventioner – 1971 Bless the Beasts & Children Camp Director – 1973 Your Three Minutes Are Up Mr. Kellogg – 1974 Goodnight Jackie Mr. Green – 1977 The Curious Case of the Campus Corpse Writer cameo Also credited as writer 1979 The North Avenue Irregulars Capt. Bamford – 1979 Love at First Bite Customs Inspector – 1979 The Main Event Photographer – 1982 Young Doctors in Love Balloon Man Credited as Dave Ketchum 1984 Harold and His Amazing Green Plants Broccoli (voice) Short film 1999 The Other Sister College Maintenance Man #2 –

Television

+ Television Year(s) Title Role Notes 1960–1961 The Spike Jones Show Himself 2 episodes 1961 Angel Umpire / Repairman 2 episodes 1961 The Jim Backus Show Dorcy Howard 1 episode 1962–1963 I’m Dickens, He’s Fenster Mel Warshaw 23 episodes 1963 The Real McCoys Lou Hicks 1 episode 1964 The Joey Bishop Show Dr. Mar… / Floorwalker 2 episodes 1964 The Tycoon Worker 1 episode 1964 The Jack Benny Program Mr. Thrombry 1 episode 1965 The Munsters Master of Ceremonies 1 episode 1965 Roger Ramjet Announcer (voice) 8 episodes 1965–1966 Camp Runamuck Spiffy 26 episodes 1966–1967 Hey, Landlord Dr. Sand… / Haskell the Rascal / Wilson 4 episodes 1966–1967 Get Smart Agent 13 13 episodes 1967 The Andy Griffith Show Fred Michaels / Harry Walker 2 episodes 1967 Good Morning World Henry Horn / Bert 2 episodes 1967 The Carol Burnett Show George 1 episode 1967 Accidental Family Mr. Jennings / Scott 2 episodes 1968 Petticoat Junction Buddy Buster 1 episode 1968 Gomer Pyle: USMC Sol Gordon 1 episode 1967–1971 Green Acres Photographer / Harvey Schmidlapp 2 episodes 1969–1970 The Courtship of Eddie’s Father Joe Kelly 3 episodes 1970 The Mary Tyler Moore Show Hal 1 episode 1968–1970 That Girl Man in Restaurant / Harry / Jack Packard 3 episodes 1970 Arnie Grant 1 episode 1969 Mod Squad Jake Barry 1 episode 1969 Mayberry R.F.D. Man 1 episode 1969–1973 Love, American Style Alfred 4 episodes 1972 Call Holme Sergeant Dobbs TV movie 1972–1973 The ABC Saturday Superstar Movie Various voices 2 episodes 1972 The Partridge Family Mr. Phelps 1 episode 1971 The Odd Couple Joe / The Cop 2 episodes 1971 My Three Sons Milton Baxter 1 episode 1971 The New Dick Van Dyke Show Fred Ross 1 episode 1973 Thicker Than Water – 1 episode 1974 Maude Herman Ellinger 1 episode 1975 The Fireman’s Ball Captain O’Hara TV movie 1976 How to Break Up a Happy Divorce Professor Schofield TV movie 1977 Alice Carl 1 episode 1978 Mork & Mindy The Salesman 1 episode 1974–1984 Happy Days Donald Hedg… / Coach Pelino / Lt. Col. Binicky 5 episodes 1986 Perfect Strangers Customer 1 episode 1989 Get Smart, Again! Agent 13 TV movie 1995 Get Smart (revival) Agent 13 1 episode