Ronnie Schell

Ronald Ralph Schell (December 23, 1931 – June 12, 2026) was an American actor and stand-up comedian. He appeared on the May 28, 1959, episode of the TV quiz show You Bet Your Life, hosted by Groucho Marx. Schell demonstrated a comic barrage of beatnik jive talk. As a stand-up comedian, he first developed his act at the hungry i nightclub in San Francisco, California, and is heard (presumably as the opening act) introducing the Kingston Trio at the start of the group's 1962 College Concert album. Schell is probably best known for his 1960s television role as Duke Slater in Gomer Pyle – USMC.

Early life Schell was born in Richmond, California, on December 23, 1931. Upon graduation from high school, he served four years in the United States Air Force, where he became an airman first class.

Career For three seasons, Schell portrayed Marine private Duke Slater, best friend to Gomer Pyle on Gomer Pyle – USMC. Schell left during the fourth season to star as a disc jockey in his own sitcom, Good Morning World; he returned to Gomer Pyle for its fifth and final season. Promoted to a corporal, the character of Slater now 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 episode of The Wonderful World of Disney.

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".

He also acted in a few Pacific Southwest Airlines (PSA) 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?" 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 and death Schell married Janet Rodeberg in 1968; they had two sons, Greg and Chris Schell.

Schell died at the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles, on June 12, 2026, at the age of 94.

Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 1975 The Strongest Man in the World Referee 1976 Gus Joe Barnsdale The Shaggy D.A. TV Director 1978 The Cat from Outer Space Jake / Sgt. Duffy Voice 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 Ultraman: The Adventure Begins Samson Voice; credited as Ronald Schell 1990 Jetsons: The Movie Rudy 2 Voice 1991 Rover Dangerfield Eddie Voice 1993 Fatal Instinct Conductor Dorf Goes Fishing DIP Host Direct-to-video 1994 Revenge of the Red Baron Lou 1997 The Good Bad Guy Chief Harrison Venus Envy Simon Sayes 2000 Family Jewels Bill Taller 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 YearTitleRoleNotes 1964–1969 Gomer Pyle – USMC Duke Slater Main cast, 92 episodes 1967–1968 Good Morning World Larry Clarke Main cast, 26 episodes 1973 Butch Cassidy Additional voices 13 episodes Goober and the Ghost Chasers Gilly Voice, 16 episodes Peter Puck Peter Puck Voice, 9 episodes 1973–1974 Wait Till Your Father Gets Home Additional voices 3 episodes 1973–1976 Emergency! Various roles 4 episodes: S3Ep8, S4Ep20, S5Ep16, S6Ep4 1974 Adam-12 Jack S7E1: "Camp" 1976Sanford and SonMr. WilkensEpisode: "Committee Man" 1977 The Skatebirds Additional voices 16 episodes The Wonderful World of DisneyMr. BrownEpisode: "The Mouseketeers at Walt Disney World" 1977–1978 Fred Flintstone and Friends Gilly Voice, 95 episodes (Goober and the Ghost Chasers segments) 1977–1979 Alice Buck / Ken Baldwin 2 episodes ("Mel's Happy Burger" / "Mel's in the Kitchen with Dinah") 1977–1980 Captain Caveman and the Teen Angels Additional voices 39 episodes 1978 Battle of the Planets Jason / Additional voices 85 episodes Yogi's Space Race Additional voices 13 episodes 1979 Casper and the Angels Additional voices Episode: "Love at First Fright/Saving Grace in Outer Space" 1982 Jokebook Additional voices 3 episodesMadame's Place Frederico Felluci Episode: "I Am What I Am" 1982–1983 Meatballs & Spaghetti Additional voices 25 episodes Shirt Tales Rick Raccoon Voice, main role (23 episodes) 1982–1988 The SmurfsPushover Smurf / Reporter Smurf / Additional voices 8 episodes 1985 Snorks Additional voicesEpisode: "Snorkitis is Nothing to Sneeze At/The Whole Toot and Nothing But" 1986 Sledge Hammer! Phil Gumm 1 episode, Hammer Gets Nailed 1986 Pound Puppies Buster / Mr. HubertVoice, 2 episodes 1986–1988 The Flintstone Kids Yuckster Voice, 4 episodes 1987 Scooby-Doo Meets the Boo Brothers Freako / Demonstrator Ghost Voice, television film DuckTales Ping the Pitiless Episode: "The Right Duck" 1988 Scooby-Doo and the Ghoul School Colonel Calloway Voice, television film Mr. Belvedere Contest Judge Episode: "Marsha's Secret" 1988–1989 Fantastic Max Additional voices 3 episodes 1989 A Pup Named Scooby-Doo Additional voices 8 episodes Saved by the Bell Principal Elliot Stingwell Episode: "Save That Tiger" 1990 The Golden Girls Thomas Episode: "Triple Play" Midnight Patrol: Adventures in the Dream Zone Additional voices 13 episodes 1991 Out of This World Pinky Starr Episode: "Mayor Evie" Yo Yogi! Calvin Klunk Voice, 9 episodes 1992 The Legend of Prince Valiant Master Fezzick Voice, 2 episodes Tom & Jerry Kids Additional voices Episode: "Penthouse Mouse/12 Angry Sheep/The Ant Attack" Rugrats Fish / Clerk Voice, episode: "Visitors from Outer Space/The Case of the Missing Rugrat"; credited as Ronald Schell Duckman Eric Duckman Voice, unaired pilot: "The Case of the Missing Chromosome" 1993 I Yabba-Dabba Do! Additional voices Television film Droopy, Master Detective Additional voices 13 episodes Hollyrock-a-Bye Baby Additional voices Television film 1995–1996 Coach Dr. Howard / Customer 2 episodes 1997 What a Cartoon! Mel Voice, episode: "Strange Things" 1997–1999 Recess Mayor Fitzhugh Voice, 3 episodes 2004 Yes, Dear Cliff Marshall Episode: "Dead Aunt, Dead Aunt" Phil of the Future 75-Year-Old Phil Episode: "Age Before Beauty" Megas XLR Mac Voice, 2 episodes 2004, 2007 The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy Real Estate Agent / Toadblatt Voice, 2 episodes 2008 Easy to Assemble Ronnie Schell 2 episodes 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 2017 Heaven's Waiting Room Vic Unknown episodes 2018 Kaplan's Corner Ronnie (final role) Episode: "Marvin's Ghost"