William Schallert
1 FOLLOWER • 111 CREDITS • JUL 6, 1922 - MAY 8, 2016 • 93
Biography
more
William Joseph Schallert (July 6, 1922 – May 8, 2016, Height 6 feet 1 inch [1.85 meters]) 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.
Overview
William Joseph Schallert (July 6, 1922 – May 8, 2016, Height 6 feet 1 inch [1.85 meters]) 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.
Known For
Perry Mason
Hallmark Hall of Fame
Four Star Playhouse
Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre
General Electric Theater
The F.B.I.
Lux Video Theatre
Mission: Impossible
Hawaii Five-O
Rawhide
ER
Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman
Police Story
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
CHiPs
The Wild Wild West
St. Elsewhere
Melrose Place
Dream On
Simon & Simon
Wanted: Dead or Alive
Little House on the Prairie
Have Gun, Will Travel
Switch
Murphy Brown
Richard Diamond, Private Detective
Peter Gunn
Kung Fu
Letter to Loretta
Lou Grant
The Dick Van Dyke Show
Desperate Housewives
Scarecrow and Mrs. King
Quantum Leap
Star Trek
Banacek
Get Smart
The Texan
Matinee Theater
Gunsmoke
Thriller
Sam Benedict
The Twilight Zone
Hazel
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Lassie
How I Met Your Mother
The DuPont Show with June Allyson
The Virginian
What's New, Scooby-Doo?
The Waltons
Family Law
The Six Million Dollar Man
The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show
87th Precinct
My Name Is Earl
Magnum, P.I.
Ensign O'Toole
Son of the Beach
Wichita Town
The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis
The Rat Patrol
Johnny Ringo
Leave It to Beaver
Land of the Giants
The Manhunter
The Andy Griffith Show
A Year in the Life
The Good Life
CBS Playhouse
True Blood
Mr. & Mrs. North
Medium
The Lloyd Bridges Show
Pistols 'n' Petticoats
Climax!
Matlock
Grandpa Goes to Washington
The Angry Beavers
The Suite Life of Zack & Cody
Highway to Heaven
Ironside
The Debbie Reynolds Show
The Twilight Zone
All's Fair
Ellery Queen
Little Women
The Lucy Show
Gremlins
Beethoven's 2nd
The Jerk
Shake, Rattle and Rock!
Blind Ambition
Singin' in the Rain
The Raid
War and Remembrance
The Second Civil War
Will Penny
House Party 2
Cross of Fire
Charley Varrick
Green Lantern: First Flight
The Torkelsons
Forbidden Area
Harvey
Escape
Massacre at Sand Creek
Colossus: The Forbin Project
Legends of the Superheroes
Dr. Kildare
Bat Masterson
Movies+ Discover & Track Movies
Never miss a movie again with Movies+, the simple tracker that keeps you updated on where to watch, stream, rent, or buy, while also alerting you to any production changes and new release dates of your favorite films!
Get