Movies+ Where To Watch
Download Search New Upcoming Discover Home
William Schallert
1 FOLLOWER • 102 CREDITS • JUL 6, 1922 - MAY 8, 2016 • 93
Follow
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
Gunsmoke
Lux Video Theatre
Perry Mason
Hallmark Hall of Fame
General Electric Theater
The F.B.I.
Hawaii Five-O
Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre
Four Star Playhouse
Mission: Impossible
ER
Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
The Wild Wild West
CHiPs
St. Elsewhere
Dream On
Simon & Simon
Dr. Kildare
Have Gun, Will Travel
Little House on the Prairie
Switch
Kung Fu
Murphy Brown
Peter Gunn
Letter to Loretta
The Dick Van Dyke Show
Desperate Housewives
Wanted: Dead or Alive
Scarecrow and Mrs. King
Star Trek
Lou Grant
Quantum Leap
Banacek
What's New, Scooby-Doo?
Get Smart
The Texan
Matinee Theater
Thriller
The Twilight Zone
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Lassie
How I Met Your Mother
The DuPont Show with June Allyson
The Virginian
The Waltons
Bat Masterson
Family Law
The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show
Sam Benedict
Magnum, P.I.
87th Precinct
My Name Is Earl
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
The Good Life
CBS Playhouse
True Blood
A Year in the Life
Mr. & Mrs. North
Medium
The Lloyd Bridges Show
Pistols 'n' Petticoats
Climax!
Matlock
The Angry Beavers
Ironside
Highway to Heaven
The Twilight Zone
Ellery Queen
The Debbie Reynolds Show
Richard Diamond, Private Detective
All's Fair
Little Women
The Lucy Show
Gremlins
Beethoven's 2nd
Blind Ambition
Shake, Rattle and Rock!
Singin' in the Rain
The Raid
War and Remembrance
The Second Civil War
Will Penny
House Party 2
Cross of Fire
Charley Varrick
The Torkelsons
Green Lantern: First Flight
Harvey
Escape
Massacre at Sand Creek
Colossus: The Forbin Project
Legends of the Superheroes
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