Remembering Ronnie Schell
Ronnie Schell, 'Gomer Pyle' Actor and Comedian, Dies at 94 After Long Career
Key Points
The “America’s Slowest Rising Comedian” label was coined by San Francisco radio personality Don Sherwood, whom Schell later credited for the phrase (explaining it reflected how co-workers moved on as newcomers like Phyllis Diller and the Smothers Brothers later became bigger stars).
Schell’s other CBS sitcom, “Good Morning, World,” ran for just 26 episodes—then flopped—before Schell returned to “Gomer Pyle” for its fifth and final season (by then Duke was promoted to corporal).
Before breaking into television, Schell’s start at the Purple Onion nightclub included sharing a bill with major acts: he performed alongside Phyllis Diller and an up-and-coming Kingston Trio, after his early stand-up audition evolved from a brief stint into five months.
Beyond civic work, Schell also won an industry award for advertising, taking a CLIO award for his Kemp’s Ice Cream commercials.
His voice-over resume included starring as the title feline in “The Cat from Outer Space” and providing voices for projects such as “Rover Dangerfield,” “Jetsons: The Movie,” and TV series including “The Smurfs,” “DuckTales,” and “Scooby-Doo.”
Ronnie Schell, the last surviving primary cast member of the 1960s CBS sitcom "Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.," died Friday at age 94 of natural causes at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles, according to Entertainment Weekly. His publicist confirmed a recent fall had led to his hospitalization. He is survived by his wife, Janet, and sons Gregory and Christian.
Schell spent nearly seven decades in show business, racking up more than 150 television credits, AOL reported. He was best known for playing Marine Pvt. Duke Slater, the wisecracking best friend to Jim Nabors' naive title character. San Francisco radio personality Don Sherwood gave him the nickname "America's Slowest Rising Comedian" — a label Schell wore with pride throughout his career.
From Air Force Veteran to Purple Onion Comedian
Schell was born December 23, 1931, in Richmond, California. After high school, he served four years in the U.S. Air Force, reaching the rank of Airman First Class. He then earned a degree in liberal studies from San Francisco State University in 1958, according to Broadway World.
Almost immediately after graduating, he auditioned for a two-week stand-up slot at San Francisco's legendary Purple Onion nightclub. The booking stretched to five months. He shared the bill with Phyllis Diller and a then-unknown Kingston Trio. That run launched his career and led to his first TV appearance in 1959 on "You Bet Your Life" with Groucho Marx, Page Six reported.
Duke Slater Made Him Famous, Then Nearly Cost Him the Role
Schell joined "Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C." in 1964, appearing in 92 episodes over the show's run, according to Broadway World. He played Pvt. Duke Slater for the first three seasons. Then, in 1967, he left to star in his own CBS sitcom, "Good Morning, World," playing DJ Larry Clarke.
That show lasted just 26 episodes before it was canceled. It did, however, launch Goldie Hawn's career. Schell returned to "Gomer Pyle" for its fifth and final season in 1968–1969, with Duke now promoted to corporal, AL.com noted. In a 2011 interview, Schell said, "I always say it's been mighty lonely in the middle."
Voice-Over Work and a CLIO Award Few Knew About
After the sitcom era, Schell built a second career in voice acting. He voiced the title cat in "The Cat from Outer Space" and contributed to animated series including "The Smurfs," "DuckTales," "Jetsons: The Movie," and "Scooby-Doo," according to Broadway World. He also voiced Peter Puck, the animated character who taught hockey rules to American TV viewers during NHL broadcasts in the 1970s.
His advertising work earned him a CLIO Award — one of the ad industry's highest honors — for his Kemp's Ice Cream commercials. He also served as spokesman for San Francisco's BART transit system and was inducted into San Francisco State University's Hall of Fame in 2002, Page Six reported.
Death Closes the Final Chapter of a Classic TV Era
With Schell's passing, the main cast of "Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C." is now gone. Jim Nabors, who played Gomer, died in 2017. Frank Sutton, who played Sgt. Carter, died in 1974. Entertainment Weekly noted that Schell was the last primary cast member still living.
His family noted the timing as meaningful: Schell died on June 12 — the same calendar date as Jim Nabors' birthday, according to AOL. No funeral services were planned. His publicist described his passing as peaceful.
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