William Schallert
Acting • Born 1922-07-06 – Died 2016-05-08
Biography
William Joseph Schallert (July 6, 1922 – May 8, 2016) 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.
Filmography
312 credits
Will Penny
Movie • 1967
Dr. Fraker
In the Heat of the Night
Movie • 1967
Mayor Schubert
Cry Terror!
Movie • 1958
Henderson, Bank Representative
Shield for Murder
Movie • 1954
Asst. Dist. Atty. Andy Tucker
Teachers
Movie • 1984
Horn
Hour of the Gun
Movie • 1967
Judge Herman Spicer
The Incredible Shrinking Man
Movie • 1957
Doctor Arthur Bramson
Sam Whiskey
Movie • 1969
Mr. Perkins
Matinee
Movie • 1993
Dr. Grabow (uncredited)
Hoodlum Empire
Movie • 1952
Inquiry Clerk
Black Tuesday
Movie • 1954
Collins (uncredited)
Charley Varrick
Movie • 1973
Bill Horton
Torpedo Run
Movie • 1958
Captain of the Bluefin
Riot in Cell Block 11
Movie • 1954
Reporter
Sweetzer
Movie • 2007
Barnaby
Tail Gunner Joe
Movie • 1977
Gen. Zwicker
The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes
Movie • 1969
Professor Quigley
Rose of Cimarron
Movie • 1952
Gold Bullion Guard
Colossus: The Forbin Project
Movie • 1970
CIA Director Grauber
Friendly Persuasion
Movie • 1956
Young Husband (uncredited)
Lonely are the Brave
Movie • 1962
Harry
The Stableboy's Christmas
Movie • 1978
The Innkeeper
The Tarnished Angels
Movie • 1957
Ted Baker
Gremlins
Movie • 1984
Father Bartlett (uncredited)
Green Lantern: First Flight
Movie • 2009
Appa Ali Apsa (voice)
To Dance with Olivia
Movie • 1997
Judge Shelton
The High and the Mighty
Movie • 1954
Dispatcher
Written on the Wind
Movie • 1956
Reporter
The Man from Planet X
Movie • 1951
Dr. Mears
Flat Top
Movie • 1952
Ens. Longfellow
Hangar 18
Movie • 1980
Professor Mills
Captive Women
Movie • 1952
Carver, the Mutate traitor
The Tattered Dress
Movie • 1957
Court Clerk
Remember When
Movie • 1974
Dick Hodges
The Lone Ranger
Movie • 1956
Clive - Secretary (uncredited)
Grace Kelly
Movie • 1983
Father Tucker
Port Sinister
Movie • 1953
Collins
Harvey
Movie • 1996
Judge Gaffney
Lonely Heart Bandits
Movie • 1950
Dave Clark
Under the Influence
Movie • 1986
Cade
Man on Fire
Movie • 1957
Charles (uncredited)
Top of the World
Movie • 1955
Harding
Dawn: Portrait of a Teenage Runaway
Movie • 1976
Harry
Confessions of the D.A. Man
Movie • 1978
Through Naked Eyes
Movie • 1983
Terry Parrish
Escape
Movie • 1971
Senator Lewis Harrison
Bannerline
Movie • 1951
Cass
Paradise Alley
Movie • 1962
Jack Williams
Philbert (Three's a Crowd)
Movie • 1963
Griff M.
Paula
Movie • 1952
Reporter
Singin' in the Rain
Movie • 1952
Messenger on Screen (uncredited)
The Monolith Monsters
Movie • 1957
Weatherman
Tunnel Vision
Movie • 1976
Francis X. Cody
Twilight Zone: The Movie
Movie • 1983
Father
Gog
Movie • 1954
Engle
The Second Civil War
Movie • 1997
Secretary of Defense
Doomsday Chronicles
Movie • 1979
Host
Hijack!
Movie • 1973
Frank Kleiner
Day of the Outlaw
Movie • 1959
Edgar G. Ulmer: The Man Off-Screen
Movie • 2004
Self
Storm Over Tibet
Movie • 1952
Aylen
Smoke Signal
Movie • 1955
Private Livingston
Mrs. Lambert Remembers Love
Movie • 1991
Sheriff
The Patty Duke Show: Still Rockin' in Brooklyn Heights
Movie • 1999
Martin Lane
Man in the Shadow
Movie • 1957
Jim Shaney
Innerspace
Movie • 1987
Dr. Greenbush
Shake, Rattle and Rock!
Movie • 1994
Judge Boone
Speedway
Movie • 1968
Abel Esterlake
Monster Madness: Mutants, Space Invaders, and Drive-Ins
Movie • 2014
Self
The Gallant Hours
Movie • 1960
Them!
Movie • 1954
Ambulance Attendant
Mighty Joe Young
Movie • 1949
Gas Station Attendant (uncredited)
The Raid
Movie • 1954
Rebel Soldier (uncredited)
The Gallant Hours
Movie • 1960
Thomas G. Lamphier Jr.
The People Against O'Hara
Movie • 1951
Intern with Ambulance (uncredited)
The Beat Generation
Movie • 1959
Father Dinelli
Tobor the Great
Movie • 1954
Johnston - a Reporter
Ike
Movie • 1979
Gen. Mark Clark
Some Came Running
Movie • 1958
Al (Jewelry Store Clerk) (uncredited)
The Hired Man
Movie • 1957
Mr. Clay
Hollywood in the Atomic Age: Monsters! Martians! Mad Scientists!
Movie • 2021
Self
Pillow Talk
Movie • 1959
Hotel Clerk
Commando Cody: Sky Marshal of the Universe
Movie • 1953
Ted Richards
Down Three Dark Streets
Movie • 1954
Ben
Gunslinger
Movie • 1956
Marshal Scott Hood
The Reckless Moment
Movie • 1949
Police Lieutenant (uncredited)
The Jazz Singer
Movie • 1953
Assistant Stage Manager (uncredited)
The Smurfs: 'Tis the Season to Be Smurfy
Movie • 1987
Willem (voice)
Blue Denim
Movie • 1959
George - Bank Vice President (uncredited)
Amazons
Movie • 1984
Congressman Stanford Barstow
The Jerk
Movie • 1979
Judge M.A. Loring
Promise Him Anything
Movie • 1975
Silver
Massacre at Sand Creek
Movie • 1956
Defense Attorney
Raw Edge
Movie • 1956
Missionary
Bring Me the Head of Dobie Gillis
Movie • 1988
Mr. Pomfritt
The Strongest Man in the World
Movie • 1975
Prof. Quigley
Man on a String
Movie • 1972
William Connaught
The Incident
Movie • 1990
Wallace
The Red Badge of Courage
Movie • 1951
Union Soldier (uncredited)
Legends of the Super Heroes
Movie • 1979
Retired Man
Sword of Venus
Movie • 1953
Valmont
A Century of Science Fiction
Movie • 1996
Self
Doctor Jim
Movie • 1947
George Brant
House Party 2
Movie • 1991
Dean Kramer
Held Hostage: The Sis and Jerry Levin Story
Movie • 1991
Landrum Bolling
Sex, Shock & Censorship in the 90's
Movie • 1993
Judge
Hell's Horizon
Movie • 1955
Capt. Ben Morgan
Beethoven's 2nd
Movie • 1993
Steve - M.C. at Pet & Owner Burger Binge (uncredited)
The Girl in the Kremlin
Movie • 1957
Jacob Stalin
Shotgun Wedding
Movie • 1963
Preacher Parsons
Captain Kidd and the Slave Girl
Movie • 1954
Priest (uncredited)
Partners in Crime
Movie • 1973
Oscar
Death Sentence
Movie • 1974
Tanner
Bobby Ware Is Missing
Movie • 1955
Police Radio Dispatcher (uncredited)
Gidget's Summer Reunion
Movie • 1985
Russ Lawrence
Forbidden Area
Movie • 1956
TV Announcer
Circle of the Day
Movie • 1957
Reporter
The Trial of the Catonsville Nine
Movie • 1972
Alcatraz Express
Movie • 1961
Medium
TV • 2005
J. Donald Kessinger
St. Elsewhere
TV • 1982
Olan Standley
The Andy Griffith Show
TV • 1960
Sam Becker
Magnum, P.I.
TV • 1980
Bob
Son of the Beach
TV • 2000
The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis
TV • 1959
How I Met Your Mother
TV • 2005
Brady
Star Trek
TV • 1966
Nilz Baris
77 Sunset Strip
TV • 1958
Little House on the Prairie
TV • 1974
Snell
The F.B.I.
TV • 1965
Paul Ganz
Desperate Housewives
TV • 2004
Ken
The Bionic Woman
TV • 1976
Matlock
TV • 1986
Judge Elliot Franklin
Simon & Simon
TV • 1981
Hawaii Five-O
TV • 1968
Defense Counsel Herbert
The Twilight Zone
TV • 1985
(segment "Shadow Play")
My Name Is Earl
TV • 2005
Dr. Rudin
That Girl
TV • 1966
The Lucy Show
TV • 1962
Mr. Cresant
Highway to Heaven
TV • 1984
Marcus Welby, M.D.
TV • 1969
Brian Cullen
Land of the Giants
TV • 1968
Dr. Arno
Room 222
TV • 1969
Scarecrow and Mrs. King
TV • 1983
Hotel
TV • 1982
The Hardy Boys / Nancy Drew Mysteries
TV • 1977
Carson Drew
The Mod Squad
TV • 1968
Quantum Leap
TV • 1989
Judge Eugene Haller
The Angry Beavers
TV • 1997
Gunsmoke
TV • 1955
Eben Hakes
Perry Mason
TV • 1957
Graves
All's Fair
TV • 1976
Combat!
TV • 1962
Maj. Fisher
Bewitched
TV • 1964
The Zeta Project
TV • 2001
The Suite Life of Zack & Cody
TV • 2005
David
Melrose Place
TV • 1992
Dr. Curtis
General Electric Theater
TV • 1953
Red Myers
Lassie
TV • 1954
Hallmark Hall of Fame
TV • 1951
Dr. Janeway
The Twilight Zone
TV • 1959
Policeman
Ironside
TV • 1967
The Waltons
TV • 1972
Sea Hunt
TV • 1958
ER
TV • 1994
Mitchell Jennings
Leave It to Beaver
TV • 1957
Mr. Bloomgarden
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
TV • 1955
Lt. Gunderson
Pistols 'n' Petticoats
TV • 1966
87th Precinct
TV • 1961
Philip Marlowe
TV • 1959
The Nancy Walker Show
TV • 1976
Teddy Futterman
The Wild Wild West
TV • 1965
Rufus Kraus
Funny Face
TV • 1971
Rawhide
TV • 1959
The Salesman
Have Gun, Will Travel
TV • 1957
The New Gidget
TV • 1986
Russ Lawrence
Police Story
TV • 1973
Switch
TV • 1975
Wayne Buford
Family Law
TV • 1999
Manager
The Virginian
TV • 1962
Harry Foley
Thriller
TV • 1960
Prof. John MacFarland ('Friend of the Dead')
Peter Gunn
TV • 1958
Lux Video Theatre
TV • 1950
Sam Carter
Matt Houston
TV • 1982
The Patty Duke Show
TV • 1963
Martin Lane
One Step Beyond
TV • 1959
Doctor Sanders
Richard Diamond, Private Detective
TV • 1957
Johnny Prescott (uncredited)
Climax!
TV • 1954
David
Black Saddle
TV • 1959
Chet Mallet
Here Come the Brides
TV • 1968
The Debbie Reynolds Show
TV • 1969
The Man and the City
TV • 1971
Judd for the Defense
TV • 1967
Matinee Theater
TV • 1955
The Adventures of Jim Bowie
TV • 1956
Commando Cody: Sky Marshal of the Universe
TV • 1955
Ted Richards
Lock-Up
TV • 1959
Wanted: Dead or Alive
TV • 1958
Hotel Clerk
The Rebel
TV • 1959
Charles Ashbaugh
The Rifleman
TV • 1958
Lawman
TV • 1958
Bat Masterson
TV • 1958
Dr. Harold Dunsmore
Sugarfoot
TV • 1957
Cole
Ellery Queen
TV • 1975
The Rat Patrol
TV • 1966
Dr. Schneidermann
The Texan
TV • 1958
The New Breed
TV • 1961
Gilbert Condon
The Whistler
TV • 1954
Wichita Town
TV • 1959
CBS Playhouse
TV • 1966
The Manhunter
TV • 1974
Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre
TV • 1956
Yarbrough
Stoney Burke
TV • 1962
Johnny Ringo
TV • 1959
Mr. Ferris
Death Valley Days
TV • 1952
Ellis Higby
Dr. Kildare
TV • 1961
Inspector
Coronado 9
TV • 1960
The DuPont Show with June Allyson
TV • 1959
Lt. Barnes
Grandpa Goes to Washington
TV • 1978
Letter to Loretta
TV • 1953
Roy Smith
Mr. & Mrs. North
TV • 1952
The Deep End
TV • 2010
Hal Douglas
War and Remembrance
TV • 1988
Harry Hopkins
CHiPs
TV • 1977
Rev. Warmer
Maverick
TV • 1957
North and South
TV • 1985
Gen. Robert E. Lee
True Blood
TV • 2008
Maire Norris
One Step Beyond
TV • 1959
Lenny
Legends of the Superheroes
TV • 1979
Retired Man/Scarlet Cyclone
The Ford Television Theatre
TV • 1952
Union Official
Surfside 6
TV • 1960
Marty Kemp
Dr. Kildare
TV • 1961
Tom Scola
Rawhide
TV • 1959
Lt. Hill
Rawhide
TV • 1959
Lieutenant Carter
The F.B.I.
TV • 1965
Ed Crawford
Richard Diamond, Private Detective
TV • 1957
Charlie Kane
Gunsmoke
TV • 1955
Alben Peavy
Gunsmoke
TV • 1955
Capt. Grant
Gunsmoke
TV • 1955
Jess
Gunsmoke
TV • 1955
Ezra Thorpe
Gunsmoke
TV • 1955
Jake Spence
Gunsmoke
TV • 1955
Judge Ray Cordelius
The Six Million Dollar Man
TV • 1974
Lorin Sandusky
Lux Video Theatre
TV • 1950
Thompson
Lux Video Theatre
TV • 1950
Ferguson
Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre
TV • 1956
Tom Baird
Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre
TV • 1956
John Scott
Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre
TV • 1956
Tom
Lux Video Theatre
TV • 1950
Hall
Four Star Playhouse
TV • 1952
Airline Clerk
Four Star Playhouse
TV • 1952
Johnson
The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show
TV • 1950
Pete
Ensign O'Toole
TV • 1962
Douglas Harper
77 Sunset Strip
TV • 1958
Steve Alexander
Wanted: Dead or Alive
TV • 1958
James Hendricks
Wanted: Dead or Alive
TV • 1958
Craig the Bartender
Wanted: Dead or Alive
TV • 1958
Link Damon
Hawaii Five-O
TV • 1968
Craig Wilkie
Bag of Bones
TV • 2011
Max Devore
Perry Mason
TV • 1957
Dr. Bradbury
Perry Mason
TV • 1957
Len Dykes
Bat Masterson
TV • 1958
George Winston
Johnny Ringo
TV • 1959
Bogan
Kung Fu
TV • 1972
Willis Roper
A Year in the Life
TV • 1987
Larry
The Wild Wild West
TV • 1965
Silas Grigsby
Lou Grant
TV • 1977
Larry Hill
Steve Canyon
TV • 1958
Major Karl Richmond
The Wild Wild West
TV • 1965
Frank Harper
Dinosaurs
TV • 1991
Wesayso Scientist (voice)
The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis
TV • 1959
Prof. Leander Pomfritt
The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis
TV • 1959
Mr. Leander Pomfritt
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
TV • 1993
Varani
What's New, Scooby-Doo?
TV • 2002
Professor Pomfrit (voice)
What's New, Scooby-Doo?
TV • 2002
Farmer P. / Neville Popenbacher (voice)
The Torkelsons
TV • 1991
Wesley "Boarder" Hodges
Banacek
TV • 1972
Leo Osburn
The Lloyd Bridges Show
TV • 1962
The Ballad Singer
Mission: Impossible
TV • 1966
Dr. Harrison Selby
Murphy Brown
TV • 1988
Ken Hamilton
Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman
TV • 1993
Al
True Blood
TV • 2008
Mayor Norris
Blind Ambition
TV • 1979
Herbert Kalmbach
Dream On
TV • 1990
Judith's Father
Stagecoach West
TV • 1960
Aeneas Longbridge
Little Women
TV • 1978
Jonathan March
Cross of Fire
TV • 1989
Reverend
The Good Life
TV • 1994
Judge Milligan
Coach
TV • 1989
Bert Wilkins
Death Valley Days
TV • 1952
Dave Meiser
Harvey
TV • 1999
Judge Gaffney
The Dick Van Dyke Show
TV • 1961
Mr. Kirk
Hazel
TV • 1961
Kemper
Pacific Blue
TV • 1996
Walter
The Guns of Will Sonnett
TV • 1967
Lawyer
Sam Benedict
TV • 1962
Neil Carlson
The Untouchables
TV • 1959
Edward Garth
Lou Grant
TV • 1977
Mark Worth
The Rifleman
TV • 1958
Joe Lovering
Wagon Train
TV • 1957
Miles Van Vander
Have Gun, Will Travel
TV • 1957
Cavalry Corporal
Close to Home
TV • 2005
Harold Jensen
Little House on the Prairie
TV • 1974
Dean Russell Harmon
Delphi Bureau
TV • 1972
Maury Stapleton
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
TV • 1993
Nilz Baris
The Partridge Family
TV • 1970
Red Woodloe
Ike
TV • 1979
Gen. Mark Clark
Gunslinger
TV • 1961
Lieutenant Gilmore
The Duck Factory
TV • 1984
Skip's Father
Rebel Highway
TV • 1994
Judge Patrick Eugene Boone
Get Smart
TV • 1965
Admiral Hargrade
Get Smart
TV • 1965
Earl Kibbee