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