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.
120 movies · 154 shows
Hollywood in the Atomic Age: Monsters! Martians! Mad Scientists!
2021·4.7
Monster Madness: Mutants, Space Invaders, and Drive-Ins
2014·6.0
Green Lantern: First Flight
2009·7.0
Recount
2008·6.8
Sweetzer
2007·10.0
Edgar G. Ulmer: The Man Off-Screen
2004·6.5
The Patty Duke Show: Still Rockin' in Brooklyn Heights
1999·10.0
The Second Civil War
1997·6.1
To Dance with Olivia
1997·8.0
Harvey
1996·5.2
A Century of Science Fiction
1996·6.9
Shake, Rattle and Rock!
1994·6.0
Beethoven's 2nd
1993·5.6
Sex, Shock & Censorship in the 90's
1993·9.0
Matinee
1993·6.7
House Party 2
1991·5.5
Mrs. Lambert Remembers Love
1991·5.1
Held Hostage: The Sis and Jerry Levin Story
1991·7.0
The Incident
1990·6.5
Bring Me the Head of Dobie Gillis
1988·7.0
The Smurfs: 'Tis the Season to Be Smurfy
1987·6.7
Innerspace
1987·6.8
Under the Influence
1986·5.9
Gidget's Summer Reunion
1985·6.0
Teachers
1984·5.7
Gremlins
1984·7.1
Amazons
1984·5.0
Through Naked Eyes
1983·4.6
Twilight Zone: The Movie
1983·6.5
Grace Kelly
1983·6.4
Hangar 18
1980·5.1
The Jerk
1979·6.9
Ike
1979·6.8
Legends of the Super Heroes
1979·4.9
Doomsday Chronicles
1979·10.0
The Stableboy's Christmas
1978·7.0
Confessions of the D.A. Man
1978·0.0
Tail Gunner Joe
1977·6.0
Dawn: Portrait of a Teenage Runaway
1976·5.4
Tunnel Vision
1976·4.8
Promise Him Anything
1975·10.0
The Strongest Man in the World
1975·6.2
Death Sentence
1974·5.5
Remember When
1974·7.0
Hijack!
1973·6.7
Charley Varrick
1973·7.4
Partners in Crime
1973·5.0
The Trial of the Catonsville Nine
1972·7.0
Man on a String
1972·7.0
Escape
1971·5.7
Colossus: The Forbin Project
1970·7.0
The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes
1969·6.0
Sam Whiskey
1969·5.8
Speedway
1968·5.9
Will Penny
1967·6.7
Hour of the Gun
1967·6.5
In the Heat of the Night
1967·7.7
Archie
1964·0.0
Philbert (Three's a Crowd)
1963·4.5
Shotgun Wedding
1963·5.4
Lonely are the Brave
1962·7.4
Paradise Alley
1962·6.6
Alcatraz Express
1961·7.0
The Gallant Hours
1960·6.7
Pillow Talk
1959·7.1
Blue Denim
1959·5.3
The Beat Generation
1959·5.1
Day of the Outlaw
1959·6.8
Some Came Running
1958·7.0
Torpedo Run
1958·6.1
Cry Terror!
1958·6.5
Man in the Shadow
1957·6.7
The Monolith Monsters
1957·6.5
The Tarnished Angels
1957·6.8
The Hired Man
1957·0.0
Man on Fire
1957·6.0
Circle of the Day
1957·0.0
The Girl in the Kremlin
1957·5.0
The Tattered Dress
1957·5.5
The Incredible Shrinking Man
1957·7.5
Massacre at Sand Creek
1956·5.5
Friendly Persuasion
1956·6.6
Written on the Wind
1956·7.0
Forbidden Area
1956·7.5
Gunslinger
1956·4.4
Raw Edge
1956·6.3
The Lone Ranger
1956·6.2
Hell's Horizon
1955·5.7
Bobby Ware Is Missing
1955·8.0
Top of the World
1955·6.5
Smoke Signal
1955·6.9
Black Tuesday
1954·6.2
Down Three Dark Streets
1954·5.8
Tobor the Great
1954·5.3
Shield for Murder
1954·6.7
The Raid
1954·6.5
The High and the Mighty
1954·5.9
Them!
1954·6.8
Gog
1954·5.9
Captain Kidd and the Slave Girl
1954·5.7
Riot in Cell Block 11
1954·7.1
Port Sinister
1953·6.0
Sword of Venus
1953·6.0
Commando Cody: Sky Marshal of the Universe
1953·0.0
The Jazz Singer
1953·6.0
Flat Top
1952·4.6
Captive Women
1952·5.0
Storm Over Tibet
1952·7.0
Paula
1952·8.2
Hoodlum Empire
1952·6.5
Singin' in the Rain
1952·8.1
Rose of Cimarron
1952·5.6
Bannerline
1951·6.8
The Red Badge of Courage
1951·6.5
The People Against O'Hara
1951·5.8
The Man from Planet X
1951·5.9
Lonely Heart Bandits
1950·7.8
The Reckless Moment
1949·6.8
Mighty Joe Young
1949·6.4
Doctor Jim
1947·8.0