Ronald Ralph "Ronnie" Schell (born December 23, 1931) is an American actor, stand-up comedian and cartoon voice actor (notably Peter Puck). Early in his career he appeared as himself as a contestant on You Bet Your Life opposite Groucho Marx, demonstrating a comic barrage of jive talk.
Schell was born in Richmond, California. His first choice of careers was to play professional baseball. He got as far as the semi-pro league level before enlisting...
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Ronald Ralph "Ronnie" Schell (born December 23, 1931) is an American actor, stand-up comedian and cartoon voice actor (notably Peter Puck). Early in his career he appeared as himself as a contestant on You Bet Your Life opposite Groucho Marx, demonstrating a comic barrage of jive talk.
Schell was born in Richmond, California. His first choice of careers was to play professional baseball. He got as far as the semi-pro league level before enlisting in the Air Force, where he performed in variety shows as both an emcee and comedian and also did record pantomimes. Schell studied at San Francisco State University and by happenstance formed a nightclub comedy duo which took off. He turned solo within a year and progressed to Las Vegas work as an opening act.
Perhaps Ronnie will always be best remembered for playing Private Duke Slater on the Jim Nabors vehicle Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.. He played this role for three years, starred as a disc jockey for one season in his own sitcom, Good Morning,...
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