Thu OCT 15, 2009

THIS WEEK: RONNIE SCHELL CRNTALK.com

This week Bob welcomes veteran comedian and TV Star Ronnie Schell to the show.
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, World. He then returned to Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. as a Corporal for its fifth and final season. He used this experience to humorously refer to himself in his stand-up routine as "America's slowest-rising young comic." Schell also acted in a few Pacific Southwest Airlines Commercials such as "Smile Inspection" and "PSA Gives You A Lift Pageant". At the end of a Jerry Lewis PSA Jingle, a voice said "That was Jerry Lewis for PSA, and this is Ronnie Schell. What did I do wrong?".[1] He also did a commercial with Don Adams where he parodied Don's TV character Maxwell Smart.
His television guest credits include Phil of the Future, Yes, Dear, The Wayans Bros., Step by Step, Coach, The Golden Girls, 227, Saved by the Bell, Empty Nest, Mr. Belvedere, Santa Barbara, Trapper John, M.D., Too Close for Comfort, The Brian Keith Show, The Love Boat, Alice, Mork & Mindy, One Day at a Time, Charlie's Angels, The Dukes of Hazzard, Sanford and Son, Emergency!, Happy Days, Adam-12, The New Dick Van Dyke Show, That Girl and Hogan's Heroes. He is currently starring in the Off-Broadway production of "Don't Leave it All to Your Children!", a comedic and musical revue dedicated to those Baby Boomers everywhere who are about to enter into the golden age of Senior Citizenship.