William Schallert

Actor


The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

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About
About this interview

In his three-and-a-half-hour interview, William Schallert (1922-2016) talks of wanting to be a composer and stumbling upon acting while studying at UCLA. He describes his involvement with the Circle Theater in Los Angeles, his early film roles, and his first television appearances on Space Patrol, Matinee Theater, Playhouse 90, and Climax! He recalls working on several television Westerns, making memorable appearances on Get Smart and Star Trek, and playing "Mr. Leander Pomfritt" on The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis. Schallert then details his time on The Patty Duke Show, where he played Patty Duke's father, "Martin Lane" (and his identical twin brother). He speaks of his voiceover career, which includes voicing "Milton the Toaster," and outlines some of his more then-recent television work. Amy Harrington conducted the interview on February 29, 2012 in Pacific Palisades, CA.

All views expressed by interviewees are theirs alone and not necessarily those of the Television Academy.

"Just make sure you need to act. It's not enough to like it; it's not enough to want it; it's got to satisfy a real need in you. Because otherwise you won't be able to tolerate the bullshit, which you'll inevitably find... Acting has to satisfy something really deep inside you so you know that this is it." 

People Talking About ...
Highlights
William Schallert on why "Martin Lane" on The Patty Duke Show resonated with audiences
00:42
William Schallert on how scenes with the identical cousins were shot in The Patty Duke Show
02:27
William Schallert on appearing on the Star Trek episode "The Trouble with Tribbles"
03:14
William Schallert on his voiceover work as "Milton the Toaster"
01:07
William Schallert on feeling like he could act, but that he didn't look like an actor
01:01
William Schallert on often playing several roles on one series
01:15
Full Interview

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Chapter 1

On his childhood and early influences; on wanting to be a composer and stumbling upon acting while attending UCLA; on being one of the founding members of The Circle Theatre in Los Angeles
On his father's prominent newspaper role and his last name being recognized in Hollywood; on plays in which he acted; on his early movie roles ("The Foxes of Harrow", "The Man From Planet X"); on getting cut from "Singin' in the Rain"
On his early TV roles in Space Patrol; on being a character actor and not feeling typecast; on working on Matinee Theater, Playhouse 90, and Climax!; on the end of live anthology dramas
On working with Rod Serling and Charlton Heston; on appearing on The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show

Chapter 2

On his work in the TV Western Gunsmoke; on often playing several roles on one series
On playing "Mr. Leander Pomfritt" on The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis; on reprising his role for a TV movie
On TV comedy in the 1950s and '60s; on his work on Hennesey, The Jack Benny Program,The Red Skelton Show, and The Lucy Show; on working with Johnny Carson
On how he got hired for The Patty Duke Show; on working with animator Friz Freleng on Philbert (Three's a Crowd)
On the premise, theme song, production, and stars of The Patty Duke Show; on how the show reflected the era; on working with writer Sidney Sheldon

Chapter 3

On his co-stars on The Patty Duke Show; on how scenes with the identical cousins were shot; on his favorite episodes; on reuniting with Patty Duke on The Torkelsons
On appearing on the Star Trek episode "The Trouble with Tribbles", Get Smart, and on working with Elvis Presley on "Speedway"
On his voiceover work; on voicing "Milton the Toaster"; on voicing characters on The Smurfs; on The Nancy Walker Show; on working on The Nancy Drew Mysteries; on playing "Robert E. Lee" on the miniseries North and South (Book II)
On his tenure as President of SAG; on starting the Committee for Performers with Disabilities; on chairing a committee to merge SAG and AFTRA; on Ed Asner succeeding him as President of SAG
On Patty Duke running for SAG office; on the mission of SAG; on how he finds work nowadays (2012)

Chapter 4

On working on True Blood; on his work in the Stephen King TV miniseries Bag of Bones; on appearing on According to Jim
On the longevity of his career; on something his fans may not know about him; on the role he's most remembered for; on getting recognized; on advice to aspiring actors
On his proudest achievement, biggest regret, and how he'd like to be remembered
Shows

Academy Awards, The

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William Schallert on getting a shout-out from Johnny Carson when Carson hosted the Academy Awards
00:49

Climax!

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William Schallert on working on Climax!
01:40

George Burns and Gracie Allen Show, The

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William Schallert on appearing on The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show
03:02

Get Smart

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William Schallert on memorable appearances on Get Smart
06:27

Gunsmoke

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William Schallert on his work in the TV Western Gunsmoke
03:16

Hennesey

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William Schallert on his work on Hennesey, directed by Jackie Cooper
01:54

Jack Benny Program, The

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William Schallert on working with Jack Benny
01:06

Lucy Show, The

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William Schallert on working with Lucille Ball on The Lucy Show
02:35

Many Loves of Dobie Gillis, The

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William Schallert on being a regular on The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis
00:31
William Schallert on playing "Mr. Leander Pomfritt" on The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis; on his cast-mates
08:31

NBC Matinee Theater

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William Schallert on working on Matinee Theater
04:30

Nancy Walker Show, The

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William Schallert on The Nancy Walker Show
01:49

North and South

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William Schallert on playing "Robert E. Lee" on the miniseries North and South II
04:05

Patty Duke Show, The

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William Schallert on being second choice for many of the roles for which he's well known, including his role on The Patty Duke Show
00:24
William Schallert on how he got hired for The Patty Duke Show
03:33
William Schallert on how he got the role for The Patty Duke Show; on the premise and theme song of the show
06:37
William Schallert on why The Patty Duke Show shot in New York; on Patty Duke and his character on the show
08:12
William Schallert on his co-stars on The Patty Duke Show; on how scenes with the identical cousins were shot; on his favorite episodes and his character "Martin Lane"; on reuniting for a TV movie of The Patty Duke Show
08:22

Playhouse 90

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William Schallert on working on the first episode of Playhouse 90
00:21
William Schallert on memories of working on Playhouse 90
01:43

Red Skelton Show, The

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William Schallert on working with Red Skelton on The Red Skelton Show
05:26

Space Patrol

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William Schallert on playing villains on live TV's Space Patrol
00:31

Star Trek

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William Schallert on appearing on the Star Trek episode "The Trouble with Tribbles"
03:14
William Schallert on being remembered for working on Star Trek
00:46

Three's A Crowd

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William Schallert on the pilot Philbert (Three's a A Crowd)
03:28

Torkelsons, The

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William Schallert on reuniting with Patty Duke on The Torkelsons
03:50

True Blood

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William Schallert on working on True Blood
01:20

Wanted: Dead or Alive

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William Schallert on his work in the TV Western Wanted: Dead or Alive
00:39
Topics

Advice

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William Schallert on advice to aspiring actors
00:54

Characters & Catchphrases

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William Schallert on his character(s) "Martin Lane" (and his identical brother) on The Patty Duke Show
01:40
William Schallert on why "Martin Lane" on The Patty Duke Show resonated with audiences
00:42
William Schallert on playing "Admiral Hargrade" on Get Smart
01:22

Historic Events and Social Change

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William Schallert on starting the Committee for Performers with Disabilities
05:01

Industry Crossroads

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William Schallert on his tenure as President of SAG and a strike
01:43

Industry Strikes

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William Schallert on his tenure as President of SAG and a strike
01:43

People with Disabilities

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William Schallert on starting the Committee for Performers with Disabilities
05:01

Pop Culture

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William Schallert on the theme song of The Patty Duke Show
00:48
William Schallert on the music featured on The Patty Duke Show
01:17
William Schallert on his character(s) "Martin Lane" (and his identical brother) on The Patty Duke Show
01:40
William Schallert on why "Martin Lane" on The Patty Duke Show resonated with audiences
00:42
William Schallert on playing "Admiral Hargrade" on Get Smart
01:22

Representation on Television

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William Schallert on starting the Committee for Performers with Disabilities
05:01

Rock 'n' Roll on TV (1950s & '60s)

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William Schallert on the music featured on The Patty Duke Show
01:17

TV Theme Songs

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William Schallert on the theme song of The Patty Duke Show
00:48

TV's Golden Age (1940s & '50s)

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William Schallert on working on Matinee Theater
04:30
William Schallert on working in live TV on Matinee Theater
02:13
William Schallert on appearing on The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show
03:02
William Schallert on appearing on The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show
03:02

Technological Innovation

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William Schallert on how scenes with the identical cousins were shot in The Patty Duke Show
02:27

Television Industry

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William Schallert on his tenure as President of SAG and a strike
01:43
William Schallert on advice to aspiring actors
00:54
Professions

Actor

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William Schallert on being a character actor and not feeling typecast
01:29
William Schallert on feeling like he could act, but that he didn't look like an actor
01:01
William Schallert on often playing several roles on one series
01:15
William Schallert on how he creates different personas
02:47
William Schallert on his tenure as President of SAG; on chairing a committee to merge SAG and AFTRA
11:15
William Schallert on the mission of SAG
01:09
William Schallert on how he gets jobs nowadays (2012)
03:12
William Schallert on advice to aspiring actors
00:54

Performers

View Profession
William Schallert on feeling like he could act, but that he didn't look like an actor
01:01
William Schallert on being a character actor and not feeling typecast
01:29
William Schallert on how he creates different personas
02:47
William Schallert on often playing several roles on one series
01:15
William Schallert on how he gets jobs nowadays (2012)
03:12
William Schallert on his tenure as President of SAG; on chairing a committee to merge SAG and AFTRA
11:15
William Schallert on the mission of SAG
01:09
William Schallert on advice to aspiring actors
00:54
Genres

Classic Anthology Series

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William Schallert on working in live TV on Matinee Theater
02:13

Comedy Series

View Genre
William Schallert on why The Patty Duke Show shot in New York; on Patty Duke and his character on the show
08:12
William Schallert on how he got the role for The Patty Duke Show; on the premise and theme song of the show
06:37
William Schallert on his co-stars on The Patty Duke Show; on how scenes with the identical cousins were shot; on his favorite episodes and his character "Martin Lane"; on reuniting for a TV movie of The Patty Duke Show
08:22

TV Movies/Miniseries/Dramatic Specials

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William Schallert on his work in the Stephen King TV miniseries Bag of Bones
03:31

Western Series

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William Schallert on working on TV Westerns
01:45
People

Alan Ball

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William Schallert on Alan Ball hiring him to work on True Blood
01:20

Albert McCleery

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William Schallert on working on Matinee Theater
04:30

Bob Denver

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William Schallert on his cast-mates on The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis - Bob Denver; on how "Maynard" reflected the times
01:59

Charlton Heston

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William Schallert on "Touch of Evil"-- a movie he was supposed to be in with Charlton Heston and Orson Welles
01:17
William Schallert on working with Charlton Heston on Climax!
00:58

Danny Arnold

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William Schallert on working with Danny Arnold in The Circle Theatre
01:04

Dennis Weaver

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William Schallert on his work in the TV Western Gunsmoke and copying Dennis Weaver's accent
01:25

Don Adams

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William Schallert on working with Don Adams on Get Smart
00:26

Dwayne Hickman

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William Schallert on his cast-mates on The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis - Dwayne Hickman
00:19

Edward Asner

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William Schallert on Ed Asner succeeding him as President of SAG
01:23

Elvis Presley

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William Schallert on working with Elvis Presley on "Speedway"
01:56

Frank Faylen

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William Schallert on his cast-mates on The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis - Frank Faylen
00:21

Friz Freleng

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William Schallert on working with animator Friz Freleng on Philbert (Three's a Crowd)
03:11

Gene Reynolds

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William Schallert on working on Matinee Theater
02:00

George Burns

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William Schallert on appearing on The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show
03:02

Geri Jewell

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William Schallert on starting the Committee for Performers with Disabilities and Geri Jewell getting a regular role on The Facts of Life
01:13

Gracie Allen

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William Schallert on appearing on The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show
03:02

Jack Benny

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William Schallert on working with Jack Benny
01:06

Jackie Cooper

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William Schallert on his work on Hennesey, directed by Jackie Cooper
00:52

Jim Backus

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William Schallert on Richard Donner teaching him a highbrow accent, like Jim Backus used on Gilligan's Island
01:05

John Frankenheimer

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William Schallert on working on Playhouse 90
00:21

Johnny Carson

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William Schallert on working with Johnny Carson
01:51

Lucille Ball

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William Schallert on working with Lucille Ball on The Lucy Show
01:59

Mae West

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William Schallert on working with Mae West on The Red Skelton Show
04:29

Martin Manulis

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William Schallert on working with producer Martin Manulis
00:35

McLean Stevenson

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William Schallert on getting a role on The New Gidget because McLean Stevenson turned it down
00:56

Nancy Dussault

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William Schallert on his proudest professional achievement - the musical "Candide"
00:43

Nancy Walker

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William Schallert on The Nancy Walker Show and being under contract for Norman Lear
01:49

Norman Lear

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William Schallert on The Nancy Walker Show and being under contract for Norman Lear
01:49

Orson Welles

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William Schallert on "Touch of Evil" -- a movie he was supposed to be in with Charlton Heston and Orson Welles
01:17

Patty Duke

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William Schallert on working with Patty Duke on The Patty Duke Show
02:43
William Schallert on why The Patty Duke Show shot in New York; on Patty Duke's work in "The Miracle Worker" and how he got along with her on The Patty Duke Show
06:32
William Schallert on reuniting with Patty Duke on The Torkelsons
03:50
William Schallert on why "Martin Lane" on The Patty Duke Show resonated with audiences
00:42
William Schallert on Patty Duke running for SAG office
00:43

Paul O'Keefe

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William Schallert on Paul O'Keefe as "Ross Lane" on The Patty Duke Show
02:39

Peter Strauss

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William Schallert on one of his proudest professional achievements - "The Mind with a Dirty Man" - a play with Peter Strauss
03:16

Pierce Brosnan

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William Schallert on his work in the Stephen King TV miniseries Bag of Bones
03:31

Red Skelton

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William Schallert on working with Red Skelton
05:26

Richard Donner

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William Schallert on Richard Donner teaching him a highbrow accent, like Jim Backus used on Gilligan's Island
01:05

Rod Serling

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William Schallert on working with Rod Serling
00:51

Sidney Sheldon

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William Schallert on Sidney Sheldon writing The Patty Duke Show
00:46
William Schallert on working with writer Sidney Sheldon on The Patty Duke Show
01:15

Stephen King

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William Schallert on his work in the Stephen King TV miniseries Bag of Bones
03:31

Tuesday Weld

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William Schallert on working with Tuesday Weld on The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis
00:43

Vivian Vance

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William Schallert on working with Vivian Vance on The Lucy Show
00:36

Warren Beatty

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William Schallert on Warren Beatty on The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis
00:16

William Shatner

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William Schallert on appearing on the Star Trek episode "The Trouble with Tribbles"
00:49

All Interviews

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