About
"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."
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.
Highlights
William Schallert on why "Martin Lane" on The Patty Duke Show resonated with audiences
William Schallert on how scenes with the identical cousins were shot in The Patty Duke Show
William Schallert on appearing on the Star Trek episode "The Trouble with Tribbles"
William Schallert on his voiceover work as "Milton the Toaster"
William Schallert on feeling like he could act, but that he didn't look like an actor
William Schallert on often playing several roles on one series
Full Interview
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
William Schallert on getting a shout-out from Johnny Carson when Carson hosted the Academy Awards
Climax!
William Schallert on working on Climax!
George Burns and Gracie Allen Show, The
William Schallert on appearing on The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show
Get Smart
William Schallert on memorable appearances on Get Smart
Gunsmoke
William Schallert on his work in the TV Western Gunsmoke
Hennesey
William Schallert on his work on Hennesey, directed by Jackie Cooper
Jack Benny Program, The
William Schallert on working with Jack Benny
Lucy Show, The
William Schallert on working with Lucille Ball on The Lucy Show
Many Loves of Dobie Gillis, The
William Schallert on being a regular on The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis
William Schallert on playing "Mr. Leander Pomfritt" on The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis; on his cast-mates
Nancy Walker Show, The
William Schallert on The Nancy Walker Show
NBC Matinee Theater
William Schallert on working on Matinee Theater
North and South
William Schallert on playing "Robert E. Lee" on the miniseries North and South II
Patty Duke Show, The
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
William Schallert on how he got hired for The Patty Duke Show
William Schallert on how he got the role for The Patty Duke Show; on the premise and theme song of the show
William Schallert on why The Patty Duke Show shot in New York; on Patty Duke and his character on the show
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
Playhouse 90
William Schallert on working on the first episode of Playhouse 90
William Schallert on memories of working on Playhouse 90
Red Skelton Show, The
William Schallert on working with Red Skelton on The Red Skelton Show
Space Patrol
William Schallert on playing villains on live TV's Space Patrol
Star Trek
William Schallert on appearing on the Star Trek episode "The Trouble with Tribbles"
William Schallert on being remembered for working on Star Trek
Three's A Crowd
William Schallert on the pilot Philbert (Three's a A Crowd)
Torkelsons, The
William Schallert on reuniting with Patty Duke on The Torkelsons
True Blood
William Schallert on working on True Blood
Wanted: Dead or Alive
William Schallert on his work in the TV Western Wanted: Dead or Alive
Topics
Advice
William Schallert on advice to aspiring actors
Characters & Catchphrases
William Schallert on his character(s) "Martin Lane" (and his identical brother) on The Patty Duke Show
William Schallert on why "Martin Lane" on The Patty Duke Show resonated with audiences
William Schallert on playing "Admiral Hargrade" on Get Smart
Historic Events and Social Change
William Schallert on starting the Committee for Performers with Disabilities
Industry Crossroads
William Schallert on his tenure as President of SAG and a strike
Industry Strikes
William Schallert on his tenure as President of SAG and a strike
People with Disabilities
William Schallert on starting the Committee for Performers with Disabilities
Pop Culture
William Schallert on the theme song of The Patty Duke Show
William Schallert on the music featured on The Patty Duke Show
William Schallert on his character(s) "Martin Lane" (and his identical brother) on The Patty Duke Show
William Schallert on why "Martin Lane" on The Patty Duke Show resonated with audiences
William Schallert on playing "Admiral Hargrade" on Get Smart
Representation on Television
William Schallert on starting the Committee for Performers with Disabilities
Rock 'n' Roll on TV (1950s & '60s)
William Schallert on the music featured on The Patty Duke Show
Technological Innovation
William Schallert on how scenes with the identical cousins were shot in The Patty Duke Show
Television Industry
William Schallert on his tenure as President of SAG and a strike
William Schallert on advice to aspiring actors
TV Theme Songs
William Schallert on the theme song of The Patty Duke Show
TV's Golden Age (1940s & '50s)
William Schallert on working on Matinee Theater
William Schallert on working in live TV on Matinee Theater
William Schallert on appearing on The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show
William Schallert on appearing on The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show
Professions
Actor
William Schallert on being a character actor and not feeling typecast
William Schallert on feeling like he could act, but that he didn't look like an actor
William Schallert on often playing several roles on one series
William Schallert on how he creates different personas
William Schallert on his tenure as President of SAG; on chairing a committee to merge SAG and AFTRA
William Schallert on the mission of SAG
William Schallert on how he gets jobs nowadays (2012)
William Schallert on advice to aspiring actors
Performers
William Schallert on feeling like he could act, but that he didn't look like an actor
William Schallert on being a character actor and not feeling typecast
William Schallert on how he creates different personas
William Schallert on often playing several roles on one series
William Schallert on how he gets jobs nowadays (2012)
William Schallert on his tenure as President of SAG; on chairing a committee to merge SAG and AFTRA
William Schallert on the mission of SAG
William Schallert on advice to aspiring actors
Genres
Classic Anthology Series
William Schallert on working in live TV on Matinee Theater
Comedy Series
William Schallert on why The Patty Duke Show shot in New York; on Patty Duke and his character on the show
William Schallert on how he got the role for The Patty Duke Show; on the premise and theme song of the show
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
TV Movies/Miniseries/Dramatic Specials
William Schallert on his work in the Stephen King TV miniseries Bag of Bones
Western Series
William Schallert on working on TV Westerns
People
Don Adams
William Schallert on working with Don Adams on Get Smart
Gracie Allen
William Schallert on appearing on The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show
Rod Amateau
William Schallert on being directed by Rod Amateau on The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis
Danny Arnold
William Schallert on working with Danny Arnold in The Circle Theatre
Edward Asner
William Schallert on Ed Asner succeeding him as President of SAG
Jim Backus
William Schallert on Richard Donner teaching him a highbrow accent, like Jim Backus used on Gilligan's Island
Lucille Ball
William Schallert on working with Lucille Ball on The Lucy Show
Alan Ball
William Schallert on Alan Ball hiring him to work on True Blood
Warren Beatty
William Schallert on Warren Beatty on The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis
Jack Benny
William Schallert on working with Jack Benny
Pierce Brosnan
William Schallert on his work in the Stephen King TV miniseries Bag of Bones
George Burns
William Schallert on appearing on The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show
Johnny Carson
William Schallert on working with Johnny Carson
Jackie Cooper
William Schallert on his work on Hennesey, directed by Jackie Cooper
Bob Denver
William Schallert on his cast-mates on The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis - Bob Denver; on how "Maynard" reflected the times
Richard Donner
William Schallert on Richard Donner teaching him a highbrow accent, like Jim Backus used on Gilligan's Island
Patty Duke
William Schallert on working with Patty Duke on The Patty Duke Show
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
William Schallert on reuniting with Patty Duke on The Torkelsons
William Schallert on why "Martin Lane" on The Patty Duke Show resonated with audiences
William Schallert on Patty Duke running for SAG office
Nancy Dussault
William Schallert on his proudest professional achievement - the musical "Candide"
Frank Faylen
William Schallert on his cast-mates on The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis - Frank Faylen
John Frankenheimer
William Schallert on working on Playhouse 90
Friz Freleng
William Schallert on working with animator Friz Freleng on Philbert (Three's a Crowd)
Charlton Heston
William Schallert on "Touch of Evil"-- a movie he was supposed to be in with Charlton Heston and Orson Welles
William Schallert on working with Charlton Heston on Climax!
Dwayne Hickman
William Schallert on his cast-mates on The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis - Dwayne Hickman
Geri Jewell
William Schallert on starting the Committee for Performers with Disabilities and Geri Jewell getting a regular role on The Facts of Life
Stephen King
William Schallert on his work in the Stephen King TV miniseries Bag of Bones
Norman Lear
William Schallert on The Nancy Walker Show and being under contract for Norman Lear
Martin Manulis
William Schallert on working with producer Martin Manulis
Albert McCleery
William Schallert on working on Matinee Theater
Paul O'Keefe
William Schallert on Paul O'Keefe as "Ross Lane" on The Patty Duke Show
Elvis Presley
William Schallert on working with Elvis Presley on "Speedway"
Gene Reynolds
William Schallert on working on Matinee Theater
Rod Serling
William Schallert on working with Rod Serling
William Shatner
William Schallert on appearing on the Star Trek episode "The Trouble with Tribbles"
Sidney Sheldon
William Schallert on Sidney Sheldon writing The Patty Duke Show
William Schallert on working with writer Sidney Sheldon on The Patty Duke Show
Red Skelton
William Schallert on working with Red Skelton
McLean Stevenson
William Schallert on getting a role on The New Gidget because McLean Stevenson turned it down
Peter Strauss
William Schallert on one of his proudest professional achievements - "The Mind with a Dirty Man" - a play with Peter Strauss
Vivian Vance
William Schallert on working with Vivian Vance on The Lucy Show
Nancy Walker
William Schallert on The Nancy Walker Show and being under contract for Norman Lear
Dennis Weaver
William Schallert on his work in the TV Western Gunsmoke and copying Dennis Weaver's accent
Tuesday Weld
William Schallert on working with Tuesday Weld on The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis
Orson Welles
William Schallert on "Touch of Evil" -- a movie he was supposed to be in with Charlton Heston and Orson Welles
Mae West
William Schallert on working with Mae West on The Red Skelton Show