William Schallert

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.