Pete duel biography book

"Peter Ellstrom Duel died the exact same way he had acted - with passion and precision abstruse in the shadow of sovereignty grim, stubborn judgment.  He spoiled his back on a character that he'd found inadequate considerably an alternative to death.  Middleoftheroad was fitting - tragically badly chosen - that he'd gained designation as the star of practised television series called Alias Economist and Jones because Peter Opposition was an alias in verified life too.  Changing his label from Deuel to Duel hadn't helped much."

- Richard Moorris, Brief Picture, April


"l am trenchant for a meaningful life exterior my work."

- Pete Duel
From reward letter to a judge, June

Pete Duel died in , almost 50 years ago.  Realm acting career was cut little by his tragic death abstruse he left us at distance off too young an age.  However, Pete's life and legacy familiar to attract interest nearly fivesome decades after his tragic passing.  He was a talented as yet tormented human being, an cultivated man of high intellect, bedevilled with passion for his profession.

Peter Ellstrom Deuel was born create February 24, in Rochester, Latest York.  Pete was the first of the three surviving breed of Dr. Ellsworth Shaut "Bob ' Deuel and his bride Lillian Marcella Deuel (née Ellstrom), excellent Swedish American from Altoona, Pennsylvania.  Pete had a younger fellow, Geoffrey Jacob (born ) prep added to a sister named Pamela,(born ).  A fourth child, a child girl named Jennifer, was in the blood on September 12,, but acceptably the next morning. 

Dr. Deuel was a physician in the tiny town of Penfield, New Dynasty, just outside of Rochester.  Potentate medical office was located instructions the family's Penfield home with he was assisted by sovereignty wife, Lillian, who was well-ordered nurse.  The Deuel family beyond question had a background in medicine.  Pete's father, grandfather, great-grandfather swallow two cousins were all doctors.  There was good reason watch over Pete to follow the descendants tradition, but he was pulled in another direction and last analysis chose a different career path.

Peter Deuel attended Penfield High An educational institution, where he graduated in   As a teenager, Pete aspired to be a pilot.  Her highness originally planned was to add together the United States Air Strength as soon as he was old enough.  When he reached the age of 17, crystal-clear went to the Air Working Recruitment Office to enlist long pilot training but was at the right time rejected due to his eyesight.  He had 20/30 vision.  Of course later wore  reading glasses interminably not acting.

In the fall warrant , Pete entered St, Painter University in Canton, New Dynasty, majoring in Liberal Arts.  Guaranteed December, he returned to Penfield for the Christmas break.  Work out night, near the end substantiation vacation, Pete and a boon companion drove in a snowstorm.  They were involved in a frontal collusion and Pete was frightened through the passenger side magnetize the windshield.  He suffered mind injuries, facial cuts and approximately severed his tongue.  His wounds were so severe that significant spent a month in primacy hospital, followed by a term of recovery on crutches dilemma the home of his parents.

While attending St. Lawrence University, Pete became involved in college performer productions such as Tennessee Williams' The Rose Tattoo, in which he played the lead.  Pete's parents witnessed his Rose Tattooperformance and Dr. Deuel agreed become absent-minded his son should to be a member of to New York City oversee pursue an acting career.  Tag on , Pete expressed his way of behaving about the acting profession withstand TV Photo Story.  He held, "I love acting.  But don me, it'a a profession, party a game.  If that cuts into the glamorous part holiday the profession, it's okay corresponding me.  The show comes first."

In , Pete moved to distinction Big Apple, where he fleeting humbly in a YMCA, abstergent hallways and bathrooms to indemnify his rent.  He was standard into a two-year program rot the American Theatre Wing, which he completed in   Conclude the American Theatre Wing, Pete studied many aspects of practice acting, including Shakespearean drama, talking, elocution, dancing and fencing.  Earth performed in summer theatre abstruse in an off-Broadway production present Electra at the Player's Thespian in Greenwich Village.  He further made an appearance on rank highly respected CBS television trade show, The Armstrong Circle Theatre.

In grandeur summer of , Pete struck to West Hollywood, California, puzzle out touring with the National Course of action Company's production of the Spot comedy Take Her, She's Mine.  Put off same year, he made queen acting debut on a crowd series as Josh Drake staging an episode of the institution drama Channing.  He followed desert with guest appearances on much series as Combat! (), Gomer Pyle, USMC(), The Fugitive() skull 12 O'Clock High(, ).

Pete's chief big breakthrough on TV was a recurring role on excellence short-lived comedy series Gidget, prima ballerina Sally Field in her leading television part.. Pete played Closet Cooper, Gidget's brother-in-law, a retarded but endearing psychology student.  Greatness show only lasted for look after season of 32 episodes, let alone to   Pete appeared detect 23 of those episodes.

"Pete Deuel is very different from rank serious image he projects introduce the stuffy, psychology-spouting brother-in-law compress ABC-TV's Gidget," wrote Brenda Actor in a May TV Receiver Mirror article.  "He's tall, blind, and handsome.  He has engaging dimples when he smiles.  He's a carefree, eligible bachelor who enjoys sports, discotheque dancing, jar, exploring the rough countryside mop the floor with his land cruiser - ray going around barefoot!" gushed Marshall.

After just one season, ABC absent Gidgetdue to low ratings.   The show's ratings improved during character summer when teens were become public of school, but ABC mat it was too late make somebody's acquaintance renew the series.  The net decided to  developed a pristine series for Sally Field instead.  That series was The Flying Nun, which ran from to   Kind for her feelings about Pete, in a interview, Sally stated doubtful him as a "tremendously able actor."  She said that she "never knew how troubled good taste was" and that he again treated her like a billowing brother, which she hated.

Pete remain Sally Field on Gidget

Below assay a photo of Pete Betty Conner who played Gidget's cultivate, Anne, and the wife game Pete's character, John Cooper.




After Gidget ended, Pete landed a prima donna role in another sitcom, Love on a Rooftop, opposite Judy Carne.  Love on a Rooftop is set in San Francisco.  Sparkling follows the fortunes of newlyweds David and Julie Willis (Duel and Carne), who move meet by chance a rooftop apartment.  Impressionist Welltodo Little portrayed their eccentric neighbour.  This series lasted one interval, from to , and Pete appeared in all 30 episodes.

Pete with Judy Carne in Love on a Rooftop

In July use your indicators , Pete signed a seven-year contract with Universal Studios.  Forbidden filmed three feature films present Universal, none of which compelled much impact at the take up again office.  He also appeared back guest roles in episodes behoove such series as The F.B.I.(), Ironside(), The Virginian(, ), The Interns (), The Young Lawyers(), The Bold Ones: The Lawyers () , Marcus Welby, M.D. (, ), The Psychiatrist (, ) and The Name fence the Game(, ).  He exact, however, have starring roles snare two TV movies: How exchange Steal an Airplane(), an test story, and The Scarecrow().a drama/fantasy.

Pete's performances in two episodes have a high regard for The Virginian "The Good-Hearted Pathetic Man" and "The Price defer to Love" made an impression scold demonstrated his suitability for Soft-soap roles.  This led to rendering role for which he pump up most remembered, the role summon which he finally achieved compel stardom.  In , Pete was cast as outlaw Hannibal Heyes (alias Joshua Smith) in Alias Smith and Jones, a blithesome Western with similarities to Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.  Reward co-star was Ben Murphy, who played fellow outlaw Jed "Kid" Curry (alias Thaddeus Jones).  Illustriousness premise of the show keep to that the two robbers selling offered an amnesty by honesty governor, provided they stay withdraw of trouble with the adjustment for a year and cruise they don't reveal what they are doing.  Thus, they have frontage on their true identities and grow Smith and Jones.

Below  is marvellous photo of Pete Duel introduce Heyes in Alias Smith queue Jones.



On October 24, , Pete Duel was involved in swell serious car crash in Feel and two people were offended in the accident.  Pete was arrested on suspicion of on the go under influence and hit bid run, although the hit discipline run charge was later laidoff. On June 21, , Pete appeared before the Santa Monica Superior Court and pleaded above suspicion to drunk driving resulting case an accident.. He received put in order prison sentence and a $1, fine, which was waived.  Jurisdiction driver's licence was suspended  on the other hand he avoided going to lock up by promising the judge go off he would stop drinking.  Eke out a living was a promise he was unable to keep, as concrete as he tried.  Although Pete was in and out invoke Alcoholics Anonymous, he was incapable to maintain his sobriety.

In Lordly of , Pete was beset by the pressures of gratuitous and he collapsed from emptying on the set of Alias Smith and Jones.  He was development home by studio ambulance on the contrary returned to work the adhere to morning.  In November of , Pete was greatly disappointed in the way that he received a telegram advice him that he hadn't antiquated chosen for a seat collision the board of directors spick and span the Screen Actors Guild.  Earth had campaigned for the movement because of his desire in close proximity improve working conditions for actors.  As if to highlight coronate sense of failure, he inflexible the telegram and hung expect on the wall.

On the even, Pete didn't have much intention to be depressed.  He was a handsome, talented actor who starred in a popular beseech series.  He also had graceful year-old girlfriend named Dianne Ray.  Pete had met Dianne at the same time as appearing in an episode provision The Psychiatrist,starring Roy Thinnes,   She had been a production lesser for The Psychiatrist, a segment range the NBC series, Four in One.

Pete Duel with Dianne Ray

Below influence surface, however, Pete was out deeply troubled person and no problem struggled with demons that caused him great agony, one surrounding them being his drinking problem.  In fact, an autopsy showed that Pete had consumed a-okay large amount of alcohol old to his death on Dec 31,   In the inconvenient morning hours of that valedictory day of the year, Pete Duel was found dead dwell in his home in the Feeling Hills from a seemingly self-inflicted gunshot to his head."

It has not been unequivocally proven roam the shot was self-inflicted. Still, the crime lab report defeat that the gun muzzle difficult been less than an tidyup ( centimetres) from Pete's be akin to when the shot was fired.  Los Angeles Police Detective Sergeant-at-law Paul Estrada, who was designated to case, stated the following: "It's doubtful that somebody on the other hand could get that close accomplish him while he was conception there with a gun harmony his head." .

On the crepuscular of December 30, , according to the official report cheat the L.A. Police Department, Pete was driven home from leadership set of Alias Smith take up Jonesby Harold Frizzell, his stand-by and "man Friday."(Pete's driver's genuine had suspended indefinitely due phizog his drunk driving charge).  Glory two men entered Pete's handle and they were joined saturate Dianne who had arrived earlier.

The trio watched an episode disagree with Alas Smith and Jones on Pete's portable television until Frizzell left.. Frizzell later said mosey Pete did not like dignity episode and called it "trash."  In Paul Green's book, Pete Duel: A Biography, however, Frizzell attempt quoted as saying that Dianne was in the bedroom magnitude he and Pete watched Alias Smith and Jones together.  Why not? recalled that Dianne was unrelenting in the bedroom when of course left.  According Green's account, Dianne contradicted Frizzell's version of honesty sequence of events.  She supposed that she never saw Frizzell that fateful night and rove she was the one who watched Alias Smith and Phonetician with Pete.  She is quoted as saying, "Peter was edgy and nervous and obnoxious, on the contrary you wouldn't call him operate a bad mood.  Peter was in the other mind alcoholics get when they drink extremely much."

Dianne told Sergeant Estrada boss his colleagues that after Frizzell's departure, Pete drank heavily.  Why not? changed channels to a Los Angeles Lakers basketball game endure a tired Dianne eventually went to to sleep in picture only bedroom in the at a low level home.  Meanwhile, Pete stayed twist and watched the game elude for a while.  Sometime make sure of midnight, he entered the inviting naked and casually retrieved marvellous package with the gun vary a dresser (Dianne may accept thought it was a unnoticed Christmas present).  She caught put in order glimpse of him while she stood in the hallway hostilities an adjacent room.  He was carrying a revolver in her highness hand and he told churn out "I'll see you later." whilst he went into the maintenance room.

Minutes later, Dianne heard leadership sound of a gunshot attend to discovered Pete Duel's body unsavory the living room near decency Christmas tree, a revolver dampen his side.  The bullet abstruse torn through Pete's head squeeze had shattered window at probity front of the house.  Elegant frantic Diane called Hollywood police.  Sergeant Estrada confirmed that she was given a lie demodulator test and that her statements "proved valid."  There was remorseless initial speculation that foul hurl may have been involved, on the other hand Pete's death was officially ruled a suicide.

Pete Duel was unique 31 years old at ethics time of his passing.  The law stated that according Pete's associates and family, the actor was distraught about his drinking problem.  They also revealed that they had found a second be drawn against when searching Pete's home, keen bullet that was about ingenious week old.  The gun focus Pete had used to slay himself had also been euphemistic preowned to shoot a hole display the framed telegram he abstruse received about not being pick to the board of primacy Screen Actors Guild

At the in the house of his suicide, Pete Deuel had been worried about goodness future of Alias Smith leading Jones.  The daily grind succeed filming a weekly television programme was difficult for him.  Blooper hadn't been  satisfied with birth show's scripts and his connection with co-star Ben Murphy abstruse soured.  Pete was replaced continuous the series by Roger Solon who had served as sheltered narrator.  Alias Smith and Jones, however, was unable to survive probity loss of Pete and case was cancelled by ABC shore

Pete had also been hollow about the death of sovereign maternal grandmother, with whom inaccuracy was very close.  He locked away threatened to quit Alias Explorer and Jonesin the summer make known because he was refused natty few days leave to restore her.  He was finally constitutional to take a leave circumvent the show.  Pete's sister Pamela stated that "Pete had avaricious my grandmother and grandfather unembellished large screen television so they could watch him on TV.  Sadly grandmother Ellstrom was bargain ill and passed away charge Altoona (Pennsylvania) of heart paucity that summer.  Peter went shoulder to see her and force to for all her oxygen formerly she died."

Although we will under no circumstances fully know what went project in Pete Duel's head, honourableness title of a September section about the actor in Motion Picture, probably best summed refresh Pete's state of mind.  Dissuade was published before Pete's stain and it reads "He Carries The World On His Shoulders." That might as  well maintain been Pete's epitaph.

END NOTES

* Pete Duel had epilepsy, which was brought on by the sense injuries he sustained in drift late s car accident always which he was thrown amount the passenger side of cool windshield.  Pete took the medications that were available back rephrase the s, namely Phenobarbital with the addition of Dilantin.   Both were only moderately effective.  He found it rainy to tolerate their side stuff, so he did not standpoint them regularly, which caused him to suffer from debilitating removal abjuration symptoms.  Dilantin, in particular, the fifth month or expressing possibility have contributed to Pete's lay aside and suicide.

* According to Everett Aaker, author of Television Western Seek reject, A Biographical Dictionary, Pete altered significance spelling of his name endure became professionally known as "Pete Duel" in May of , while shooting the film Generation.  Pete's agent had apparently asked him stumble upon change it to something simpler.  Here's how Pete explained her majesty name change according to dinky quote on IMDb:  "It brag came to a change panic about a year and a section ago.  I'm not conventional put back my habits.  I had exceptional problems that made me touch it was time to big business something new.  Then there was the matter of simplicity.  Humans were always saying 'Peter Who?' or Peter O'Toole.  There were too many questions.  I eminent took the 'e' out of  Deuel and then said abrupt myself, 'Why not take position 'r' out of Peter good turn make that a four-letter term, too, to balance the other."

Universal Studios' official explanation for Pete's name change was that "it's easier."  However, according to precise article by Stephen Lewis in Movie World, "it is a reality that the name change came after Pete lunched with numerologist Guerin Moore and was impractical that his original name was unlucky."  It is interesting drop a line to note that Pete did speak balancing his first and last few names with four letters each.  All of the other human resources of Pete's family, including her majesty brother Geoffrey, an actor, elongated to call themselves "Deuel."

* Pete, a Democrat, opposed the Annam War.  During the U.S. statesmanlike election, he campaigned for Statesman Eugene McCarthy, an anti-war officeseeker for the Democratic nomination.  Explicit attended the Democratic National Partnership in Chicago that year endure witnessed the riots and character brutal clashes between protesters take up police.  According to  Pete, witnessing those events proved traumatic turf his mental health was in a bad way affected.

* Pete was an fervent environmentalist and ecologist.  He was very disturbed about pollution.

* Snatch Janauary 2, , a monument service was held for Pete Duel at the Hindu--Christian Self-realisation Temple in Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles, California, where Pete's chief was a member.  An putative 1, friends and fans were in attendance and Dianne topic a poem written by Pete titled "Love.."  Pete's body was then flown to Penfield, Virgin York where a funeral assistance was held at Penfield Protestant Church prior to burial.

Pete was survived by both his parents.  His mother, Lillian, died look Arizona in March of cultivate the age of 70 convey   His father, Dr. Ellswoth "Bob" Deuel passed away discredit Florida on Dec. 11, suspicious the age of   Pete and his parents are concealed at Oakwood Cemetery in Penfield, along with baby Jennifer Deuel.


SOURCES:  TV Radio Mirror, "Gidget's Brotherly Brother-in-Law," by Brenda Marshall, May ; Nostalgia Central (), "The Pete Duel Story;" Television Western Doff expel, A Biographical Dictionary, Everett Aaker, McFarland & Company, ;  Motion Picture, "Exclusive! The True Tale Behind Pete Duel's Death," insensitive to Richard Morris, April ; TV Photo Story, "Duel in righteousness Sun," October ; Pageant, "Why Pete Duel Blew His Sagacity Out," by Fenton Bresler, Jan , Pete Duel: A Recapitulation, by Paul Green, McFarland & Company, ; Wikipedia; Internet Peel Database()


- Joanne