Overview
- Ronnie Schell died at age 94 on Friday, June 12, 2026, and his family confirmed the news on his official page while his publicist said he had been hospitalized after a recent fall and died of natural causes at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center.
- He is best known for playing Pvt. Duke Slater, the amiable sidekick on the 1960s CBS sitcom Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C., a role he played for three seasons and returned to for the show’s fifth season after a brief move to his own series.
- Schell left Gomer Pyle during its fourth season to star in the sitcom Good Morning, World with a young Goldie Hawn, and after that show was canceled he returned to Gomer Pyle with his character promoted to corporal.
- A San Francisco native and Air Force veteran, Schell launched his comedy career at clubs such as the Purple Onion and Hungry i, built a steady TV and film resume across more than 140 credits, and performed regularly in Las Vegas for decades.
- He is survived by his wife Janet Rodeberg, sons Gregory and Christian, and granddaughter Chiara, and his long career is remembered for bridging nightclub standup, television character work, voice acting, and ongoing live performances.