Veteran Actor Dies, You May Not Know His Name, but You'll Probably Know His Face - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 01-08-2012, 10:29 PM

A prolific character actor with a string of film credits including "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" and "The Hustler" has died, The New York Times reports. William Duell, 88, died Dec. 22 at his home in Manhattan.

Duell, who played Johnny the snitch in the Leslie Nielsen TV comedy "Police Squad!," died of respiratory failure. He had a Shakespearean background and performed often on Broadway.

Duell was was born Aug. 30, 1923, in Corinth, N.Y. He was a diminutive man, just five feet tall and about 140 pounds, with an odd appearance that contributed to the roles he played. In 1969, he originated the role of McNair, the congressional custodian, on Broadway in "1776," a part he repeated in the feature film in 1972.

Nathan Lane, who co-starred with Duell in "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum" on Broadway in 1996, said of Duell: "The audience adored him. The first time around he’d get a huge laugh. The second time he’d get a huge laugh. The third time, he’d just hold up his fingers -- and it brought the house down.”

Duell’s TV work included appearances on “Law & Order,” “Guiding Light” and “Ed.” On the big screen he had parts in “The Pope of Greenwich Village,” “Ironweed,” “Funny Farm,” “Airplane!” and many other films.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/06/th...t-88.html?_r=2

dakert · 01-09-2012, 12:08 AM

William was in a lot of shows/movies I have never seen

Torgo · 01-09-2012, 11:59 AM

He was in Elvira Mistress Of The Dark

Edison · 01-12-2012, 03:37 AM

Snitch

01-08-2012, 10:29 PM	#1
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	Veteran Actor Dies, You May Not Know His Name, but You'll Probably Know His Face A prolific character actor with a string of film credits including "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" and "The Hustler" has died, The New York Times reports. William Duell, 88, died Dec. 22 at his home in Manhattan. Duell, who played Johnny the snitch in the Leslie Nielsen TV comedy "Police Squad!," died of respiratory failure. He had a Shakespearean background and performed often on Broadway. Duell was was born Aug. 30, 1923, in Corinth, N.Y. He was a diminutive man, just five feet tall and about 140 pounds, with an odd appearance that contributed to the roles he played. In 1969, he originated the role of McNair, the congressional custodian, on Broadway in "1776," a part he repeated in the feature film in 1972. Nathan Lane, who co-starred with Duell in "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum" on Broadway in 1996, said of Duell: "The audience adored him. The first time around he’d get a huge laugh. The second time he’d get a huge laugh. The third time, he’d just hold up his fingers -- and it brought the house down.” Duell’s TV work included appearances on “Law & Order,” “Guiding Light” and “Ed.” On the big screen he had parts in “The Pope of Greenwich Village,” “Ironweed,” “Funny Farm,” “Airplane!” and many other films. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/06/th...t-88.html?_r=2
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01-09-2012, 11:59 AM	#3
Torgo Omaha & Fritz Forum Star Join Date: Mar 06, 2004 Location: Oregon Posts: 19,034	RIP He was in Elvira Mistress Of The Dark
	__________________ "I'm going to go do something productive. I'm gonna go watch television." - Ray Peterson, The 'burbs "I am the literary equivalent of a Big Mac and Fries." - Stephen King "There's nothing wrong with G-rated movies, as long as there's lots of sex and violence." - Elvira

01-12-2012, 03:37 AM	#4
Edison Member Senior Member Join Date: Oct 01, 2006 Posts: 2,430	Snitch Attached Images

01-09-2012, 12:08 AM	#2
dakert Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: May 10, 2007 Location: Altoona PA Posts: 3,411	William was in a lot of shows/movies I have never seen