Looking through Mr. Schallert's impressive and lengthy resume on IMDB.
One of his earliest screen roles was in the 1949 version of MIGHTY JOE YOUNG.
Was he a monkey's uncle?
:P
Bill Schallert's association with the B-Movie genre started as early as 1951 with a co-starring role in THE MAN FROM PLANET X, a solid 50's invaders from space matinee fodder.
He played a character called 'Dr. Mears" who's apparently a scheming opportunist trying to take control of the visiting alien's advanced gadgetry.
In the end an Army missile blows up the alien's spacecraft which puts an end to the invading alien and its human conspirator, Dr. Mears.
Talk about going down with the ship.
:)
Schallert seemed to play a lot of bit roles as a doctor, scientist, professor, lawyer, reporter, clerk, soldier, priest or even assistant D.A.
He seemed to be the go-to guy for those "Average Joe" one-line roles.
Probably got them because he supplied his own suit.
R.I.P. William Schallert
He worked continuously throughout his adult life in both film and television.
Over 67 years in the entertainment business.
From THE FOXES OF HARROW (1947) to 2 BROKE GIRLS (2014).
Perhaps he had gambling debts?
:P
@Fred, please take my posts with tongue in cheek.
Schallert was one of those entertainment mainstays that was in nearly everything on TV and in film he was always "that guy".
Have nothing but the warmest regards towards the late William Schallert.
@RetroArtBlog: I took it that way. And I genuinely appreciate the work actors such as him do: I think his being so present made him a make-believe everyman. Familiar enough to be a neighbor, which made him real in fakery
@Reeshard, the perfect role for Schallert.
He also did a tremendous amount of voiceover work for commercials, cartoons, and even video games.
His voice (Mid-Atlantic accent perhaps?) and his excellent ability to portray befuddled "straight" roles as @fred pointed out helped give Schallert a long and continuous career.
And, yes, I would welcome having him as a neighbor too!
:)
@Ken: I'm kicking myself for not getting that "Cthulhu for president" T-shirt when I saw it more than twenty years ago. Of course it was gone when I next went to that shop