Ronnie Schell, the actor known for his role on the television series Gomer Pyle: USMC, died Friday at the age of 94, according to Fox News Digital.
Schell died in the early morning hours at UCLA Hospital of natural causes, according to a press release obtained by Fox News Digital. He is survived by his wife Janet, two children, Gregory and Christian, and one granddaughter, Chiara.
Born in Northern California in December 1931, Schell served four years in the Air Force before finding his passion for acting while studying at San Francisco State University. He auditioned and was signed for a five-month stand-up comedy engagement at the Purple Onion, a well-known comedy club in San Francisco. That initial booking led to additional club dates throughout the city, then to Las Vegas, where he continued to perform until his death.
His first onscreen appearance came as a contestant on Groucho Marx's game show You Bet Your Life. He later landed starring roles in Gomer Pyle: USMC and Good Morning World. Over the decades he appeared in a wide range of television programs, including The Dick Van Dyke Show, Sanford and Son, The Golden Girls, Here We Go Again, and many others.
Schell was also a prolific voice actor. His work in that field included The Smurfs, Jetsons: The Movie, and Captain Caveman and the Teen Angels. More recently he appeared as a guest performer on General Hospital, Yes Dear, and Disney's Phil of the Future, as well as the musical comedy Don't Leave it All to Your Children.
Throughout his career, Schell received the first California Standup Comedy Legend Award and was inducted into San Francisco State University's Hall of Fame.
