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Ronnie Schell "Duke Slater- Gomer Pyle U.S.M.C." Born and Raised in Richmond, California, Ronnie remembers starting his performing days at eight years old during the family's many late night parties. "They'd get me out of bed to entertain on the piano at two in the morning," he laughed. Always the class clown, Ronnie was kicked out of school several times for his outrageous behavior. Despite this comic behavior, his desire was not to be a performer, but rather to be a professional baseball player. He played semi-pro baseball before deciding to join the Air Force. While in the Air Force, he began touring bases in an Air Force variety show. Schell went on to travel with the Air Force dance band, "The Airmen of Note", as an emcee and comedian. When Ronnie finished his tour of duty he decided he was too old to be a ballplayer and enrolled in San Francisco State University. There he developed a comedy routine with a friend which turned into a five month stint in a San Francisco nightclub called The Purple Onion. Eventually, he decided he'd rather be on his own, and he spent three years on tour opening for The Kingston Trio and other numerous singers in Las Vegas. While performing at the Hacienda his manager called and said they were looking for someone to play "Gomer's best friend" on a new show starring Jim Nabors. Ronnie got the part of "Duke Slater" on "Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C." and his television career was born. This part lasted until 1969, with a brief break in 1967, when Ronnie tried his hand at another show. Ronnie and Goldie Hawn starred in their own series, "Good Morning, World," for one season in 1967. He can still remember telling Goldie that she was never going to make it as an actress, because she didn't rehearse hard enough. "Three years later she was accepting an Oscar for 'Cactus Flower' and I was playing the Colony Club in Omaha," laughs Ronnie. His own career has been non-stop and he prides himself that he has never been out of work more than three weeks over the last thirty years. In addition to his film and television performances, Ronnie's voice can be heard in numerous radio and TV ads for everything from Campbell's Soup to Kemp's Ice Cream. Ronnie's voice can also be heard on numerous cartoon series for Hanna-Barbera and he has also co-starred voice-wise in the full length cartoon motion pictures, "Jetsons, The Movie" and "Rover Dangerfield." His films include: "Fatal Instinct," directed by Carl Reiner and "Revenge of the Red Baron," with Mickey Rooney and Laraine Newman. Ronnie also co-starred in a comedy video with Tim Conway called, "Dorf Goes Fishing." Besides appearing on "The Andy Griffith Show" and as a regular on "The Jim Nabor's Hour," Ronnie's television appearances include co-starring for three years as Marlo Thomas' agent "Harvey Peck" on ABC's "That Girl" and guest starring on top rated TV series like "General Hospital," "Yes, Dear," and "Coach" (to name a few). Ronnie and his wife Janet live in Los Angeles where for years he has served as the honorary mayor of Encino, California. He still loves to take to the diamond with his softball team, The Reruns which includes comedians Jack Riley and Fred Willard. Although softball is his sport of late, Ronnie's love of semi-pro or minor league baseball is still very strong. Ronnie is known to collect a cap from each minor league team in every city he visits. "