William Duell, character actor, passed away December 22 from respiratory failure. He was 88.
Duell acted in television series, films and Broadway shows throughout his career. He worked alongside Jack Nicholson in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest and had a leading role on the 1980s series Police Squad!
His other television credits included Naked City, The Defenders, The Adams Chronicles, 3-2-1- Contact!, Law & Order and Ed.
He starred on Broadway in shows such as the original production of 1776 and A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, which starred Nathan Lane.
Duell’s first role was during college at Green Mountain College in Vermont in a production of Arsenic and Old Lace. During World War II he served as a Navy medic. He received a master’s degree from Yale Drama School, where he met fellow classmate, Paul Newman, who helped him get a role in The Hustler.
His wife is his only survivor.
