Darwin William Duell (born George William Duell; August 30, 1923 – December 22, 2011) was an American actor and singer. He was known for his roles as Andrew McNair in the musical 1776, Jim Sefelt in the 1975 film One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, and Johnny the Shoe Shine Guy on the 1982 crime comedy series Police Squad!. Described as a short, odd-looking character actor with a Shakespearean background, he had many minor roles in plays, films, and TV series. His last work was a cameo in the 2003 film How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days.
William Duell | |
|---|---|
| Born | George William Duell[1] August 30, 1923 Corinth, New York, U.S. |
| Died | December 22, 2011 (aged 88) Manhattan, New York, U.S. |
| Other names | Darwin William Duell (name legally changed during childhood)[1] |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1961–2003 |
| Spouse |
Mary Barto (m. 2004) |
Early life and career
editDuell was born in 1923 in Corinth, New York, to E. Janet (Harrington) and Leon George Duell, an employee of the International Paper Company.[2] Sometime in his youth, his mother legally changed his name to Darwin William Duell. Duell never cared for his first name and thus always went by his middle name, William. Duell graduated from the Green Mountain Junior College (now Green Mountain College) (Vermont), Illinois Wesleyan University, and Yale University. A theater scholarship at Green Mountain College is named after him. Duell served in the U.S. Navy during World War II.[3]
He portrayed Congressional custodian Andrew McNair in the Broadway version of 1776, which made him the one actor who stayed throughout the entire run of the show and was never understudied; he also played the part in the 1972 film of the musical. In the 1997 Broadway revival of 1776, Duell was a replacement member of the cast, filling the role of Caesar Rodney after Michael McCormick took on the role of John Adams.[4] In 2010, he appeared in a one-night only staged reading of Evening Primrose by Stephen Sondheim.[5]
Later life and death
editDuell married his wife, Mary Barto, in 2004. Duell died of respiratory failure in December 2011.[1] He was 88.
Partial filmography
edit- The Hustler (1961) – Billy (Louisville Hustler) (uncredited)
- 1776 (1972) – Andrew McNair, Congressional Custodian
- Deadhead Miles (1973) – Auto Parts Salesman
- Law and Disorder (1974)
- The Happy Hooker (1975) – Meek Man
- One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975) – Jim Sefelt
- King of the Gypsies (1978) – Funeral Home Director
- Airplane! (1980) – Reporter #1 (uncredited)
- A Stranger Is Watching (1982) – Derelict in Subway (uncredited)
- Police Squad! (1982) – Johnny
- Without a Trace (1983) – Polygraph operator
- Grace Quigley (1984) – Mr. Harvey Jenkins
- The Pope of Greenwich Village (1984) – Toll Booth Attendant #2
- Mrs. Soffel (1984) – Lenny
- The Beniker Gang (1985) – Postmaster Greaves
- Seize the Day (1986) – Joey
- Ironweed (1987) – Moose
- Funny Farm (1988) – Old Character
- Elvira, Mistress of the Dark (1988) – Lesley Meeker
- Out of the Rain (1991) – Reverend
- Me and Veronica (1993) – Harry
- Trial by Jury (1994) – Jimmy
- Palookaville (1995) – Money Truck Guard
- Reckless (1995) – Roy
- In & Out (1997) – Emmett Wilson
- The Out-of-Towners (1999) – Lost Baggage Clerk
- Cradle Will Rock (1999) – Butler
- Advice from a Caterpillar (1999) – Hunter #2
- How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (2003) – Old Concession Worker (final film role)
References
edit- ^ a b c "William Duell, Puckish Character Actor, Dies at 88". The New York Times. January 6, 2012. Retrieved January 6, 2012.
- ^ "William Duell Biography (1923-)".
- ^ Duell, William 1923– Encyclopedia.com Retrieved February 18, 2023.
- ^ "Cast Replacements for the 1997/1998 revival of 1776". Trivia. Retrieved October 5, 2010.
- ^ Portantiere, Michael (2011). "Back into the light". The Sondheim Review. XVII (3). Sondheim Review, Inc.: 44. ISSN 1076-450X.
External links
edit- William Duell at IMDb
- William Duell at the Internet Broadway Database
- William Duell at the TCM Movie Database