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William Schallert, actor, union leader, dies

William Schallert, a veteran TV performer and Hollywood union leader who played Patty Duke’s father – and uncle – on television and led a long, contentious strike for actors, has died.

Schallert died Sunday at his home in Pacific Palisades, Calif., said his son, Edwin. He was 93.

Though usually seen in secondary roles, Schallert’s lean, friendly face was familiar to baby boomers for roles in two classic sitcoms – as a teacher to Dwayne Hickman and his pals in “The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis” and as the dad in “The Patty Duke Show.”

“The Patty Duke Show” (1963-1966) was challenging for Duke, who already had achieved stardom on Broadway as the young Helen Keller in “The Miracle Worker” and repeated the role in the film, winning her a supporting actress Oscar. (Duke died in March at age 69.)

In the television series, she played a double role, as Patty Lane, a typical American teenager, and as her cultured cousin, Cathy, who lives with Patty’s family.

Schallert was cast as Patty’s harried father (and Cathy’s uncle), who was confused by the lookalike girls.

He was similarly frustrated as English teacher Mr. Pomfritt on “Dobie Gillis.” The show, which ran from 1959 to 1963, starred Hickman as a teenager comically yearning for the perfect girl, and a strong supporting cast including Bob Denver as his beatnik pal, Maynard. “You ready, my young barbarians?” Mr. Pomfritt would ask his students, comically pining for the days of corporal punishment in the classroom.

In 1979, Schallert was elected president of the 46,000-member Screen Actors Guild.

In 1980 he led the union as it staged a 13-week strike over such issues as actors’ pay for films made for the then-new cable television industry.

Stapleton, Cam, Underwood vie for CMT Music Awards

NASHVILLE, Tenn.

Carrie Underwood, Chris Stapleton and Cam are tied with three nominations each for the 2016 CMT Music Awards.

CMT announced the nominees Monday. Underwood, Stapleton and Cam are nominated for video of the year.

Underwood also was nominated for CMT performance of the year and female video of the year. Stapleton also is nominated for breakthrough video of the year and CMT performance of the year, and Cam is nominated for female video of the year and breakthrough video of the year.

Voting began Monday at CMT.com. The awards show will air live from Nashville, Tenn., on June 8.

Associated Press