(Born December 23, 1931 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.

Corporal Gilbert "Duke" Slater is Gomer's close friend in the Marines. Unlike Gomer, he has few scruples and is not above putting one over on Sergeant Carter, much to Gomer's consternation. A private in early seasons, Duke transferred to a different platoon at the end of season three, where he took a Corporal test and graduated in the top 10 of his class, earning a promotion to Corporal. Duke later returned to Camp Henderson and succeeded Boyle as Carter's second in command. As before his promotion Duke still addressed Gomer by his first name, sometimes calling him "Gome". He took over Chuck Boyle's around season 5 role as the straight man putting up with Sergeant Carter's antics. He also sticks up for Gomer in the series.

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.

Gomer Pyle U.S.M.C. Episode Appearances

Gomer Overcomes the Obstacle Course
Guest in the Barracks
Private Ralph Skunk
Captain Ironpants
Gomer Learns a Bully
Pay Day
Nobody Loves a Sergeant
Gomer and the Dragon Lady
Survival of the Fattest
A Date for the Colonel's Daughter
They Shall Not Pass
Sergeant Carter, Marine Baby Sitter
The Case of the Marine Bandit
Sergeant of the Week
Grandpa Pyle's Good Luck Charm
Dance, Marine, Dance
Sergeant Carter's Farewell to His Troops
The Feudin' Pyles
Love Letters to the Sarge
Officer Candidate Gomer Pyle
Old Man Carter
Gomer Makes the Honor Guard
My Buddy the War Hero
The Jet Set
Sergeant of the Guard
Gomer Dates a Movie Star
Gomer the M.P.
PFC Gomer Pyle
Third Finger, Left Loaf
The Blind Date
Home on the Range
Cat Overboard
Gomer Captures a Submarine
The Grudge Fight
A Visit from Cousin Goober
Gomer Minds His Sergeant's Car
Gomer Pyle, POW
Gomer Pyle, Civilian
Gomer and the Beast
Grandma Pyle, Fortune Teller
Sergeant Carter Dates a Pyle
Little Girl Blue
Gomer and the Phone Company
Duke Slater, Night Club Comic
Vacation in Las Vegas
Opie Joins the Marines
Sergeant Carter Takes a Desk Job
Gomer the Would-Be Hero
Lies, Lies, Lies
Crazy Legs Gomer
Gomer the Carrier
Caution: Low Overhead
Show Me the Way to Go Home
The Borrowed Car
Marry Me, Marry Me
Follow that Car
It Takes Two to Tangle
Whither the Weather
Love's Old Sweet Song
The Secret Life of Gomer Pyle
Go Blow Your Horn
You Bet Your Won Ton
Sue the Pants Off 'Em
Gomer the Card Shark
To Re-enlist or Not to Re-enlist
Lou Ann Poovie Sings Again
Gomer the Welsh Rarebit Fiend
Sing a Song of Papa
The Crow Ganef
One of Our Shells Is Missing
Lou Ann Poovie Sings No More
Corporal Duke
The Booty Prize
Just Move Your Lips, Sergeant
All You Need Is One Good Break
A Marriage of Convenience
Come Blow Your Top
A Little Chicken Soup Wouldn't Hurt
A Tattoo for Gomer
Win-a-Date
Marriage, Sgt. Carter Style
To Save a Life
Freddy's Friendly Computer
Gomer Maneuvers
Gomer Tends a Sick Cat
I'm Always Chasing Gomers
The Short Voyage Home
Proxy Poppa
Hare Today, Gone Tomorrow
Flower Power
My Fair Sister
Goodbye Camp Henderson, Hello Sergeant Carter

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