William Schallert (born July 6, 1922, in Los Angeles, California), is an actor who has appeared in many movies and television series such as The Smurfs, The Rat Patrol, Gunsmoke, and Get Smart.
He is best known as patriarch Martin Lane on The Patty Duke Show and as teacher Leander Pomfritt on The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis. Coincidentally, on both shows, he worked opposite the late actress Jean Byron.
He is also very well known for playing the role of Nilz Baris on the Star Trek episode entitled "The Trouble with Tribbles". He also appeared in the archive footage of that episode which was used in the popular Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode "Trials and Tribble-ations". Schallert appeared in DS9 himself, in the second season episode "Sanctuary", in which he played Varani, a Bajoran musician.
Schallert starred in an innovative 1964 TV pilot for ABC called Philbert, which combined live action camera work and animation. Created by Friz Freleng and directed by Richard Donner, ABC backed out of the series shortly before full production was to begin, though the completed pilot was released in theatres as a short subject.
He was president of the Screen Actors Guild from 1979 to 1981 (his former co-star and TV daughter, Patty Duke would succeed him between from 1985 to 1988).
He continues to work steadily, appearing most recently in a 2007 episode of How I Met Your Mother, and his distinctive voice continues to bring him work for commercial and animation voiceovers.
The son of Edwin Schallert, drama editor of the "Los Angeles Times" and the dean of West Coast critics, William Schallert became interested in an acting career while at UCLA in 1942. After graduation, he became involved with the Circle Theater (eventually becoming one of its owners) and made his film debut in Foxes of Harrow, The (1947). He has been ubiquitous in movies and TV ever since; from 1979 to 1981, he was president of the Screen Actors Guild. He still stays active with SAG projects and says he never gives retirement a thought.
