Theatre Register

William Duell

Shows · William Duell

Actor 1923–2011 On stage 19542000

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 in 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.

On stage 12 productions, 46 years

1954 The Threepenny Opera Theatre de Lys · Original · directed by Carmen Capalbo 95 perf.
1963 The Ballad of the Sad Cafe Martin Beck Theatre · Original · directed by Alan Schneider 123 perf.
1967 Illya Darling Mark Hellinger Theatre · Original · directed by Onna White 320 perf.
1976 Kings Alvin Theatre · Original 4 perf.
1976 Threepenny Opera Vivian Beaumont Theater · Revival · directed by Richard Foreman 307 perf.
1978 Stages Belasco Theatre · Original · directed by Richard Foreman 1 perf.
1978 The Inspector General Circle In The Square Theatre · Revival · directed by Liviu Ciulei 69 perf.
1985 The Marriage of Figaro Circle In The Square Theatre · Revival · directed by Andrei Serban 77 perf.
1988 Our Town Lyceum Theatre · Revival · directed by Gregory Mosher 136 perf.
1996 A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum St James Theatre · Revival · directed by Jerry Zaks 715 perf.
1997 1776 Theatre not recorded · Revival 333 perf.
2000 The Man Who Came to Dinner American Airlines Theatre · Revival · directed by Jerry Zaks 85 perf.

Each row is a staging this name appears in the cast list of, read from the production record rather than from the person record. The person record names works instead, and a work cannot say which run somebody was in — that is how Elaine Stritch ends up filed under Show Boat 1927 when she was in the 1994 revival. No row here says what part was played, because no cast list records it.

Worked with more than once11 names

Tom Aldredge 2 productions
Ryan Shively 2 productions
Roy Brocksmith 2 productions
Ralph Drischell 2 productions
Philip Bosco 2 productions
Nathan Lane 2 productions
Max Wright 2 productions
Lewis J. Stadlen 2 productions
Gretel Cummings 2 productions
Caroline Kava 2 productions
Brenda Currin 2 productions

Both names in the same cast list, more than once. It is not evidence of a partnership — a long-running company puts the same forty people together every night — but it is where one would start looking. 7 of these names are not links because we hold no record behind them; the name is set from the identifier and its punctuation may be wrong.

Also credited on1 work

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum

These come off the person record, which names a work and not a production. So we can say this name is attached to the work and we cannot say which staging, or in what capacity. For a composer or a writer that is the whole career we hold; there is no cast list to find them in.

In the literature5 passages

  • Cast: Nathan Lane, Mark Linn-Baker, Lewis J. Stadlen, Ernie Sabella, William Duell, Mary Testa, Jessica Boevers, Cris Groenendaal, Jim Stanek, Leigh Zimmermanebooks/Green, Stanley/Broadway Musicals, Show By Show - Seventh Edition - Stanley Green & Cary Ginell.txt
  • Graham Brown (Tiresias), E. Allan Stevens (Creon), Carol Mayo Jenkins (Jocasta), William Duell (Corinthian), Ed Preble (Herdsman), Lisa Casko (Antigone), Samantha Gold (Ismene), Chorus: Suzi Sfreddo, Cynthia Riffle, Kelly Taylor II. "Medea"-Choreographed by Norman Walker; Music, Alban Berg. CAST: Emily Frankel (Medea), David Anderson (Jas…theatre-pdfs/Theatre World/Theatre World, 1976-77 Season, v. 33 (Willis).txt
  • Pyotr Ivanovich Dobchinsky...............+.-. Bill McIntyre Pyotr Ivanovich Bobchinsky ................--. William Duelltheatre-pdfs/Theatre World/Theatre World, 1978-79, v. 35 (Willis).txt
  • Quinn), Leora Dana (Trilbe Costello), William Duell (Ingram), Margaret Barker (Mother/Mrs. Butcher) A comedy in three acts. The action takes place in Ireland just before Christmas. (No photos available)theatre-pdfs/Theatre World/Theatre World, 1979-80 Season, v. 36 (Willis).txt
  • Wily ircltel ey ateee cate ee, accirrus Arescae hy,aoelaa neRes mevasesecs Mary Ann Lamb Gymnasia.. .. Stephenie Pope Erronius .... .William Duell Miles Gloriosus i ? an ...Cris Groenendaal UNDERSTUDIES: Bob Amaral (Psedolus/Hysterium/Lycus), Cory English, Kevin Kraft (Hero), Jennifer Rosin (Philia), Macintyre Dixon (Senex/Erronius), Kenn…theatre-pdfs/Theatre World/Theatre World, 1995-96 Season, v.52 (Willis).txt

Passages naming this person, found by keyword across 178 books. A keyword match is not a biography, and a common name will pull in the wrong one.

What this page does not know

  • What this person played. No cast list we hold records a character against a performer.
  • Any portrait. 1,626 of 7,139 people have one, so this is the usual case rather than the exception.
  • Which of the credits above the roles on this record — actor — apply to. The roles sit on the person and never on a credit, so a director who also acted looks the same here as one who did not.

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