Ronald "Ronnie" Ralph Schell, best known for playing Duke Slater on the popular 1960s sitcom "GomerPyle, U.S.M.C.," died Friday, June 12. He was 94 ... Duke Slater, the best friend of the title character on "Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C."
He left during the fourth season to star as a DJ in his own sitcom, “Good Morning, World.” But it flopped after 26 episodes, and Schell returned to “GomerPyle” for its fifth and final season.