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Chicago Tribune

Veteran Actor Dies — Known for Appearances on ‘The Mary Tyler Moore Show,’ I Dream of Jeannie,’ ‘Rhoda’ and Other Comedies

Nov 6, 2014  •  Post A Comment

A veteran actor who became a familiar face on “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” and other TV shows has died. The Chicago Tribune reports that Richard Schaal died Tuesday at the Motion Picture and Television Fund home in Woodland Hills, Calif. He was 86.

His death was confirmed by his daughter, “American Dad!” voice actress Wendy Schaal.

Schaal, who was married to actress Valerie Harper from 1964 to 1978, appeared on Harper’s show “Rhoda,” along with appearances on “The Bob Newhart Show,” “The Dick Van Dyke Show,” “I Dream of Jeannie,” “That Girl,” “Trapper John, M.D.” and many other series.

On “The Mary Tyler Moore Show,” he played Howard Arnell, an annoying former boyfriend of Mary Richards. He later appeared in the spinoff “Rhoda,” playing Charlie Burke, and on “Phyllis,” where he played Leo Heatherton.

He also worked in feature films, including “The Russians Are Coming the Russians Are Coming” in 1966 and “Slaughterhouse-Five” in 1972.

Schaal was one of the early members of Chicago’s Second City comedy theater, joining the troupe in 1962.

richard schaal 2

Richard Schaal

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