Of all my television western heroes (and the list is long) back in the day, I have a lot of affection for Pete Duel who played Hannibal Heyes/Joshua Smith in Alias Smith and Jones, alongside Ben Murphy as Kid Curry/Thaddeus Jones. The show ran from 1971 to 1973 with Duel starring in 33 episodes. He died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, originally discussed as accidental but later ruled as suicide. He was 31.
The show continued for another 17 episodes with Roger Davis taking on the role of Heyes, co-starring with Murphy. But without the charm and appeal of the handsome Duel, and his camaraderie with Ben Murphy, the show was cancelled. It was a tragic end to a talented young man who had a bright future.
Peter Ellstrom Deuel was born on 24 February 1940 in Rochester, New York. His interest in drama lead to some theatre work and then to television mostly as a guest star on shows like Combat! and Bonanza. His big break came in the sitcom Gidget starring Sally Field, followed by another comedy series, Love on a Rooftop.
Then it was a series of supporting/guest roles in Ironside, The Virginian, The Young Lawyers, Marcus Welby, M.D., The Name of the Game and 77 Sunset Strip, to name a few. In amongst the TV shows, he co-starred with George Peppard in the film Cannon for Cordoba (1970).
But it was Alias Smith and Jones that lifted Duel onto a higher level of popularity. The show was produced by Roy Huggins whose CV included Maverick, The Fugitive and The Rockford Files, great credentials. Huggins assumed the name of John Thomas James when he wrote episodes.
So, on this day, when Pete Duel would have been 83, I salute his memory and the happiness he provided this young kid in one of the greatest TV westerns ever created.
Rest in peace.
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