David Ketchum
David Ketchum | |
|---|---|
Ketchum in Camp Runamuck, 1966 | |
| Born | February 4, 1928 Quincy, Illinois, U.S. |
| Died | August 10, 2025 (aged 97) |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1960–1999 |
| Spouse |
Louise Bryant (m. 1957) |
| Children | 2 |
David Ketchum (February 4, 1928 – August 10, 2025) was an American actor and comedian, best known for his appearances in television sitcoms, including The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Camp Runamuck, and Get Smart.[1]: 386
Life and career
Ketchum was born on February 4, 1928, in Quincy, Illinois.[2] He studied physics at UCLA and joined other UCLA students in entertaining military personnel around the world for the USO.[3]
Ketchum had a radio program for seven years in San Diego, California.[4] On television, he portrayed Counselor Spiffy in Camp Runamuck.[1] He was also a regular on I'm Dickens, He's Fenster, playing the role of Mel Warshaw.[1]: 496-497
In Get Smart, he played Agent 13, and was often seen in recurring jokes on the show hiding in unusual places such as mailboxes or fire hydrants.[5] Ketchum reprised the role in the 1989 TV movie Get Smart Again as well as an episode of the 1995 revival of Get Smart on Fox. Ketchum also co-wrote one episode of the third season of the original series, titled "Classification: Dead."[6] He also wrote scripts for other programs, including The Andy Griffith Show and Petticoat Junction.[7]
In 1962, his comedy album The Long-Playing Tongue of Dave Ketchum was released. Billboard gave it a 4-star prefix for strong sales potential.[8]
Films in which Ketchum appeared included Young Doctors in Love (1982) and The Other Sister (1999).[2]
Death
Ketchum married singer Louise Bryant in 1957 and had two daughters.[9][10] He died of heart failure on August 10, 2025, in Thousand Oaks, California, at the age of 97. However, his death was not reported until August 22, 2025. [11][9]
Selected filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1964 | Good Neighbor Sam | Dave – Hertz Commercial Actor | Uncredited |
| 1970 | The Grasshopper | Football Conventioner | – |
| 1971 | Bless the Beasts & Children | Camp Director | – |
| 1973 | Your Three Minutes Are Up | Mr. Kellogg | – |
| 1974 | Goodnight Jackie | Mr. Green | – |
| 1977 | The Curious Case of the Campus Corpse | Writer cameo | Also credited as writer |
| 1979 | The North Avenue Irregulars | Capt. Bamford | – |
| 1979 | Love at First Bite | Customs Inspector | – |
| 1979 | The Main Event | Photographer | – |
| 1982 | Young Doctors in Love | Balloon Man | Credited as Dave Ketchum |
| 1984 | Harold and His Amazing Green Plants | Broccoli (voice) | Short film |
| 1999 | The Other Sister | College Maintenance Man #2 | – |
Television
| Year(s) | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1960–1961 | The Spike Jones Show | Himself | 2 episodes |
| 1961 | Angel | Umpire / Repairman | 2 episodes |
| 1961 | The Jim Backus Show | Dorcy Howard | 1 episode |
| 1962–1963 | I’m Dickens, He’s Fenster | Mel Warshaw | 23 episodes |
| 1963 | The Real McCoys | Lou Hicks | 1 episode |
| 1964 | The Joey Bishop Show | Dr. Mar… / Floorwalker | 2 episodes |
| 1964 | The Tycoon | Worker | 1 episode |
| 1964 | The Jack Benny Program | Mr. Thrombry | 1 episode |
| 1965 | The Munsters | Master of Ceremonies | 1 episode |
| 1965 | Roger Ramjet | Announcer (voice) | 8 episodes |
| 1965–1966 | Camp Runamuck | Spiffy | 26 episodes |
| 1966–1967 | Hey, Landlord | Dr. Sand… / Haskell the Rascal / Wilson | 4 episodes |
| 1966–1967 | Get Smart | Agent 13 | 13 episodes |
| 1967 | The Andy Griffith Show | Fred Michaels / Harry Walker | 2 episodes |
| 1967 | Good Morning World | Henry Horn / Bert | 2 episodes |
| 1967 | The Carol Burnett Show | George | 1 episode |
| 1967 | Accidental Family | Mr. Jennings / Scott | 2 episodes |
| 1968 | Petticoat Junction | Buddy Buster | 1 episode |
| 1968 | Gomer Pyle: USMC | Sol Gordon | 1 episode |
| 1967–1971 | Green Acres | Photographer / Harvey Schmidlapp | 2 episodes |
| 1969–1970 | The Courtship of Eddie’s Father | Joe Kelly | 3 episodes |
| 1970 | The Mary Tyler Moore Show | Hal | 1 episode |
| 1968–1970 | That Girl | Man in Restaurant / Harry / Jack Packard | 3 episodes |
| 1970 | Arnie | Grant | 1 episode |
| 1969 | Mod Squad | Jake Barry | 1 episode |
| 1969 | Mayberry R.F.D. | Man | 1 episode |
| 1969–1973 | Love, American Style | Alfred | 4 episodes |
| 1972 | Call Holme | Sergeant Dobbs | TV movie |
| 1972–1973 | The ABC Saturday Superstar Movie | Various voices | 2 episodes |
| 1972 | The Partridge Family | Mr. Phelps | 1 episode |
| 1971 | The Odd Couple | Joe / The Cop | 2 episodes |
| 1971 | My Three Sons | Milton Baxter | 1 episode |
| 1971 | The New Dick Van Dyke Show | Fred Ross | 1 episode |
| 1973 | Thicker Than Water | – | 1 episode |
| 1974 | Maude | Herman Ellinger | 1 episode |
| 1975 | The Fireman’s Ball | Captain O’Hara | TV movie |
| 1976 | How to Break Up a Happy Divorce | Professor Schofield | TV movie |
| 1977 | Alice | Carl | 1 episode |
| 1978 | Mork & Mindy | The Salesman | 1 episode |
| 1974–1984 | Happy Days | Donald Hedg… / Coach Pelino / Lt. Col. Binicky | 5 episodes |
| 1986 | Perfect Strangers | Customer | 1 episode |
| 1989 | Get Smart, Again! | Agent 13 | TV movie |
| 1995 | Get Smart (revival) | Agent 13 | 1 episode |
References
- ^ a b c Terrace, Vincent (2011). Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 through 2010 (2nd ed.). Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. p. 155. ISBN 978-0-7864-6477-7.
- ^ a b Leszczak, Bob (2014). The Odd Couple on Stage and Screen: A History with Cast and Crew Profiles and an Episode Guide. McFarland. p. 73. ISBN 9781476615394. Retrieved September 1, 2018.
- ^ Foster, Bob (August 30, 1965). "TV Screenings". The Times. California, San Mateo. p. 17. Retrieved August 31, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Stars Helped Him, Now He Helps". Sioux City Journal. Iowa, Sioux City. December 5, 1965. p. 37. Retrieved August 31, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Snyder, Daniel (Director, Writer) (July 30, 2001). "Get Smart". Inside TV Land (Documentary). Season 2. Episode 2. 27:03 minutes in. TV Land.
{{cite episode}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ The Man in the Mailbox, retrieved October 4, 2020
- ^ "Wacky 'Agent 13' Thrives on Role". Dayton Daily News. Ohio, Dayton. United Press International. April 25, 1967. p. 21. Retrieved August 31, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Review of New Albums". Billboard Music Week. Vol. 74, no. 7. Cincinnati, Ohio. February 17, 1962. p. 30. Retrieved May 15, 2018.
- ^ a b Ziegler, Hannah (August 24, 2025). "David Ketchum, Who Played the Cooped-Up Agent 13 on 'Get Smart,' Dies at 97". The New York Times. Retrieved August 24, 2025.
- ^ Carroll, Harrison (February 25, 1966). "Behind the Scenes in Hollywood". The Kokomo Morning Times. Indiana, Kokomo. p. 11. Retrieved August 31, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Barnes, Mike (August 22, 2025). "David Ketchum, the Cooped-Up Agent 13 on 'Get Smart,' Dies at 97". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 22, 2025.
External links
- David Ketchum at IMDb
- David Ketchum discography at Discogs