by Funky Duke Lewis; Tiger Beat, March 1972

On the other hand, Pete Duel, the Joshua Smith of Alias Smith & Jones, voiced a more general sentiment of actors in long-lived TV shows.

“This series, that series, is a big fat drag to an actor who I any interest in his work,” Pete said. “It’s the ultimate trap. You lose any artistic thing you had, utterly destructive. It isn’t the work that tires you, it’s that it’s a dreadful bore that makes you weary, weary.

“Our show is good and I don’t blame its writers and directors, what’s wrong is the whole system. Finish a show one night, start another the next morning with no time between shooting to study the scripts and prepare. At first you’re on guard against sloppy work. After a while you don’t care.”

“TV acting is the worst kind of slavery there is,” Don Adams agreed. “Up early in the morning and working 12 to 14 hours a day. Is that any way to run a life?”

Photo Caption: Pete Duel seems happy at home with his dogs Carol (left) and Shoshone. Only three weeks after this photo was taken, Pete died, apparently of a self-inflicted bullet.