by Paul Donnelley; T.V. Babylon, 1997

To outsiders, it seemed that Pete Duel had everything to live for—a loving girlfriend, a nice home, money, and a hit T.V. series. Yet shortly after 1:25 am on 31 December 1971, this handsome and talented actor killed himself.

Peter Ellstrom Deuel was born in Rochester, NY, on 24 February 1940, the eldest child of Dr. Elsworth Shault Deuel and Lillian Marcella Ellstrom, a Swedish American. Brother Geoffrey, born in 1942, and sister Pamela, born three years later, completed the family. Pete Deuel grew up wanting to be a pilot, but discovered that he had 20/30 … Read More

Birthday: February 24, 1943

Birthplace: Rochester, N.Y.

Marital Status: single

Hair Color: brown

Parents’ Names: Elsworth & Lillian

Present Home: West Hollywood

Present Role: Hannibal Heyes (Joshua Smith) in Alias Smith and Jones

Secret Ambition: to be an airplane pilot

Favorite Food: health foods

Likes: nature, traveling

Dislikes: being tied down, pollution

Sports: all—especially tennis and fishing

Hobbies: camping, movie-going

Sideline: Pete comes from a family of doctors. In fact, there have been six doctors in his family within the last two generations. But Pete decided medicine wasn’t for him and chose acting instead. His brother Geoffrey followed in his footsteps and is an actor now, too. Meanwhile, his sister, Pamela, has begun … Read More

by Melody Cecko; Peter Duel Remembrance Club, late 1980s or early 1990s

When I looked up Dennis Fimple, I half expected Kyle Murtry. Dennis is no Kyle Murtry. Articulate and polite, he is very gracious in accepting compliments on his portrayal of Kyle. When be speaks of his work on AS&J, he is honest. Then I asked him what his favorite job was and it wasn’t AS&J; it was his work on J.D. and the Saltflack Kid and Winterhawk. I hid my disappointment (I hope).

Dennis has been very active since his days on AS&J; he has been in several feature … Read More

Karen Wright and Cherokee Wolf have produced a book of photos and poems on each of Geoffrey Deuel’s movies and TV shows.

The book is published here at BLURB where you may purchase an unsigned copy of the it directly from the printer.

If you prefer an autographed copy, Jacqueline has arranged for a single page (that is not in the book) to be printed separately for an additional small fee, and Geoff Deuel will sign and mail it to you via regular mail. Please contact Jacqueline for details.

All proceeds from this special book are donated to various animal rescues in Geoffrey’s and Peter’s … Read More

REMEMBERING PETE DUEL
Simple Gifts is a 170-page perfect-bound book featuring more than 100 pictures of Pete Duel, along with transcripts from the interviews Geoff gave that are in our DVD Collection. A few extras, such as never-before-published pictures and text are included.

The book is published by the Pete Duel Memorial Site and all proceeds are donated to The Animals Voice in Pete’s name.

16 Magazine, January 1972

Unlike most actors’ roles, “Joshua Smith”—the character Pete Duel portrays on TV—is not that different from the real-life guy who plays him. Pete, in real life, also loves the excitement of the old west. He enjoys the wilderness, the comfort of wearing old jeans, and cowboy boots.

And like Joshua Smith, Pete Duel has an eye for the girls! His dimples, his warm, brown eyes, his sexy smile, attract girls like honey lures bees! The only trouble with his “honey” is that he’s not sweet all the time! Pete Duel loves like he lives—independently, and free, and slightly … Read More

They’re Different As Night and Day—But Still Friends!
by Susan Rogers; Screen Life, January 1972

It’s been said that one of the reasons for the great popularity of ABC-TV’s Alias Smith and Jones is the striking contrast between the two leading men, Ben Murphy and Peter Duel. Alias is a Western series about two young outlaws who are seeking amnesty from their criminal past in order to have a fighting chance at a future.

Pete plays Hannibal Heyes, also known as Joshua Smith, and Ben plays Jed “Kid” Curry, alias Thaddeus Jones. The series, which deals with good and evil—with lots of comedy … Read More