Life Just Wasn't Worth Living Modern Screen's Hollywood Yearbook, 1973 He was young (31), good looking, the star of a successful TV series (Alias Smith and Jones) and had a best gal. He had everything, in fact, except peace of mind. And the prospect of facing 1972 was simply too much for him. So, on December 31, Pete Duel picked up a gun, went into the living room, and shot himself through the head. When his girlfriend, Dianne Ray, rushed into the living room, she found Peter slumped on the floor near a brightly lit Christmas tree. Many reasons have been given ... Read More

The Box Magazine, 1997; No 46 Pete Duel The James Dean of television. After six years of bit parts in series like The Virginian and Marcus Welby, M.D., Duel finally made it big as poker-faced gambling Hannibal Heyes in Alias Smith and Jones. But before the first series had finished running, he had been found shot. Officially it was suicide. It was also a tragic waste; he was 31.

by Walter Scott; Parade Magazine, October 29, 1972 Q. What's this about a Peter Duel cult springing up in England since the actor's death? A. Ever since the star of Alias Smith and Jones shot himself last December, the BBC has received some 7,000 letters a week from fans demanding that the series be aired again. Therefore, the network is using the reruns rather than the programs with his replacement.

Letter sent to fans who had written to or about Pete, 1972, by John Napier Peter Ellstrom Deuel was a brilliant earthly star. You could easily spot him in a mass of people on a crowded boulevard because he sparkled when he walked. You felt the gentleness of his soul when you looked into his penetrating eyes. When he spoke, you listened and watched intently as his hands made diagrams in the air punctuating the flow of speech that came so easily. And, his smile!!!! I shall never forget one early morning, about 4 a.m., this past summer when Pete stood in ... Read More

by Elizabeth Laurence; Photoplay (UK), 1972 Pete Duel, popular for his work in the hit television series Alias Smith and Jones, died on New Year's Eve. [Editor’s Note: Peter died the morning of New Year’s Eve Day, not New Year’s Eve night.] The young American actor found that life at the top wasn't worth the effort. [That isn’t necessarily Peter’s reasons for ending his life; new evidence suggests that his anti-convulsion medication for his epilepsy may have played a role, as did a number of other demoralizing issues during his life at that time.] He shot himself. It was a bitter ... Read More

Life's Work, Living Free by Janey Milstead, from Hollywood; FAB 208, May 6, 1972 We can't forget, and we don't want to. Now the awful shock has worn off, we understand that Pete has really gone from this world. But he hasn't left our thoughts, and never will. As a last, simple tribute to him, FAB remembers the things that were important while he was here — his life, his career, and the beliefs that made him a warm, committed human being. As long as these things live on in people's minds, they will be important always. FEBRUARY 24, 1940 Born Peter Ellstrom ... Read More

flip, August 1972 Dear FLIP, Just a note of thanks for the lovely section (May) "Your Pete Duel Memory Scrapbook." It was a great way to help his many fans to remember him as the very handsome, warm, loving, talented person he was. I had the pleasure and privilege of seeing him onstage at the Municipal Auditorium here in Birmingham, Alabama, when he and Ben were guests at the 1971 Annual Cerebral Palsy Telethon. It was so beautiful seeing him holding the little handicapped children, the love showing radiant from his eyes. I can't explain the shock and sorrow I felt ... Read More

TEEN Photo Album, May 1972 On New Year's Eve, while most of us were looking forward to a cheerful evening with friends and family, maybe at a party or just celebrating at home, the shocking news came over the TV, and made headlines in the late afternoon papers. Pete Duel was dead. The young actor who had found so much success in his series, Alias Smith and Jones, would not be with us in the new year to come. [Pete didn't die on New Year's Eve; he died very early in the morning on that day.] His many fans took the news in shock ... Read More

by Lois Kane; Silver Screen, July 1975 Why would a man like Pete Duel — rich, handsome, successful — want to die? Pete Duel left more than his shattered body behind when he made his violent exit from the stage of life. He also left us with the mystery of why he chose to kill himself. The handsome 31-year-old star of Alias Smith and Jones was in a position that any other young man would envy. He was an actor on the way up, with money in the bank and his clean-cut cowboy image in just about every young girl's heart. Lucky, successful ... Read More

A fan's tribute to Peter Deuel by Sherilyn Smith; October 2000 In my mind’s eye, in a flash Broken dreams, meant to last Seventy-one, his will to lose, Imposed haunting mid-war blues. On his steed, his head held high Shining armor, sword and style Dark eyes glittering all that is Passion, rage and love and death. And all the love, the love had I, Young one to hear his battle cry. Then gone was he, the one I loved In an instant, in a flash, Is my sorrow meant to last? Please go then, Pete, and be at peace Rest, my love, your dreams be sweet When you wake, our spirits wait For your return, in faith and ... Read More

The Woman Who Will Never Forget Pete Duel's Death! Why She'll Always Wonder by Felicia Griffith; Screen Parade, June 1972 Pete Duel's lifetime, however short, was a full one. And one of its most fulfilling elements, especially towards its end, was his girlfriend, Dianne Ray. Although they never married, Pete and Dianne were as close to each other as any man and woman could be. And if anyone could have prevented Pete from taking his own life, that person may well have been Dianne. Pete was born in Rochester, New York, the son of Dr. Ellsworth S. Deuel and the former Lillian M. ... Read More