REMEMBERING PETE DUEL
Thank you to everyone who leaves such poignant and heartfelt expressions in The Memorial Book—and for all your kind words about this site. Your kinship is extremely appreciated. —Laura
Please post your thoughts below. The previous Memorial Book was receiving too much spam, so I had to close it and start this page instead. The previous memorial page also had hundreds of remembrances. I hope to someday transfer them here.
There may be a delay between when you leave your thoughts below and when your post appears, but rest assured, the post will eventually be published. Please keep in mind that many questions still remain about Peter’s state of mind in those final days of his life. One recent question is how much of a role the anti-seizure drug, Dilantin, played on his thoughts. Perhaps Pete was a victim of a pharmaceutical drug and not so much of self-inflicted depression. Also note that Geoffrey Deuel sometimes visited this page. Thank you.
Pete, you have lived in my heart for many years as the earthly world lost a soul that was pure of heart when you passed ❤️. Love from Scotland x
🤠❤️
Didn’t see a way to post separately so sorry if this attaches as a reply.
Alias Smith and Jones were my and my friends high school alter-egos. I played my character on local tv show and we did morning announcements at school. We had costumes and my friend had a collection of horses and she was very good at creating the characters.
Sadly it may not have been Peter’s favorite work but it was important to us. ( we are all FEMALE btw)
I was watching John Wayne’s “Chisum” and saw Peter’s younger brother. I thought it was him! I quickly jumped on the internet and found THIS page.
He even sounded like him!
Am glad to have an opportunity to share out appreciation for HIM and Ben Murphy and the rest of the cast.
oh and my friend who was the Ben Murphy character actually MARRIED someone named Murphy!
No idea at the time this would happen of course!
I was only 9 when Pete died. I loved what he did with Hannibal Hayes. I loved the way the hat sat on his head and the way his face lit up. What a lovely face with great expressions. Maybe he was one of the main reasons people loved the show. Maybe he made it work and if he felt it wasn’t quality maybe that’s because he failed to see himself in the role the way we did. His death was so sad because I believe he had so much to offer as a person still, untapped potential. For me at 9 it was just tragic because a brightness that brought joy to others was extinguished, gone. I’m sorry he could not share in the joy he brought us.
First & Foremost I would like to thank Laura Moretti, Geoffrey & Jackie Deuel for ”Keeping the Candle Burning” after 52 years …. for Pete’s Sake.
One year ago I posted my experience with AS&J, the tragedy of Pete’s death, and how it affected me since 1971. To continue, me, My Dear Mother and Father returned to Fort Lupton at about 6 PM New Year’s Eve. The FIRST thing I did was hit the bathroom and cry uncontrollably at 18 years old in shock not understanding why one of my heroes was dead. When I came out my Mom asked me ”Are you OK Don”? I replied ”Ya I’m Ok Mom”. At the moment I’m not but I’m healing….I THINK. {Question people: Do we REALLY understand the tragedy and HOW it affected and STILL affects us after 52 years? Will some or ALL of us understand and let the healing begin?}. At around 7:30 PM December 31, 1971, my parents went to a New Year’s Eve Party and Mom asked me if I wanted to go ….. just a BLOCK down the street. I said ”No mom.” I just sat on the couch in TOTAL shock and disbelief CRYING wondering WHY!?!?!? At around midnite, I mustered up enough strength to get an M-80 {We used to get them for 10 CENTS at Tiffany’s on Highway 85 in ’65} and drive my ’61 VW to the NYEve party house, light it, and toss it. It was kinda fun but
nothing at that point for the next 30 years {See my previous post} every December
31 amounted to too much fun. Some years were better than others. Some were
very painful in the memory. Then as I posted, on New Year’s Day The Rocky
Mountain News Denver ran a small clip from UPI about the death and a pic from
”Return To Devil’s Hole” as I was HOPING to learn about what happened.
{Again THANX to Laura, Geoff, and Jackie for posting ”The Heyes’ Hat”}. Then
about the next thing I remember is watching Ben Murphy on Merv Griffin like a month
later. Ben and Merv were talking about Ben’s upcoming TV deals, then Merv said
”Pete Duel’s death was a tragedy” or something like that. Ben replied ”I’ll tell ya
Merv, that’s really hard for me to talk about”. At that point, I BURST out.
I constantly watched for ANY info in a PANIC to learn….WHY?!?!? Back then there
were no ”Pete Support Groups”; I just had AS&J to cling on to. I watched AS&J with my Mom as the TV was in the living room. When Roger Davis became the new
”Hannibal Heyes” my Mom said ”It’s not the same.” I answered in SORROW
”I know Mom.” Then AS&J ended. And my healing journey began… and still
continues {Crying now….gotta break}. The sting of death at 18 and especially
THAT kind was a mind-blower. But ”Sweet Pete’s Girl” is right on; Wer’e ALL
kindred in Spirit and you’ve just witnessed my continuing journey. If you haven’t
read my December 31 2022 post I encourage you to find comfort in each
other’s healing journey……for The Word says ”Blessed are they who mourn, for they
shall be comforted”. I JUST experienced it in my latest grief attack…..after 52 years.
THANX Laura, Geoff, Jackie, and ALL the rest of ”Sweet Pete’s” beloved Family,
{Pamela you’re still out there and giving testimony, ”Keep The Faith” Girl!},” Friends
still alive, Fans, and of course ”Sweet Pete’s Girl”, RIGHT ON HON!!!
See ‘yall next year or like the Isralies say ”Next Year In Jerusalem!”
Lovya….dh out