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.
My father died on January 6, 1971, and it was a hard time for me. Only a few weeks later, “Alias Smith and Jones” debuted on TV. I fell in love with the program and especially Pete Duel. I was 13 at the time, and I looked so forward to seeing him and the program every week. I loved every episode, especially the comaraderie between him and Ben Murphy. It was the most perfect show, with just the right amounts of drama and comedy. Sadly, on December 31 of that same year, and barely a year since my father’s death, I heard on the radio that Pete was dead, possibly from a self-inflicted wound. I was crushed. It was losing another loved one all over again. But there was no one to talk to and cry with except one good friend at school. I’ve carried Pete’s memory and my love of him and the show all these years. To be honest, part of me wanted to kill myself back then so I could be with him. But I realized that wasn’t right. From reading the articles here about his life and struggles, things I had no idea of back then, I can understand the desperation he was probably feeling from both physical, mental, professional and personal struggles and his own perfectionism. I’ve lived with similar problems all my life, and I’m 60 years old now. It’s hard even with today’s therapy and medication, but there are still days I want to leave it all behind. I don’t believe suicide is a mortal sin. It is a sickness or culmination of a sickness the same as with cancer. I’m still sad for his family and friends. They are the ones who truly suffered from his loss. But I will always remember and love him in the only way I could. Thank you, Pete, for all the joy you brought to your fans. I pray you found peace and joy in the arms of the angels and that one day we will all be reunited in God’s love.
I also believe, based on what I’ve learned about his life recently and my own personal experiences, that yes, he probably was bipolar. If only he could have gotten proper treatment back then. I will always love that man.
I remember when I first read of Peters’ death. It was Friday morning, Dec. 31, 1971. I felt so sad and depressed. It was something I couldn’t talk about to many people. My mom and the others said “He was just a television actor.” But I didn’t see him that way. I loved everything about him–especially how he cared for the environment and for the oppressed. It was hard to understand how he could do what he did. It’s because of him that I became interested in helping others with depression and alcoholism. I learned a great deal about these things. Now I understand a lot better why he might have done what he did. It’s too bad we didn’t have the treatments for those things like we do now. I know he would have gone on to do more and greater things. But we can be thankful that we had him in our lives, at least for a little while. He is sorely missed!!
A beautiful light gone out way too soon. Forever remembered ,A beautiful being .So missed
I first fell. In love with Pete Duel when I saw him on a T .V show called Gidget starring Sally Field .Pete played her brother in law. Then he was in another show calledLove on the roof Top.. Were talking the 1070’s. So when I saw Pete on Alias Smith and Jones . I fell in love all over again. I mean Ben Murphy wasn’t chopped liver but Peter with those dimples and his beautiful smile. .i just know that when he died he took a large piece of a lot of us. Because I still love that man.