William Schallert dead: Patty Duke’s TV dad and actors’ union leader was 93

William Schallert

William Schallert, right, played Patty Duke’s father on “The Patty Duke Show.”

(Video still)

William Schallert, a veteran TV performer and Hollywood union leader who played Patty Duke’s father — and uncle — on television and led a long, contentious strike for actors, has died.

Schallert died Sunday at his home in Pacific Palisades, California, said his son, Edwin. He was 93.

Though usually seen in secondary roles, Schallert’s lean, friendly face was familiar to baby boomers for roles in two classic sitcoms — as a teacher to Dwayne Hickman and his pals in “The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis” and as the dad in “The Patty Duke Show.”

“The Patty Duke Show” (1963-1966) was challenging for Duke, who had already achieved stardom on Broadway as the young Helen Keller in “The Miracle Worker” and repeated the role in the film, winning her a supporting actress Oscar. (Duke died in March at age 69.)

In the television series she played a double role, as Patty Lane, a typical American teenager, and as her cultured cousin, Cathy, who lives with Patty’s family. Cathy was newly arrived from overseas, where, the theme song told viewers, she “adores a minuet, the Ballets Russes and crepes suzette.” Patty just likes rock ‘n’ roll and hot dogs.