Pete Duel, That Dark Haired Cowboy Quiz

Answer: Ellstrom

Peter Ellstrom Deuel (actual spelling) got his middle name from his mother's maiden name. When Pete hit Hollywood he dropped the extra 'e' in his last name.

Answer: February 24, 1940

Peter Ellstrom Deuel was the eldest of three children born to Dr. Ellsworth Shaut Deuel and Lillian Marcella Ellstrom Deuel. Pete had a younger brother Geoffrey who was also an actor, and a sister Pamela who was a Christian music singer.

Answer: True

Pete was billed as only the "first man" and had lines in two scenes. Duel's performance was good enough to catch the eye of producer William Sackheim, who would settle for no one, but Duel for his series "Love on a Rooftop" (1966).

Answer: True

Pete played the square John Cooper, husband of Gidget's sister Anne. Duel and his co-star Sally Field were great friends throughout his life. Contrary to popular belief, Duel's relationship with Sally Field was only platonic.

Answer: Love On A Rooftop

Pete co-starred with his then girlfriend Judy Carne, but audiences didn't warm to the series and it was cancelled in 1967. Filmed in San Francisco, Pete played an architect who marries an art student, played by Carne. This sit-com couple lived on a rooftop with no windows. Shortly after the series was cancelled, Carne & Duel's relationship fizzled as well.

Answer: True

Duel's audition was nothing short of perfection. Duel was the only actor considered for the part of Hannibal out of hundreds of auditioning actors.

Answer: Hannibal Heyes

Pete portrayed Hannibal Heyes, the fun loving, wise cracking outlaw up until his death. After Pete's death, Roger Davis tried to fill that spot, but "Alias Smith And Jones" (1971) never recovered and was cancelled.

Answer: Mother

Duel played Roger Nastili, an aphasic patient struggling to learn how to speak again after a tragic car wreck. With this one word, Duel showed yet another side of his acting abilities, one that garnered him many accolades from his peers and tabloids alike.

Answer: suicide by gunshot

According to reports, Pete had been upbeat earlier that day and was planning to watch his show on television that night. Diane Ray, his girlfriend at the time was in the apartment at the time of death. Diane was in bed when she heard the shot. It was she that found Pete dead and called the police. The death was eventually ruled a suicide.

Answer: December 31, 1971

Whether it was an accident or intentional we will never know. Pete did not leave a suicide note, nor did he purportedly appear despondent the day of his death. At least we have re-runs.