David Ketchum | |
|---|---|
 Ketchum in Camp Runamuck, 1966 | |
| Born | (1928-02-04)February 4, 1928 Quincy, Illinois, U.S. |
| Died | August 10, 2025(2025-08-10) (aged 97) |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1960–1999 |
| Spouse |
Louise Bryant (m. 1957) |
| Children | 2 |
David Ketchum (February 4, 1928 – August 10, 2025) was an American actor and comedian, best known for his appearances in television sitcoms, including The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Camp Runamuck, and Get Smart.1: 386
Life and career
Ketchum was born on February 4, 1928, in Quincy, Illinois.2 He studied physics at UCLA and joined other UCLA students in entertaining military personnel around the world for the USO.3
Ketchum had a radio program for seven years in San Diego, California.4 On television, he portrayed Counselor Spiffy in Camp Runamuck.1 He was also a regular on I'm Dickens, He's Fenster, playing the role of Mel Warshaw.1: 496-497
In Get Smart, he played Agent 13, and was often seen in recurring jokes on the show hiding in unusual places such as mailboxes or fire hydrants.5 Ketchum reprised the role in the 1989 TV movie Get Smart Again as well as an episode of the 1995 revival of Get Smart on Fox. Ketchum also co-wrote one episode of the third season of the original series, titled "Classification: Dead."6 He also wrote scripts for other programs, including The Andy Griffith Show and Petticoat Junction.7
In 1962, his comedy album The Long-Playing Tongue of Dave Ketchum was released. Billboard gave it a 4-star prefix for strong sales potential.8
Films in which Ketchum appeared included Young Doctors in Love (1982) and The Other Sister (1999).2
Death
Ketchum married singer Louise Bryant in 1957 and had two daughters.910 He died of heart failure on August 10, 2025, in Thousand Oaks, California, at the age of 97. However, his death was not reported until August 22, 2025. 119
Selected filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1964 | Good Neighbor Sam | Dave – Hertz Commercial Actor | Uncredited |
| 1970 | The Grasshopper | Football Conventioner | – |
| 1971 | Bless the Beasts & Children | Camp Director | – |
| 1973 | Your Three Minutes Are Up | Mr. Kellogg | – |
| 1974 | Goodnight Jackie | Mr. Green | – |
| 1977 | The Curious Case of the Campus Corpse | Writer cameo | Also credited as writer |
| 1979 | The North Avenue Irregulars | Capt. Bamford | – |
| 1979 | Love at First Bite | Customs Inspector | – |
| 1979 | The Main Event | Photographer | – |
| 1982 | Young Doctors in Love | Balloon Man | Credited as Dave Ketchum |
| 1984 | Harold and His Amazing Green Plants | Broccoli (voice) | Short film |
| 1999 | The Other Sister | College Maintenance Man #2 | – |
Television
| Year(s) | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1960–1961 | The Spike Jones Show | Himself | 2 episodes |
| 1961 | Angel | Umpire / Repairman | 2 episodes |
| 1961 | The Jim Backus Show | Dorcy Howard | 1 episode |
| 1962–1963 | I’m Dickens, He’s Fenster | Mel Warshaw | 23 episodes |
| 1963 | The Real McCoys | Lou Hicks | 1 episode |
| 1964 | The Joey Bishop Show | Dr. Mar… / Floorwalker | 2 episodes |
| 1964 | The Tycoon | Worker | 1 episode |
| 1964 | The Jack Benny Program | Mr. Thrombry | 1 episode |
| 1965 | The Munsters | Master of Ceremonies | 1 episode |
| 1965 | Roger Ramjet | Announcer (voice) | 8 episodes |
| 1965–1966 | Camp Runamuck | Spiffy | 26 episodes |
| 1966–1967 | Hey, Landlord | Dr. Sand… / Haskell the Rascal / Wilson | 4 episodes |
| 1966–1967 | Get Smart | Agent 13 | 13 episodes |
| 1967 | The Andy Griffith Show | Fred Michaels / Harry Walker | 2 episodes |
| 1967 | Good Morning World | Henry Horn / Bert | 2 episodes |
| 1967 | The Carol Burnett Show | George | 1 episode |
| 1967 | Accidental Family | Mr. Jennings / Scott | 2 episodes |
| 1968 | Petticoat Junction | Buddy Buster | 1 episode |
| 1968 | Gomer Pyle: USMC | Sol Gordon | 1 episode |
| 1967–1971 | Green Acres | Photographer / Harvey Schmidlapp | 2 episodes |
| 1969–1970 | The Courtship of Eddie’s Father | Joe Kelly | 3 episodes |
| 1970 | The Mary Tyler Moore Show | Hal | 1 episode |
| 1968–1970 | That Girl | Man in Restaurant / Harry / Jack Packard | 3 episodes |
| 1970 | Arnie | Grant | 1 episode |
| 1969 | Mod Squad | Jake Barry | 1 episode |
| 1969 | Mayberry R.F.D. | Man | 1 episode |
| 1969–1973 | Love, American Style | Alfred | 4 episodes |
| 1972 | Call Holme | Sergeant Dobbs | TV movie |
| 1972–1973 | The ABC Saturday Superstar Movie | Various voices | 2 episodes |
| 1972 | The Partridge Family | Mr. Phelps | 1 episode |
| 1971 | The Odd Couple | Joe / The Cop | 2 episodes |
| 1971 | My Three Sons | Milton Baxter | 1 episode |
| 1971 | The New Dick Van Dyke Show | Fred Ross | 1 episode |
| 1973 | Thicker Than Water | – | 1 episode |
| 1974 | Maude | Herman Ellinger | 1 episode |
| 1975 | The Fireman’s Ball | Captain O’Hara | TV movie |
| 1976 | How to Break Up a Happy Divorce | Professor Schofield | TV movie |
| 1977 | Alice | Carl | 1 episode |
| 1978 | Mork & Mindy | The Salesman | 1 episode |
| 1974–1984 | Happy Days | Donald Hedg… / Coach Pelino / Lt. Col. Binicky | 5 episodes |
| 1986 | Perfect Strangers | Customer | 1 episode |
| 1989 | Get Smart, Again! | Agent 13 | TV movie |
| 1995 | Get Smart (revival) | Agent 13 | 1 episode |
References
References
- Terrace, Vincent (2011). Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 through 2010 (2nd ed.). Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. p. 155. ISBN 978-0-7864-6477-7.
- Leszczak, Bob (2014). The Odd Couple on Stage and Screen: A History with Cast and Crew Profiles and an Episode Guide. McFarland. p. 73. ISBN 9781476615394. Retrieved September 1, 2018.
- Foster, Bob (August 30, 1965). "TV Screenings". The Times. California, San Mateo. p. 17. Retrieved August 31, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Stars Helped Him, Now He Helps". Sioux City Journal. Iowa, Sioux City. December 5, 1965. p. 37. Retrieved August 31, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
- Snyder, Daniel (Director, Writer) (July 30, 2001). "Get Smart". Inside TV Land (Documentary). Season 2. Episode 2. 27:03 minutes in. TV Land.
{{cite episode}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - The Man in the Mailbox, retrieved October 4, 2020
- "Wacky 'Agent 13' Thrives on Role". Dayton Daily News. Ohio, Dayton. United Press International. April 25, 1967. p. 21. Retrieved August 31, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Review of New Albums". Billboard Music Week. Vol. 74, no. 7. Cincinnati, Ohio. February 17, 1962. p. 30. Retrieved May 15, 2018.
- Ziegler, Hannah (August 24, 2025). "David Ketchum, Who Played the Cooped-Up Agent 13 on 'Get Smart,' Dies at 97". The New York Times. Retrieved August 24, 2025.
- Carroll, Harrison (February 25, 1966). "Behind the Scenes in Hollywood". The Kokomo Morning Times. Indiana, Kokomo. p. 11. Retrieved August 31, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
- Barnes, Mike (August 22, 2025). "David Ketchum, the Cooped-Up Agent 13 on 'Get Smart,' Dies at 97". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 22, 2025.