Book Reviewed: Pete Duel: A Biography, by Paul Green

The loveable outlaw

I am fascinated with the life and work of actor Pete Duel. His television performance in the TV series “Alias Smith and Jones” is fascinating to his fans. It is a cool and collective role as a loveable cowboy. He was a master of his craft who was able to make us believe he was the wise­cracking reformed outlaw in the light-hearted TV western that earned him recognition and respect from his peers. He was heading on an upward curve but became obvious that his definition of success was at odds with society's definition. Deuel had both wealth and fame but wasn't happy. He felt more like a commodity than a success; owned by Universal Studios in a seven-year contract that still had over two years to run at the time of his death.

In interviews Deuel expressed his frustrations; in 1971 he felt he should have gravitated to more meaningful roles in feature length movies. His weekly television show with a work schedule that left little time for relaxation. But he enjoyed working with respected fellow actors and close friends like actress Sally Fields and Judy Carne. He was a man of many faces. He could be a charmer with a winning dimple. But he did not maintain perfection in his private life. He abused alcohol obsessively and transformed himself into a verbally abusive and confrontational personality, resulting in a string of DUI convictions. He literally became a Jekyll and Hyde character, according to his female friends. Duel lived in a time when an actor who suffered from depression and addiction couldn't talk openly about their personal problems. It was a sign of weakness. Unable to bring his own mood swings, he lost his sense of psychological balance and became alienated from friends of his life. With the passing of his beloved grandmother in the summer of 1971 and his fascination with handguns, the result was tragic.

During his acting career, he developed a deep connection with spirituality through his beliefs in Self-Realization Fellowship (SRF) based on the teachings of Bhagavad-Gita. SRF teaches that the purpose of life is the self-evolution, through self-effort, a human’s limited mortal consciousness transcends into God Consciousness. His funeral services were held at the Pacific Palisades temple in California. Pete Duel also became involved in politics during latter part of his life. He participated in the primaries for the 1968 presidential election and campaigned for Eugene McCarthy. He strongly opposed the Vietnam War.

His fellow actors Ben Murphy and close friend Sally Fields did not attend Duel’s funeral services. In fact, much of this book devote on many of Duel’s friends and acquaintances but rarely mentions Murphy. The author blames easy availability of guns and Duel did not get better treatment from studios he worked for. The reading at the end becomes dry and unenthusiastic.