Ronnie Schell

Born in Richmond, California on December 23, 1931, and raised there, light comedian Ronnie Schell's first choice of careers was to play professional baseball. He got as far as the semis before enlisting in the United States Air Force, where he performed as an emcee and comic in variety shows. Ronnie studied at San Francisco State University and formed a nightclub comedy duo. He then turned solo and perfected his routine at the popular nightclub The Purple Onion. During his college senior year in 1958, he received a major boost when he toured as an opening act for the highly popular The Kingston Trio. This break led to the gradual rise of a family-oriented comedy career that earned him the eventual title of "America's Slowest-Rising Comedian." Down the road Ronnie would serve to open for several stars, including Andy Griffith and Don Knotts, on the Las Vegas strip, at Lake Tahoe casinos and other notable niteries. TV finally opened its doors to him in 1964 and an acting career was bor