Biographie
Richard B. Shull, a seasoned character actor, was born on February 24, 1929, in Evanston, Illinois, and grew up in the Midwest. He attended the University of Iowa before serving in the U.S. Army in 1953. After his military service, he worked as a stage manager and made his Broadway debut in 1970 in the Marx Brothers musical biography "Minnie's Boys," which starred Shelley Winters. Known for his hangdog expression, rounded features, and bemused demeanor, Shull became a standout in comedic roles, smoothly transitioning into film and television during his mid-career.
His film debut came with the little-known Watch the Birdie (1965), but it was from 1971 onward that he gained recognition with roles in films such as The Anderson Tapes (1971), Klute (1971), Made for Each Other (1971), Slither (1973), Hail (1972), Hearts of the West (1975), The Big Bus (1976), Splash (1984), Garbo Talks (1984), Housesitter (1992), Trapped in Paradise (1994), and his final film, Private Parts (1997), alongside Howard Stern. On television, he was perhaps best remembered for his lead role as Detective Alexander Holmes in the short-lived and quirky series Holmes and Yoyo (1976), starring opposite John Schuck as Yoyo, a robotic police officer.
Shull earned a Tony nomination for his Broadway performance in "Goodtime Charlie" in 1975. His later theater work featured notable productions like "The Marriage of Bette and Boo" (1985), which earned him an off-Broadway Obie Award, and the popular 1995 revival of "Victor/Victoria," starring Julie Andrews. Married four times, Shull was performing in the stage play "Epic Proportions" in New York when he died of a heart attack on October 14, 1999, at the age of 70.
