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Pete Duel: A Biography
Actor Pete Duel, most widely known for his starring role as outlaw Hannibal Heyes in television's Alias Smith and Jones, led an unpredictable and often tumultuous life, ending in a highly publicized 1971 suicide at the height of his television celebrity. This extensive biography delves beyond such familiar events as Duel's career and death to reveal more personal aspects, including his political involvement and environmental activism. Organized chronologically, the biography includes interviews with Duel's closest family and friends, complete episode guides for his work on TV's Gidget and Alias Smith and Jones and an extensive filmography.
- GenresBiography
229 pages, Paperback
First published May 17, 2007
12 people are currently reading
26 people want to read
About the author
Paul Green
9 books3 followersBorn Lincoln, England. Three years at Oldham Art College led to employment at World Distributors in Manchester working on numerous TV related book titles. Freelance for various publishers including Marvel, DC and Whitman-Golden Books U.S.A. and animated projects for BBC and ITV. I emigrated to the U.S.A. in 2002.
Published work:
Green's Guide to Collecting TV, Music and Comic Book Annuals (2000)
A History of Television’s The Virginian 1962-1971 (2006 Hardback; 2009 Softcover edition)
Pete Duel : A Biography (2007; 2009 Large Print edition; 2015 Second Edition)
Encyclopedia of Weird Westerns (2009; 2016 Second Edition)
Jennifer Jones: The Life and Career (2011)
Roy Huggins: Creator of Maverick, 77 Sunset Strip, The Fugitive and The Rockford Files (2014)
Jeffrey Hunter: The Film, Television, Radio and Stage Performances (2014)
Encyclopedia of Weird War Stories (2016)
Encyclopedia of Weird Detectives (2019)
Published work:
Green's Guide to Collecting TV, Music and Comic Book Annuals (2000)
A History of Television’s The Virginian 1962-1971 (2006 Hardback; 2009 Softcover edition)
Pete Duel : A Biography (2007; 2009 Large Print edition; 2015 Second Edition)
Encyclopedia of Weird Westerns (2009; 2016 Second Edition)
Jennifer Jones: The Life and Career (2011)
Roy Huggins: Creator of Maverick, 77 Sunset Strip, The Fugitive and The Rockford Files (2014)
Jeffrey Hunter: The Film, Television, Radio and Stage Performances (2014)
Encyclopedia of Weird War Stories (2016)
Encyclopedia of Weird Detectives (2019)
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
April 5, 2019
I found this book really interesting. I have loved this man since watching Alias and Jones in 1970 and had always wondered what drove him to kill himself. Over 30 years later I purchased a copy of this book and found some answers - enough to stop me wondering. This book is about Pete's life told through interviews with his sister, girlfriends and friends. It is packed with photographs of Pete - his beautiful smile. If you are a real fan of Pete's you will cherish this book as it will give you an understanding of the battles he fought. I still love him and always will.
May 5, 2019
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.
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.
February 20, 2010
As a teenager I was a big fan of 'Alias Smith and Jones', and I've also enjoyed watching old episodes on DVD recently, so, when I spotted this book at the library, I picked it up and read it straight away. However, to be honest I didn't think it was all that well written - it seems to be rather like the raw materials for a book at times, with notes of interviews, and it keeps jumping around. I did find it interesting all the same, and it certainly comes across from this account just how deeply troubled Pete Duel was in his all-too short life.
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November 17, 2025Fair and respectful. Painted Duel as a nuanced human being. Not just a sinner or a saint.
June 10, 2022
I read this book because I went to high school with Pete Duel. I had a teenage crush on him. I liked reading about familiar places of my childhood in Penfield, NY. Beyond that ....the book was awful. If this book was only for his family to chronicle Pete's life and achievements ...OK....but, for me it was boring. I did learn about what a sad life he led....forget about his successes.....his psychological side was painful. I do not recommend this book to my friends or anyone without a close relationship to Peter Duel.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews