Richard B. Shull

Richard B. Shull (born Richard Bruce Shull on February 24, 1929) was an American character actor whose career spanned more than three decades on stage, screen, and television. Born in Evanston, Illinois, he was the son of Zana Marie (née Brown), a court stenographer, and Ulysses Homer Shull, a manufacturing executive. After graduating from York High School in Elmhurst and studying at the University of Iowa, Shull served in the United States Army before entering the theatrical world as a stage manager. He became a member of the historic Lambs club in 1963, later serving on its council and remaining an active participant until his death. His Broadway breakthrough came with the 1970 production of Minnie's Boys, and he earned Tony and Drama Desk nominations for his performance in Goodtime Charley, where he famously sang the duet "Merci, Bon Dieu." Additional stage credits include Fools, The Front Page, A Flea in Her Ear, and the iconic Victor/Victoria.

Shull’s screen résumé encompasses thirty feature films, among them The Anderson Tapes (1971), Klute (1971), Splash (1984), Garbo Talks (1984), and Private Parts (1997). Television appearances were equally prolific, ranging from guest spots on Love, American Style, Ironside, Good Times, The Rockford Files, and Lou Grant to a memorable role as the rival restaurateur Barney in Alice. He also portrayed a judge in Billy Joel’s 1984 music video “Keeping the Faith” and appeared in a Tales from the Darkside episode. Beyond acting, Shull wrote the 1960 play Fenton’s Folly, contributed the story for Aroused (1966), and co‑authored Pamela, Pamela You Are… (1968). A passionate historian, he co‑founded the North American Araucanian Royalist Society in 1995 and was an invested member of The Baker Street Irregulars. Known for his love of the 1940s—collecting period clothing, a 1949 Chevrolet, and even a personal railcar—Shull remained an eccentric and beloved figure until his death from a heart attack on October 14, 1999, while performing in the Broadway play Epic Proportions.