Richard B. Shull, a veteran character actor, was born on February 24, 1929, in Evanston, Illinois, and spent his childhood in the Midwest.
He attended the University of Iowa, followed by a stint in the U.S. Army in 1953.
After his military service, Shull found work as a stage manager before making his Broadway debut in the Marx Brothers musical bio "Minnie's Boys" starring Shelley Winters in 1970.
With his hangdog demeanor, puffy features, and bemused manner, Shull proved an excellent scene stealer in comedy roles and transitioned seamlessly into film and television in mid-career.
His early film appearances included the obscure "Watch the Birdie" in 1965, followed by regular roles in movies 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),"House Sitter" (1992),"Trapped in Paradise" (1994),and "Private Parts" (1997) with Howard Stern.
On television, Shull was best known for his title role in the short-lived series "Holmes and Yoyo" (1976),playing Detective Alexander Holmes opposite John Schuck as Yoyo, a robotic cop.
Throughout his career, Shull received numerous accolades, including a Tony nomination for his work on the Broadway production of "Goodtime Charlie" in 1975 and an off-Broadway Obie award for his performance in "The Marriage of Bette and Boo" (1985).
Shull was married four times and was appearing in the stage production of "Epic Proportions" in New York when he suffered a fatal heart attack on October 14, 1999, at the age of 70.
