Skip Young
Young in The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet, 1962
Born
Ronald Bix Plumstead

(1930-03-14)March 14, 1930
San Francisco, California, U.S.
DiedMarch 17, 1993(1993-03-17) (aged 63)
Apple Valley, California, U.S.
Occupation(s)Film and television actor
Children1[1]

Ronald Bix Plumstead (March 14, 1930 – March 17, 1993) was an American film and television character actor. He was best known for playing "Wally Plumstead" in the American sitcom television series The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet from 1957 to 1966.[2] Skip Young appeared as George Allison in Father Knows Best episode "Bud Lives it Up" in 1960.

Life and career

Young was born in San Francisco, California.[1] He began his career at the age of four, when he appeared in two 1934 short films produced by Manhattan-based Van Beuren Studios: No More West with Bert Lahr and "A Little Bird Told Me", a film combing live-action and animation.[1] Young served as a photographer's mate in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War, attaining the rank of Petty Officer Third Class.[3] He later made his debut on television in 1952,[4] after spending eight years acting on radio.[5] In 1957, he won the role of Wally Plumstead, Rick's fraternity brother and best friend, on The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet, and remained on the show through its final season in 1966.[1]

Ozzie Nelson hired Plumstead for the role of Wally[6] after seeing him perform in "McDonald's Farm" at Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park, California.[6] Ozzie and Harriet's "Wally" was "Chubby" until Plumstead, Young's original surname, was added to "Wally".[6]

After the series ended, Young guest-starred in television programs including Green Acres, Custer, Adam-12, Starsky & Hutch and Growing Pains. He also appeared and co-starred in films such as A Cold Wind in August, WUSA, and Lobster Man from Mars. In 1973, Young moved to Apple Valley, California, where he lived near his only daughter.[4] He spent the rest of his life, as a radio personality on a radio talk show.[4] He was also a judge of beauty pageants[2] and cook-offs, participating in numerous community events.[4]

Death

Young died in March 1993 of natural causes, in which he also had complications from diabetes and heart disease,[1] at his home in Apple Valley, California, at the age of 63.[7][5] He was buried in Riverside National Cemetery.[7]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "'Ozzie and Harriet' Actor Dies at 63". The Deseret News. March 19, 1993. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
  2. 1 2 Associated Press (March 19, 1993). "Skip Young, Actor, 63". The New York Times. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
  3. ↑ Remembering Skip Young (Wally Plumstead on The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet) TV Banter. Retrieved May 11, 2023.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Skip Young; Co-Starred in 'Ozzie & Harriet'". Los Angeles Times. March 21, 1993. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
  5. 1 2 Variety Staff (March 18, 1993). "Skip Young of 'Ozzie & Harriet' dies". Variety. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
  6. 1 2 3 Holmes, John (September 28, 2021). The Adventures of Ozzie Nelson: The Life and Career of America's Favorite Pop. McFarland. pp. 178–179. ISBN 9781476643694 – via Google Books.
  7. 1 2 Wilson, Scott (August 22, 2016). Resting Places: The Burial Sites of More Than 14,000 Famous Persons, 3d ed. McFarland. p. 834. ISBN 9780786479924 – via Google Books.
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