Geoffrey Deuel, Who Played Billy the Kid in ‘Chisum,’ Dies at 81

by

As a gamer who has spent countless hours immersed in the wild west of video games, I can’t help but feel a pang of nostalgia upon hearing about the passing of Geoffrey Deuel. His portrayal of Billy the Kid in “Chisum” was one of those performances that truly brought the rugged, lawless era to life on the silver screen.

81-year-old Geoffrey Deuel, the younger sibling of the late ‘Alias Smith and Jones’ actor Peter Duel, who played the legendary outlaw Billy the Kid in the film ‘Chisum’ alongside John Wayne, has passed away.

On Sunday, Deuel passed away in hospice care located in Largo, Florida, following a prolonged struggle against COPD. This was confirmed by his wife, Jacqueline Deuel, to The Hollywood Reporter.

From the mid-1960s to the mid-’70s, Deuel made frequent appearances on numerous television series such as The Monkees, The Invaders, The FBI, The Flying Nun, Medical Center, Mannix, Adam-12, The Mod Squad, Mission: Impossible, The Streets of San Francisco, Ironside, Cannon, and The Young and the Restless, to name a few.

In his first film appearance, Deuel made his mark in the initial credits of Andrew V. McLaglen’s movie “Chisum” (1970). A critic from The New York Times noted that he left a memorable impression as a notably vengeful Billy the Kid. This year, Screen Rant placed his portrayal of Billy among the top 10 best in the outlaw’s cinematic history.

Peter Duel was known for portraying the outlaw character Hannibal Heyes (or Joshua Smith) on the humorous ABC series “Alias Smith and Jones,” which started airing in January 1971. Sadly, he passed away on New Year’s Eve that same year at his Hollywood Hills residence due to a self-inflicted gunshot wound, halfway through the show’s second season.

“You don’t ever get over a shock like that,” Geoffrey said in a 2018 interview.

As a gamer, me and my buddy Pete were like two peas in a pod. We shared an unspoken bond, always having each other’s backs. Our friendship was more than just gaming; it was a mutual love and care that transcended the virtual world.

Geoffrey Jacob Deuel hailed from the town of Lockport, New York, born on January 17, 1943. He spent his childhood in the neighboring community of Penfield. His dad, Ellsworth, was a practicing physician, and his mother, Lillian, was a dedicated nurse.

Following my education at Penfield High School, Ithaca College, and Syracuse University, Deuel moved to Hollywood in 1965, making his debut on the 1966 episode of ABC’s “12 O’Clock High”.

In February 1971, Geoffrey and a man three years his senior collaborated on an episode for NBC’s show titled The Name of the Game.

During the 1980s, Deuel acted in local plays in the Ybor City area of Tampa and later went on to pursue a master’s degree at the University of South Florida. For many years, he served as a substitute teacher.

Besides his wife, who he had been with for 40 years before their marriage in 2017, his surviving relatives also include his younger sister named Pamela.

Read More

2024-12-26 23:54