Remembering Peter Haskell

On April 12, 2010, we were saddened to learn of the passing of Peter Haskell. A prolific character actor and beloved friend of Retroland, he will be sorely missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing him and his family over the years. Haskell was 75.

It would be a near-impossible task to tell you everything Peter Haskell appeared in on television. His resume, which can be viewed here, lists dozens of hit series that he appeared on – everything from The Fugitive and Hawaii Five-O to Charlie’s Angels and The A-Team (where he made an appearance with Isaac Hayes and Rick James).

Haskell was one of the lead actors in the 1969 television series, Bracken’s World, spent a season on the daytime soap, Ryan’s Hope, and starred as the CEO of the company that manufactured evil Chucky dolls in Child’s Play 2 and Child’s Play 3. In recent years, he appeared on a memorable Christmas episode of Frasier, as well as JAG and The Closer. And in one of his last television roles, he appeared in the final episode of ER, humorously playing an elderly man who suffers some unexpected consequences as a result of taking Viagra.

Here are a couple of classic retro clips of Peter Haskell. The first is an episode of The Fugitive.

And now, a wonderful clip from The Mary Tyler Moore Show:

Peter’s talents entertained millions that didn’t know him. For those who did, however, he will be remembered for his kindness, his wit and his wisdom. Please help us celebrate the life and career of our friend Peter Haskell at Retroland. And if you would like to share some of your own memories, we welcome your comments.