Peter was an admirer of the Welsh poet, Dylan Thomas, keeping a copy of his works on his bookshelves at home.
Peter's two dogs, Carol and Shoshone made a brief guest appearance in the episode 'The Posse That Wouldn't Quit'.
Less than three weeks before his death, Peter told Los Angeles Times TV Editor, Cecil Smith, "That series, this series, any series is a big fat drag to an actor who has any interest in his work. It's the ultimate trap. You slowly lose any artistic thing you may have. It's utterly destructive. And you stay tired all the time ... It isn't the work that tires you, it's that it's all such a dreadful bore that it makes you weary, weary... "
During the filming of the 'Alias Smith And Jones' episode "Smiler With A Gun" Peter collapsed on the set with pneumonia, and he was taken to hospital.
Peter loved writing poetry, and a piece of his own poetry entitled 'Life' was read out at his funeral in Penfield, New York at the request of his parents.
When the role in 'Alias Smith And Jones' was offered to him, Peter had already said no to two previous series. If he had declined again, Universal Studios, with whom he had a seven year contract, would have suspended him, which would have meant that he would be getting no money and would be unable to work elsewhere. He very reluctantly accepted, but he really preferred meaty guest roles in other people's series.
Peter was the son of Doctor Ellsworth (Bob) and Lillian Deuel. He was the eldest of three children, having a younger brother Geoffrey and a sister Pamela.
Peter was interested in the environment and ecology long before it became fashionable, and would never use throw away plastic cups on the set of 'Alias Smith And Jones' . He always insisted on re-usable glass or china.
Before he became an actor, Pete Duel had ambitions of becoming an Air Force pilot, but failed the medical when he was found to have 20/30 vision rather than the normal 20/20 vision. He also suffered from a very mild form of epilepsy, and this may have been another reason for his non-acceptance as a pilot.
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