The comedic actor also penned episodes of &34;MacGyver,&34; &34;The Love Boat,&34; &34;Laverne & Shirley,&34; &34;MASH,&34; and &34;Full House.&34; David Ketchu

The comedic actor also penned episodes of "MacGyver," "The Love Boat," "Laverne & Shirley," "MAS*H," and "Full House."

David Ketchum, best known as Agent 13 on Get Smart, dies at 97

The comedic actor also penned episodes of "MacGyver," "The Love Boat," "Laverne & Shirley," "M*A*S*H," and "Full House."

By Jessica Wang

Jessica is a staff writer at , where she covers TV, movies, and pop culture. Her work has appeared in Bustle, NYLON, Cosmopolitan, InStyle, and more. She lives in California with her dog.

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Published on August 22, 2025 06:53PM EDT

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David Ketchum in a promotional photo for the unsold ABC pilot 'Where's the Fire?' circa 1975. Credit:

Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty

David Ketchum, the prolific television writer and comedic actor best known for his role as the hapless Agent 13 on the cult 1965 sitcom *Get Smart*, died Aug. 10. He was 97.

The Ventura County Medical Examiner's Office confirmed Ketchum's death to PEOPLE. The office did not immediately respond to **'s request for comment on Friday.

Ketchum made his TV debut in 1961, appearing on episodes of such programs as *The Jim Backus Show* and *The Munsters* before joining season 2 of *Get Smart* in 1966 as Agent 13, a character whose signature became finding himself stationed in tight, uncomfortable spaces — mailboxes, fire hydrants, etc. — while undercover for assignments.

David Ketchum on 'Get Smart'.

"The hardest part for me was when they put Agent 13 in a washing machine," Ketchum recalled in a 2002 interview. I'm 6′2″, so I can't fit easily into cramped places, and a washing machine is about as cramped as it gets. They also built an 8-ft. tube I got into so I could be spun around in the front. You try remembering your lines while you're spinning around with water and soap squirting in your face!"**

The series, created by Mel Brooks and Buck Henry, concluded a five-season run in 1970. Ketchum reprised the role in the 1989 TV movie *Get Smart, Again! *as well as the short-lived 1995 revival.

*Get Smart *got a big screen remake, starring Steve Carell, Anne Hathaway, in 2008, with Bill Murray in the role of the beloved Agent 13.**

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Ketchum's expansive TV credits also include memorable turns as Mel Warshaw on *I'm Dickens, He's Fenster *and Spiffy on *Camp Runamuck*; as well as guest spots on iconic sitcoms *The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Green Acres, The Odd Couple, The Partridge Family, Maude, Mork & Mindy*, and* Happy Days.*

Behind the camera, Ketchum wrote episodes of *Full House, MacGyver, The Love Boat, Lottery!, Laverne & Shirley, T.J. Hooker, M*A*S*H, Here's Lucy, The Bionic Woman, Wonder Woman, The Six Million Dollar Man, *and even *Get Smart*. He also appeared in the films *Good Neighbor Sam, The Grasshopper, Goodnight Jackie, Love at First Bite, Young Doctors in Love, *and *The Other Sister.*

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Dave Ketchum on 'Camp Runamuck'.

Courtesy Everett

Ketchum is survived by his wife, Louise, and their two daughters Nicole and Wendy.

The actor "leaves behind a legacy of laughter, warmth and timeless television moments — reminding us all that sometimes, the simplest surprise (like someone perched in a mailbox) can yield the biggest smile," his family said in a statement to *The Hollywood Reporter.***

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