David Piel Biography

David Joseph Piel (1923 – May 6, 2004) was an American television director, producer and actor, best famous for his contributions to children's television programming, in particular, the nearly 50 limited animation "Story Films" he produced and directed for Captain Kangaroo. He also directed the first scr

Career Highlights

Piel was known as a grandson of Piels Beer founder Michael Piel, and the younger brother of science writer and publisher Gerard Piel. == Early life and career == A native of New York City, who was born in 1923, Piel was raised there and in Salisbury, Connecticut, the youngest son of opera singer Loretto Scott and Piels beer president William F.J. Piel. He attended The Taft School and Yale, graduating in 1947. Completion of Piel's collegiate studies was delayed by the nation's entry into World War II, in which he served with the United States Marines, although not as a combatant. Spared that fate by substandard eyesight, Piel nonetheless saw plenty of action and helped fellow Americans do the same, serving as war correspondent and sometime-sketch artist, most notably at Okinawa (the battle codenamed Operation Iceberg), one of the Pacific campaign's most costly ventures. One of his series of sketches—tracing a wounded compatriot's journey, from battlefield trauma to hospital bed—was later used to elicit blood donations from those on the home front. In August 1948, Boxoffice reported that Piel and two fellow New Yorkers had launched the multi-media production company, Ray Films. However, by the fall of 1949, he was residing in Reno, Nevada, where, while taking that city's proverbial "cure" for his maternally arranged first marriage, Piel had found employment—initially as an announcer, and later a reporter—at radio station KOLO. In August 1953, the San Antonio Light's pseudonymous gossip columnist—one of the field's many Cholly Knickerbockers—informed readers that the still relatively little known Piel—here identified as "the Piel heir"—had "some TV deals brewing". News of this particular Piel heir next emerged on Christmas Day, 1955, courtesy of Bridgeport Post reporter Betty Tayler. "Harold has been so well received that Johnson already is working on a sequel, and on an animated cartoon, to be produced by David Piel and released by Movie House." By April of the following year, the New York Herald Tribune had noted both the formation of David Piel Inc. and the fact that its founder was the "creator, producer, and director" of the "charming new 'Story Films' seen on CBS-TV's children's shows [and currently] enjoying second and third runs on the network's 'Captain Kangaroo' show". In October 1957, Piel's finished version of Harold and the Purple Crayon was screened—and, reportedly, "loved"—by both Johnson himself and his wife and frequent collaborator Ruth Krauss, as well as several representatives of Harper Books, who hoped to publish a paperback edition of the book, concurrent with the film's release. The film was ultimately released by Brandon Films in 1959. Piel's notable acting credits include the Broadway production of Joseph Heller's We Bombed in New Haven, and as the briefly seen, quickly befuddled, and promptly pied-to-death security guard—in 1988's Killer Klowns From Outer Space. == Personal life and death == Piel's 1946 marriage to Leslie Semple Fellner—arranged, as had been the initial marriage of each of his older siblings, by their mother—ended in divorce three years later. Within days, he was married to German-born writer, Hedwig "Hedy" Seligsohn, who would later become Vice President of David Piel, Inc., and also co-writer—along with Chet Gierlach and Leonard Whitcup—of the titular theme song of Big Mac and His Magic Train. The marriage produced two children, a daughter, Candida, and a son, Geoffrey. On May 2, 1980, in Burlington, Vermont, Piel married Doloris Rudolph, née Adams. They later moved to San Francisco's Marina District, and, in 1991, to Carson City, Nevada, where, in 1993, his Pogonip & Mule Ears : A Souvenir Book, was published. On May 6, 2004, Piel died following a brief illness at his home in Carson City, at age 80, He was survived by his wife, Dee, and stepchildren John and Paula Randolph == Notes == == References == == Further reading == Jemail, Jimmy (August 21, 1951). "The Inquiring Fotographer – The Question: What are your chances of going to Heaven when you die? The Place: Along Lexington Avenue". p. 25. "David J. Piel, picture producer: 'My chances are pretty slim because I can't play a harp and don't possess a flowing white robe. However, if St. Peter relents and lets me in, I certainly wouldn't want to do your job up above. What question could you possibly ask six angels?'" Adams, Val (New York Times New Service). "NBC Plans Series for Children". The Atlanta Constitution. August 18, 1955. p. 32. "Golden Time will contain story telling by live performers, animated dramatizations and special instructive material of a do-it-yourself nature. The host for the series will be A character called the Golden Wizard, otherwise known as Mr. G. Wiz. He will be portrayed by Dickie Beals. The network has proposed fall debut for the program. It would be weekly feature on either Saturday or Sunday mornings. The production staff now at work on Golden Time includes Arthur (Shimkin of Simon & Schuster. David Piel, motion picture director associated with Science Pictures, and Roger Muir, NBC producer. Mitch Miller of Columbia Records will be the musical director of the new series. The Aluminum Co. of America has purchased the time period to be relinquished by Philco Television Playhouse on the NBC network after Oct. 2." "Piel Will Tell Engineers About Animated Cartoons". Daily Press. January 12, 1958. p. 10c. "AM Radio Highlights". New York Daily News. October 14, 1964. p. 95. "12:00 Mid. — WNBC Long John Nebel Show: David Piel, Will Oursler, Roy Schatt, Richard Plechner, 'The Hanky-Panky of Politics'" == External links == David Piel at IMDb David J. Piel at IMDb David Piel at the Internet Broadway Database "Piel, David Joseph, 1923-2004". Archives at Yale.

Net Worth

Estimated at $10,000,000 as of 2026.