Who did Geoffrey Deuel play in 'The Young and the Restless'? Actor known for 'Chisum' passes away at 81
Television actor Geoffrey Deuel, who starred in Chisum, has passed away at 81. The actor's wife Jacqueline Deuel confirmed the news with The Hollywood Reporter, adding that he died on Sunday, December 22, 2024, while in hospice care in Largo, Florida.
Geoffrey is best rememebred for playing Dave Campbell in The Young and the Restless, a CBS soap opera, from 1973 to 1977.
He suffered from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Jacqueline later shared a post on Facebook, writing:
"This is Jacqueline, Geoffrey’s wife. At midnight last night Geoffrey passed away and is with Peter. God took my "knight in shining armor" gently."
Jacqueline is referencing Geoffrey Deuel's older brother Peter Deuel, the late actor who played the outlaw Hannibal Heyes/Joshua Smith on ABC Western, Alias Smith and Jones.
Peter died by suicide (gunshot wound to the head) in December 1971. Jacqueline told The Hollywood Reporter:
"He and Peter were very close They really loved each other and took care of each other."
ScreenRant ranked Geoffrey Deuel's itiration of Billy the Kid as the 10th best
According to an article on Deadline, Geoffrey Deuel was born on January 17, 1943 in Lockport, New York, to Ellsworth, a doctor father and Lillian, a nurse. He grew up in Penfield and attended the Penfield High School. He graduated with degrees from Ithaca College and later Syracuse University.
Inspired by his brother, Geoffrey left for Hollywood in 1965. The actor made his on-screen debut on the military drama series Twelve O'Clock High in 1966.
Over the next few years, Deuel appeared in smaller roles in TV shows like he Monkees, The Invaders, Mod Squad, and Occasional Wife.
Geoffrey Deuel's breakout role came in the John Wayne starrer Chisum in 1970. Deuel received much praise for his performance. Howard Thompson of The New York Times wrote that the actor "cut a personable swath" as the vengeful outlaw Billy the Kid.
In May 2024, ScreenRant ranked Geoffrey's Billy the Kid among their top 10 iterations onscreen.
Some of Deuel's other film credits include Terminal Island, Amateur Night, To Rome With Love, and The Chinese Caper.
Geoffrey worked with his brother Peter on NBC’s The Name of the Game in February 1973. Recalling Peter's death, Deuel told Dottie Coffman in 2018 that:
"You don’t ever get over a shock like that."
Geoffrey Deuel's obituary on Everloeved.com, read:
"Geoffrey Deuel lived a prosperous life distinguished by his notable accomplishments, the love he gave, and the love he received from those around him. His kindness, his significant contributions to the acting world, and his caring personality will forever echo in the hearts of the many lives he touched."
According to the Hollywood Reporter, in the 1980s, the actor performed plays in a neighborhood in Tampa, Florida, and later taught as a substitute teacher. He even earned a degre masters degree from University of South Florida.
Geoffrey married his partner of 40 years, Jacqueline in 2017. He is survived by his wife and younger sister, Pamela.
