Skip Young; Co-Starred in ‘Ozzie & Harriet’

Skip Young, who appeared as the usually inept Wally in the television series “The Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet,” has died at his home. He was 63.

Young was found by family members Wednesday morning, San Bernardino County Deputy Coroner Linda Myers said.

Myers said Young had been in ill health for several years “but death was very sudden.”

He died of a heart attack; diabetes was a contributing factor, she added.

Young, born Ronald Plumstead, played the character of Wally Plumstead from 1957 to 1966 on the ABC series. It starred real-life couple Ozzie and Harriet Nelson and their sons, David and Ricky.

In the show, the Nelson clan typically would save Wally from various misadventures, many of his own making and most involving girls.

“He was jovial, lovable. He was that kind of imp,” said his friend Buck Buchanan, who played a neighborhood kid on the show. “If he had been born earlier, he would have been Spanky McFarland. He always had a joke and he was always laughing. He was a very nice man.”

“Ozzie & Harriet,” one of TV’s longest-running family comedies, debuted on TV in 1952 after eight years on radio. The show ended in 1966, but reruns are still seen in syndication.

Young moved to Apple Valley in 1973 and was living near his daughter.

In 1987, he was host of a local radio station talk show and was active in community events ranging from beauty pageants to chili cook-offs.