David Ketchum, a character actor and comedian, was born in Quincy, Illinois, to Cecil Estel Ketchum and Flora M. Mueller. He was reportedly born in an elevator, which might have prepared him for his future roles involving tight spaces. However, in his own words, the hardest part for him was when he was put in a washing machine as Agent 13, as he is six-foot-two and it was a very cramped space.
Ketchum started out majoring in physics at UCLA with plans of becoming an electrical engineer, but he became curious about what makes people laugh and joined a group of fellow students on the USO circuit to entertain GI's serving abroad. With the help of Bob Hope and Doris Day, he then hosted his own radio show in San Diego, which was on air for seven years.
Ketchum made his television debut in 1961 and went on to have a successful career in television. His first regular role was as Mel Warshaw, the inept carpenter, in the ABC sitcom I'm Dickens, He's Fenster. He then starred as Senior Counselor Spiffy in the family comedy Camp Runamuck, and had guest appearances on other shows.
In addition to his work as an actor, Ketchum was also a prolific screenwriter. He wrote for several TV shows, including Get Smart, Here's Lucy, Barefoot in the Park, Happy Days, Laverne & Shirley, The Six Million Dollar Man, T.J. Hooker, and MacGyver. He was a co-nominee for a Writer's Guild of America Award for his work on the M*A*S*H episode 'Tuttle'.
Ketchum has been married to the singer Louise Bryant since 1957.
