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Actor David Schall, who mixed religion with his work, dies at 53
Wednesday April 16, 2003LOS ANGELES (AP) David Schall, who started the Actors Co-op theater troupe in Hollywood and ran programs aimed at helping Christians succeed in the entertainment world, has died. He was 53.
Schall had a heart attack in his car outside the First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood on Friday, church officials said. He was taken by ambulance to Queen of Angels Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Schall was scheduled to appear on stage that day, playing Anton Chekhov's professor Serebryakov on the opening night of Actors Co-op's production of ``Uncle Vanya.''
Born in Ford City, Pa., Schall graduated from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and decided to follow his dream of acting in 1976. He started in New York where he took seminary courses before moving to Los Angeles in 1986.
Torn between his religion and his career, Schall decided to pursue both by founding the Actors Co-op and establishing the Inter-Mission, both in 1987. The mission's goal is to help Christians across the country network in the entertainment industry and channel their faith into their creative work.
Although Actors Co-op members must be practicing Christians, Schall said he learned early on, after critics dismissed the first two productions as overly dogmatic, that the company had to tone the message and program down for a general audience.
Among his TV credits were roles in ``L.A. Law,'' ``Murder, She Wrote'' and a turn as a minister presiding at a funeral in an ``ER'' episode scheduled to run May 1.
He is survived by his parents, Fred and Grace Schall of Ford City; a sister; and two brothers.
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