He continued to work off and on through the 1960s. In 1950 he appeared with Jackie Gleason on the early TV variety hour "Cavalcade of Stars". His last theatrical films were two slapstick short films for Columbia Pictures, filmed in 1950 and produced by Jules White. He also kept up a busy schedule of live performances in nightclubs and on the legitimate stage, in such plays as "Harvey" (in the leading role of Elwood P. Dowd) and "Three Wishes for Jamie". In 1955 Wheeler co-starred with Keith Larsen in the CBS western series "Brave Eagle"; Wheeler played the "half-breed" Smokey Joe, known for his tall tales and tribal wisdom.