Frank Cady
Although Frank Cady's most famous role would be that of general-store owner Sam Drucker, one of the less nutty residents of Hooterville in both Green Acres (1965) and Petticoat Junction (1963), he had a history as a film, stage and television actor long before those shows. Cady also appeared on some radio programs including Gunsmoke. In the 1950s, Cady played Doc Williams in The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet (1952), along with numerous supporting parts in movies and also appeared in television commercials for (among other products) Shasta Grape Soda. Cady has been most prolific in television and was the only actor to play a recurring character on three TV sitcoms at the same time, The Beverly Hillbillies (1962), Green Acres (1965), and Petticoat Junction (1963). Usually cast as a gregarious small-town businessman, druggist, store clerk or other type of all-around Midwestern-type good guy, Cady was actually a California native, born in Susanville in 1915. The acting bug bit him when he sang in an elementary school play, and after graduating from Stanford University he headed to London, England, to train in the theater. When World War II broke out he was already in Europe, so he enlisted in the Army Air Force and spent the next several years in postings all over the continent. After his discharge he returned to the US and headed for Hollywood. An agent saw him in a local play, signed him, and he was on his way. One of his earlier--and more atypical--roles was as a seedy underworld character pulled in for questioning in a cop's murder in the noir classic He Walked by Night (1948), and he played a succession of hotel clerks, bureaucrats, henpecked husbands and the like for the next 40+ years. He did much television work from the mid-'50s onward. Cady resided in Wilsonville, Oregon and at the time of his death had two children, three grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.
Known For
Credits
- 2005 · The History of Hooterville as Self
- 1990 · Return to Green Acres as Sam Drucker
- 1983 · AfterMASH as Gus Bell
- 1978 · Soup and Me as Mr. Sutter
- 1977 · Weekend Special as
- 1975 · Hearts of the West as Pa Tater
- 1974 · These Are the Days as
- 1974 · Zandy's Bride as Pa Allan
- 1971 · The Million Dollar Duck as Assayer
- 1968 · Hawaii Five-O as Judge Bergstrom
- 1965 · Green Acres as Sam Drucker
- 1965 · Green Acres as Sam Drucker / Ben Drucker
- 1964 · 7 Faces of Dr. Lao as Mayor James Sargent
- 1963 · The Great Adventure as Drover
- 1963 · Glynis as
- 1963 · Petticoat Junction as Sam Drucker
- 1963 · Grindl as
- 1962 · The Beverly Hillbillies as Sam Drucker
- 1962 · The Virginian as Mr. Hardy
- 1961 · Hazel as
- 1960 · Klondike as
- 1960 · The Andy Griffith Show as Luke
- 1960 · The Andy Griffith Show as Farley Upchurch
- 1960 · Guestward, Ho! as
- 1960 · Pete and Gladys as
- 1959 · The Untouchables as Larry Croft
- 1959 · Hawaiian Eye as
- 1959 · Dennis the Menace as
- 1959 · The Alaskans as
- 1959 · The Man Who Understood Women as John Milstead
- 1959 · The Deputy as
- 1959 · Rawhide as Storekeeper
- 1958 · The Girl Most Likely as Pop
- 1958 · The Missouri Traveler as Willie Poole
- 1957 · The Tin Star as Abe Pickett (uncredited)
- 1957 · Maverick as Hamelin
- 1957 · Perry Mason as Joe Widlock / Hiram Widlock
- 1957 · Sugarfoot as Jay Hollis
- 1956 · Three Violent People as Doctor
- 1956 · The Bad Seed as Henry Daigle
- 1955 · The Indian Fighter as Trader Joe
- 1955 · Trial as Canford (uncredited)
- 1955 · Cheyenne as
- 1955 · Gunsmoke as Webb
- 1955 · The Jane Wyman Show as
- 1954 · December Bride as
- 1954 · Rear Window as Man on Fire Escape
- 1953 · Marry Me Again as Dr. Day
- 1953 · Half a Hero as Mr. Watts
- 1953 · Private Secretary as
- 1953 · You Are There as
- 1953 · General Electric Theater as George Hanson
- 1952 · The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet as Dr. Williams
- 1952 · The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet as Doctor Williams
- 1952 · The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet as Doc Williams
- 1952 · The Sellout as Bennie Amboy
- 1952 · The Atomic City as F.B.I. Agent George Weinberg
- 1951 · Let's Make It Legal as Ferguson
- 1951 · When Worlds Collide as Harold Ferris
- 1951 · Ace in the Hole as Mr. Federber
- 1951 · Dear Brat as Parole Officer Creavy
- 1951 · Lightning Strikes Twice as Gas Station Man
- 1950 · Hunt the Man Down as Showbox Puppeteer (uncredited)
- 1950 · Mrs. O'Malley and Mr. Malone as Harry (uncredited)
- 1950 · Experiment Alcatraz as Max Henry
- 1950 · Three Husbands as Elevator Operator (uncredited)
- 1950 · Dial 1119 as Fred Backett
- 1950 · Pretty Baby as Janitor (uncredited)
- 1950 · The Colgate Comedy Hour as Self
- 1950 · Convicted as Eddie (uncredited)
- 1950 · The Next Voice You Hear... as Bald Plant Worker in Locker Room (uncredited)
- 1950 · Father of the Bride as Timid Engagement Party Guest (uncredited)
- 1950 · The Asphalt Jungle as Night Clerk (uncredited)
- 1950 · Perfect Strangers as Geologist (uncredited)
- 1950 · The Great Rupert as Mr. Taney - Tax Investigator
- 1950 · Young Man with a Horn as Hotel Clerk (uncredited)
- 1949 · D.O.A. as Eddie - Bartender (uncredited)
- 1949 · Abandoned as Nolan - City Editor (uncredited)
- 1949 · Take One False Step as Reporter (uncredited)
- 1949 · It's a Great Feeling as Oculist (uncredited)
- 1949 · Special Agent as Motorist (uncredited)
- 1949 · Flamingo Road as
- 1949 · The Crooked Way as
- 1949 · He Walked by Night as Pete Hammond
- 1948 · Bungalow 13 as Gus Barton
- 1948 · The Checkered Coat as Skinner
- 1947 · Sarge Goes to College as Prof. Edwards
- 1945 · Front Row Center as