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Frank Cady
Actor

Frank Cady

8 Sep 1915Born
8 Jun 2012Died
96Age at death
91Credits

Biography

Frank Cady (September 8, 1915 – June 8, 2012) was an American actor. His most famous role was 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, and 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.

Read the full biography

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

Filmography

The 80 most recent of 91 credits.

  1. 1990Return to Green AcresFilm: Sam Drucker
  2. 1983AfterMASHSeries: Gus Bell (1 episode)
  3. 1978Soup and MeFilm: Mr. Sutter
  4. 1977ABC Weekend SpecialsSeries (4 episodes)
  5. 1976Monster SquadSeries: The Farmer (1 episode)
  6. 1975Hearts of the WestFilm: Pa Tater
  7. 1974These Are the DaysSeries (16 episodes)
  8. 1974Zandy's BrideFilm: Pa Allan
  9. 1973The Boy and the Bronc BusterFilm: Clothing Store Proprietor
  10. 1971The Million Dollar DuckFilm: Assayer
  11. 1969Hawaii Five-OSeries: Judge Bergstrom (1 episode)
  12. 1965Green AcresSeries: Sam Drucker (130 episodes)
  13. 19647 Faces of Dr. LaoFilm: Mayor James Sargent
  14. 1963The Great AdventureSeries: Drover (1 episode)
  15. 1963GlynisSeries (1 episode)
  16. 1963Petticoat JunctionSeries: Sam Drucker (222 episodes)
  17. 1963GrindlSeries (1 episode)
  18. 1962The Beverly HillbilliesSeries: Sam Drucker (10 episodes)
  19. 1962The VirginianSeries: Mr. Hardy (1 episode)
  20. 1961HazelSeries (1 episode)
  21. 1960KlondikeSeries (1 episode)
  22. 1960The Andy Griffith ShowSeries: Luke, Farley Upchurch (1 episode)
  23. 1960Guestward, Ho!Series (1 episode)
  24. 1960Pete and GladysSeries (1 episode)
  25. 1959The UntouchablesSeries: Larry Croft (1 episode)
  26. 1959Hawaiian EyeSeries (1 episode)
  27. 1959Dennis the MenaceSeries (1 episode)
  28. 1959The AlaskansSeries (1 episode)
  29. 1959The Man Who Understood WomenFilm: John Milstead
  30. 1959The DeputySeries: Harry Rickert (1 episode)
  31. 1959RawhideSeries: Storekeeper (1 episode)
  32. 1958Westinghouse Desilu PlayhouseSeries (1 episode)
  33. 1958The Girl Most LikelyFilm: Pop
  34. 1958The Missouri TravelerFilm: Willie Poole
  35. 1957The Tin StarFilm: Abe Pickett (uncredited)
  36. 1957TrackdownSeries: Bob-Tail (1 episode)
  37. 1957The Real McCoysSeries: Ed Oliver (1 episode)
  38. 1957MaverickSeries: Hamelin (1 episode)
  39. 1957Perry MasonSeries: Joe Widlock / Hiram Widlock (1 episode)
  40. 1957Wagon TrainSeries: Hiram (1 episode)
  41. 1957SugarfootSeries: Jay Hollis (1 episode)
  42. 1956Three Violent PeopleFilm: Doctor
  43. 1956The Bad SeedFilm: Henry Daigle
  44. 1955The Indian FighterFilm: Trader Joe
  45. 1955TrialFilm: Canford (uncredited)
  46. 1955CheyenneSeries (1 episode)
  47. 1955GunsmokeSeries: Webb (1 episode)
  48. 1955The Jane Wyman ShowSeries (1 episode)
  49. 1954December BrideSeries (2 episodes)
  50. 1954Rear WindowFilm: Man on Fire Escape
  51. 1953The Danny Thomas ShowSeries: Will Hoople - Town Drunk (1 episode)
  52. 1953Marry Me AgainFilm: Dr. Day
  53. 1953Half a HeroFilm: Mr. Watts
  54. 1953General Electric TheaterSeries: George Hanson (1 episode)
  55. 1953Private SecretarySeries (1 episode)
  56. 1953You Are ThereSeries: John Stark (1 episode)
  57. 1952The Adventures of Ozzie and HarrietSeries: Dr. Williams, Doctor Williams, Doc Williams, Sporting Goods Salesman (2 episodes)
  58. 1952The SelloutFilm: Bennie Amboy
  59. 1952The Atomic CityFilm: F.B.I. Agent George Weinberg
  60. 1951Let's Make It LegalFilm: Ferguson
  61. 1951When Worlds CollideFilm: Harold Ferris
  62. 1951Ace in the HoleFilm: Mr. Federber
  63. 1951Dear BratFilm: Parole Officer Creavy
  64. 1951Lightning Strikes TwiceFilm: Gas Station Man
  65. 1950Hunt the Man DownFilm: Showbox Puppeteer (uncredited)
  66. 1950Mrs. O'Malley and Mr. MaloneFilm: Harry (uncredited)
  67. 1950Experiment AlcatrazFilm: Max Henry
  68. 1950Three HusbandsFilm: Elevator Operator (uncredited)
  69. 1950Dial 1119Film: Fred Backett (uncredited)
  70. 1950Pal, Fugitive DogFilm: Doctor
  71. 1950Pretty BabyFilm: Janitor (uncredited)
  72. 1950ConvictedFilm: Eddie (uncredited)
  73. 1950The Next Voice You Hear...Film: Bald Plant Worker in Locker Room (uncredited)
  74. 1950Father of the BrideFilm: Timid Engagement Party Guest (uncredited)
  75. 1950The Asphalt JungleFilm: Night Clerk (uncredited)
  76. 1950Perfect StrangersFilm: Geologist (uncredited)
  77. 1950Young Man with a HornFilm: Hotel Clerk (uncredited)
  78. 1950The Great RupertFilm: Mr. Taney - Tax Investigator
  79. 1949D.O.A.Film: Eddie - Bartender (uncredited)
  80. 1949The Lady Takes a SailorFilm: Mr. Wentworth (uncredited)

Biography and credits from TMDB. This website uses TMDB and the TMDB APIs but is not endorsed, certified, or otherwise approved by TMDB.