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.
Acted in
The History of Hooterville
2005
as Self
Return to Green Acres
1990
as Sam Drucker
AfterMASH
1983
as Gus Bell
Soup and Me
1978
as Mr. Sutter
Weekend Special
1977
Hearts of the West
1975
as Pa Tater
These Are the Days
1974
Zandy's Bride
1974
as Pa Allan
The Million Dollar Duck
1971
as Assayer
Hawaii Five-O
1968
as Judge Bergstrom
Green Acres
1965
as Sam Drucker
7 Faces of Dr. Lao
1964
as Mayor James Sargent
The Great Adventure
1963
as Drover
Glynis
1963
Petticoat Junction
1963
as Sam Drucker
Grindl
1963
The Beverly Hillbillies
1962
as Sam Drucker
The Virginian
1962
as Mr. Hardy
Hazel
1961
Klondike
1960
The Andy Griffith Show
1960
as Luke
The Andy Griffith Show
1960
as Farley Upchurch
Guestward, Ho!
1960
Pete and Gladys
1960
Hawaiian Eye
1959
Dennis the Menace
1959
The Alaskans
1959
The Man Who Understood Women
1959
as John Milstead
The Deputy
1959
Rawhide
1959
as Storekeeper
The Girl Most Likely
1958
as Pop
The Missouri Traveler
1958
as Willie Poole
The Tin Star
1957
as Abe Pickett (uncredited)
Maverick
1957
as Hamelin
Perry Mason
1957
as Joe Widlock / Hiram Widlock
Sugarfoot
1957
as Jay Hollis
Three Violent People
1956
as Doctor
The Bad Seed
1956
as Henry Daigle
The Indian Fighter
1955
as Trader Joe
Trial
1955
as Canford (uncredited)
Cheyenne
1955
Gunsmoke
1955
as Webb
The Jane Wyman Show
1955
December Bride
1954
Rear Window
1954
as Man on Fire Escape
Marry Me Again
1953
as Dr. Day
Half a Hero
1953
as Mr. Watts
General Electric Theater
1953
as George Hanson
Private Secretary
1953
You Are There
1953
The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet
1952
as Dr. Williams
The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet
1952
as Doctor Williams
The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet
1952
as Doc Williams
The Sellout
1952
as Bennie Amboy
The Atomic City
1952
as F.B.I. Agent George Weinberg
Let's Make It Legal
1951
as Ferguson
When Worlds Collide
1951
as Harold Ferris
Ace in the Hole
1951
as Mr. Federber
Dear Brat
1951
as Parole Officer Creavy
Lightning Strikes Twice
1951
as Gas Station Man
Hunt the Man Down
1950
as Showbox Puppeteer (uncredited)
Mrs. O'Malley and Mr. Malone
1950
as Harry (uncredited)
Experiment Alcatraz
1950
as Max Henry
Three Husbands
1950
as Elevator Operator (uncredited)
Dial 1119
1950
as Fred Backett
Pretty Baby
1950
as Janitor (uncredited)
The Colgate Comedy Hour
1950
as Self
Convicted
1950
as Eddie (uncredited)
The Next Voice You Hear...
1950
as Bald Plant Worker in Locker Room (uncredited)
Father of the Bride
1950
as Timid Engagement Party Guest (uncredited)
The Asphalt Jungle
1950
as Night Clerk (uncredited)
Perfect Strangers
1950
as Geologist (uncredited)
Young Man with a Horn
1950
as Hotel Clerk (uncredited)
The Great Rupert
1950
as Mr. Taney - Tax Investigator
D.O.A.
1949
as Eddie - Bartender (uncredited)
Abandoned
1949
as Nolan - City Editor (uncredited)
Take One False Step
1949
as Reporter (uncredited)
It's a Great Feeling
1949
as Oculist (uncredited)
Special Agent
1949
as Motorist (uncredited)
Flamingo Road
1949
The Crooked Way
1949
He Walked by Night
1949
as Pete Hammond
Bungalow 13
1948
as Gus Barton
The Checkered Coat
1948
as Skinner
Sarge Goes to College
1947
as Prof. Edwards
Front Row Center
1945