Frank Cady
Acting
Biography
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.
Born: September 8, 1915
Place of Birth: Susanville, California, USA
Known For
Filmography
as Self
as Sam Drucker
as Gus Bell
as Mr. Sutter
as The Farmer
as Pa Tater
as Pa Allan
as Clothing Store Proprietor
as Assayer
as Judge Bergstrom
as Sam Drucker
as Sam Drucker / Ben Drucker
as Mayor James Sargent
as Drover
as Sam Drucker
as Sam Drucker
as Mr. Hardy
as Luke
as Farley Upchurch
as Larry Croft
as John Milstead
as Harry Rickert
as Storekeeper
as Pop
as Willie Poole
as Abe Pickett (uncredited)
as Bob-Tail
as Hamelin
as Joe Widlock / Hiram Widlock
as Jay Hollis
as Doctor
as Henry Daigle
as Trader Joe
as Canford (uncredited)
as Webb
as Man on Fire Escape
as Dr. Day
as Mr. Watts
as George Hanson
as Dr. Williams
as Doctor Williams
as Doc Williams
as Bennie Amboy
as F.B.I. Agent George Weinberg
as Ferguson
as Harold Ferris
as Mr. Federber
as Parole Officer Creavy
as Gas Station Man
as Showbox Puppeteer (uncredited)
as Harry (uncredited)
as Max Henry
as Elevator Operator (uncredited)
as Fred Backett
as Janitor (uncredited)
as Self
as Eddie (uncredited)
as Bald Plant Worker in Locker Room (uncredited)
as Timid Engagement Party Guest (uncredited)
as Night Clerk (uncredited)
as Geologist (uncredited)
as Hotel Clerk (uncredited)
as Mr. Taney - Tax Investigator
as Eddie - Bartender (uncredited)
as Nolan - City Editor (uncredited)
as Oculist (uncredited)
as Reporter (uncredited)
as Motorist (uncredited)
as Pete Hammond
as Gus Barton
as Skinner
as Prof. Edwards