Frank Cady
Acting • Born 1915-09-08 – Died 2012-06-08
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.
Filmography
95 credits
Rear Window
Movie • 1954
Man on Fire Escape
Perfect Strangers
Movie • 1950
Geologist (uncredited)
Let's Make It Legal
Movie • 1951
Ferguson
Ace in the Hole
Movie • 1951
Mr. Federber
The Sellout
Movie • 1952
Bennie Amboy
It's a Great Feeling
Movie • 1949
Oculist (uncredited)
Experiment Alcatraz
Movie • 1950
Max Henry
The Bad Seed
Movie • 1956
Henry Daigle
7 Faces of Dr. Lao
Movie • 1964
Mayor James Sargent
When Worlds Collide
Movie • 1951
Harold Ferris
Hearts of the West
Movie • 1975
Pa Tater
The Indian Fighter
Movie • 1955
Trader Joe
Marry Me Again
Movie • 1953
Dr. Day
The Atomic City
Movie • 1952
F.B.I. Agent George Weinberg
Zandy's Bride
Movie • 1974
Pa Allan
Young Man with a Horn
Movie • 1950
Hotel Clerk (uncredited)
Trial
Movie • 1955
Canford (uncredited)
The Next Voice You Hear...
Movie • 1950
Bald Plant Worker in Locker Room (uncredited)
Dear Brat
Movie • 1951
Parole Officer Creavy
D.O.A.
Movie • 1949
Eddie - Bartender (uncredited)
Half a Hero
Movie • 1953
Mr. Watts
The Crooked Way
Movie • 1949
Three Husbands
Movie • 1950
Elevator Operator (uncredited)
The Checkered Coat
Movie • 1948
Skinner
The Missouri Traveler
Movie • 1958
Willie Poole
Abandoned
Movie • 1949
Nolan - City Editor (uncredited)
The Girl Most Likely
Movie • 1958
Pop
Dial 1119
Movie • 1950
Fred Backett
The Asphalt Jungle
Movie • 1950
Night Clerk (uncredited)
Return to Green Acres
Movie • 1990
Sam Drucker
Bungalow 13
Movie • 1948
Gus Barton
Special Agent
Movie • 1949
Motorist (uncredited)
Mrs. O'Malley and Mr. Malone
Movie • 1950
Harry (uncredited)
The Great Rupert
Movie • 1950
Mr. Taney - Tax Investigator
He Walked by Night
Movie • 1949
Pete Hammond
The Tin Star
Movie • 1957
Abe Pickett (uncredited)
Sarge Goes to College
Movie • 1947
Prof. Edwards
The Million Dollar Duck
Movie • 1971
Assayer
Three Violent People
Movie • 1956
Doctor
Lightning Strikes Twice
Movie • 1951
Gas Station Man
Pretty Baby
Movie • 1950
Janitor (uncredited)
Father of the Bride
Movie • 1950
Timid Engagement Party Guest (uncredited)
Convicted
Movie • 1950
Eddie (uncredited)
Hunt the Man Down
Movie • 1950
Showbox Puppeteer (uncredited)
Take One False Step
Movie • 1949
Reporter (uncredited)
The History of Hooterville
Movie • 2005
Self
Soup and Me
Movie • 1978
Mr. Sutter
The Man Who Understood Women
Movie • 1959
John Milstead
Flamingo Road
Movie • 1949
The Boy and the Bronc Buster
Movie • 1973
Clothing Store Proprietor
The Lady Takes a Sailor
Movie • 1949
Mr. Wentworth (uncredited)
The Andy Griffith Show
TV • 1960
Luke
The Great Adventure
TV • 1963
Drover
Cheyenne
TV • 1955
December Bride
TV • 1954
The Colgate Comedy Hour
TV • 1950
Self
Hawaii Five-O
TV • 1968
Judge Bergstrom
The Beverly Hillbillies
TV • 1962
Sam Drucker
Gunsmoke
TV • 1955
Webb
Perry Mason
TV • 1957
Joe Widlock / Hiram Widlock
Hawaiian Eye
TV • 1959
General Electric Theater
TV • 1953
George Hanson
Glynis
TV • 1963
Weekend Special
TV • 1977
Klondike
TV • 1960
Dennis the Menace
TV • 1959
Rawhide
TV • 1959
Storekeeper
The Virginian
TV • 1962
Mr. Hardy
Hazel
TV • 1961
Pete and Gladys
TV • 1960
Private Secretary
TV • 1953
You Are There
TV • 1953
Grindl
TV • 1963
Guestward, Ho!
TV • 1960
The Alaskans
TV • 1959
Sugarfoot
TV • 1957
Jay Hollis
These Are the Days
TV • 1974
Front Row Center
TV • 1945
The Jane Wyman Show
TV • 1955
Maverick
TV • 1957
Hamelin
Petticoat Junction
TV • 1963
Sam Drucker
The Andy Griffith Show
TV • 1960
Farley Upchurch
Green Acres
TV • 1965
Sam Drucker
The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet
TV • 1952
Dr. Williams
The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet
TV • 1952
Doctor Williams
The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet
TV • 1952
Doc Williams
AfterMASH
TV • 1983
Gus Bell
Green Acres
TV • 1965
Sam Drucker / Ben Drucker
The Untouchables
TV • 1959
Larry Croft
Trackdown
TV • 1957
Bob-Tail
The Deputy
TV • 1959
Harry Rickert
Monster Squad
TV • 1976
The Farmer
Green Acres
TV • 1965
Wagon Train
TV • 1957
Hiram
Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse
TV • 1958