Frank Cady
Born
September 8, 1915
Died
June 8, 2012 (96 years old)
Known For
Acting
Place of Birth
Susanville, California, USA
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.
The History of Hooterville
Self
2005
Return to Green Acres
Sam Drucker
1990
AfterMASH
Gus Bell · (1 episode)
1983
Soup and Me
Mr. Sutter
1978
Weekend Special
(4 episodes)
1977
Monster Squad
The Farmer · (1 episode)
1976
Hearts of the West
Pa Tater
1975
These Are the Days
(16 episodes)
1974
Zandy's Bride
Pa Allan
1974
The Boy and the Bronc Buster
Clothing Store Proprietor
1973
The Million Dollar Duck
Assayer
1971
Hawaii Five-O
Judge Bergstrom · (1 episode)
1968
Green Acres
Sam Drucker · (128 episodes)
1965
Green Acres
Sam Drucker / Ben Drucker · (1 episode)
1965
Green Acres
(26 episodes)
1965
7 Faces of Dr. Lao
Mayor James Sargent
1964
The Great Adventure
Drover · (1 episode)
1963
Glynis
(1 episode)
1963
Petticoat Junction
Sam Drucker · (222 episodes)
1963
Grindl
(1 episode)
1963
The Beverly Hillbillies
Sam Drucker · (10 episodes)
1962
The Virginian
Mr. Hardy · (1 episode)
1962
Hazel
(1 episode)
1961
Klondike
(1 episode)
1960
The Andy Griffith Show
Luke · (1 episode)
1960
The Andy Griffith Show
Farley Upchurch · (1 episode)
1960
Guestward, Ho!
(1 episode)
1960
Pete and Gladys
(1 episode)
1960
The Untouchables
Larry Croft · (1 episode)
1959
Hawaiian Eye
(1 episode)
1959
Dennis the Menace
(1 episode)
1959
The Alaskans
(1 episode)
1959
The Man Who Understood Women
John Milstead
1959
The Deputy
Harry Rickert · (1 episode)
1959
Rawhide
Storekeeper · (1 episode)
1959
The Girl Most Likely
Pop
1958
The Missouri Traveler
Willie Poole
1958
The Tin Star
Abe Pickett (uncredited)
1957
Trackdown
Bob-Tail · (1 episode)
1957
Maverick
Hamelin · (1 episode)
1957
Perry Mason
Joe Widlock / Hiram Widlock · (1 episode)
1957
Sugarfoot
Jay Hollis · (1 episode)
1957
Three Violent People
Doctor
1956
The Bad Seed
Henry Daigle
1956
The Indian Fighter
Trader Joe
1955
Trial
Canford (uncredited)
1955
Cheyenne
(1 episode)
1955
Gunsmoke
Webb · (1 episode)
1955
The Jane Wyman Show
(1 episode)
1955
December Bride
(2 episodes)
1954
Rear Window
Man on Fire Escape
1954
Marry Me Again
Dr. Day
1953
Half a Hero
Mr. Watts
1953
General Electric Theater
George Hanson · (1 episode)
1953
Private Secretary
(1 episode)
1953
You Are There
(1 episode)
1953
The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet
Dr. Williams · (2 episodes)
1952
The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet
Doctor Williams · (1 episode)
1952
The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet
Doc Williams · (9 episodes)
1952
The Sellout
Bennie Amboy
1952
The Atomic City
F.B.I. Agent George Weinberg
1952
Let's Make It Legal
Ferguson
1951
When Worlds Collide
Harold Ferris
1951
Ace in the Hole
Mr. Federber
1951
Dear Brat
Parole Officer Creavy
1951
Lightning Strikes Twice
Gas Station Man
1951
Hunt the Man Down
Showbox Puppeteer (uncredited)
1950
Mrs. O'Malley and Mr. Malone
Harry (uncredited)
1950
Experiment Alcatraz
Max Henry
1950
Three Husbands
Elevator Operator (uncredited)
1950
Dial 1119
Fred Backett
1950
Pretty Baby
Janitor (uncredited)
1950
The Colgate Comedy Hour
Self · (1 episode)
1950
Convicted
Eddie (uncredited)
1950
The Next Voice You Hear...
Bald Plant Worker in Locker Room (uncredited)
1950
Father of the Bride
Timid Engagement Party Guest (uncredited)
1950
The Asphalt Jungle
Night Clerk (uncredited)
1950
Perfect Strangers
Geologist (uncredited)
1950
Young Man with a Horn
Hotel Clerk (uncredited)
1950
The Great Rupert
Mr. Taney - Tax Investigator
1950
D.O.A.
Eddie - Bartender (uncredited)
1949
Abandoned
Nolan - City Editor (uncredited)
1949
It's a Great Feeling
Oculist (uncredited)
1949
Take One False Step
Reporter (uncredited)
1949
Special Agent
Motorist (uncredited)
1949
Flamingo Road
1949
The Crooked Way
1949
He Walked by Night
Pete Hammond
1949
Bungalow 13
Gus Barton
1948
The Checkered Coat
Skinner
1948
Sarge Goes to College
Prof. Edwards
1947
Front Row Center
(1 episode)
1945