Frank Cady
Known for: Acting
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. 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
Series
Perry Mason
Joe Widlock / Hiram Widlock
1957
Series
Hawaii Five-O
Judge Bergstrom
1969
Series
The Andy Griffith Show
Luke
1960
Series
The Andy Griffith Show
Farley Upchurch
1960
Series
Wagon Train
Hiram
1957
Series
Maverick
Hamelin
1957
Series
The Virginian
Mr. Hardy
1962
Series
Petticoat Junction
Sam Drucker
1963
Series
Cheyenne
1955
Series
The Untouchables
Larry Croft
1959
Series
The Beverly Hillbillies
Sam Drucker
1962
Series
Gunsmoke
Webb
1955
Series
Rawhide
Storekeeper
1959
Series
The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet
Dr. Williams
1952
Series
The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet
Doctor Williams
1952
Series
The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet
Doc Williams
1952
Series
The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet
Sporting Goods Salesman
1952
Series
The Colgate Comedy Hour
Self
1950
Series
Green Acres
Sam Drucker
1965
Series
Hawaiian Eye
1959
Series
The Real McCoys
Ed Oliver
1957
Series
Dennis the Menace
1959
Series
Sugarfoot
Jay Hollis
1957
Series
Trackdown
Bob-Tail
1957
Series
Hazel
1961
Series
Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse
1958
Series
The Danny Thomas Show
Will Hoople - Town Drunk
1953
Series
December Bride
1954
Series
The Deputy
Harry Rickert
1959
Film
Rear Window
Man on Fire Escape
1954
Series
The Great Adventure
Drover
1963
Series
You Are There
John Stark
1953
Series
Pete and Gladys
1960
Series
The Alaskans
1959
Series
ABC Weekend Specials
1977
Series
AfterMASH
Gus Bell
1983
Series
Guestward, Ho!
1960
Series
Monster Squad
The Farmer
1976
Series
Private Secretary
1953
The Jane Wyman Show
1955
Series
Grindl
1963
Film
The Asphalt Jungle
Night Clerk (uncredited)
1950
Series
General Electric Theater
George Hanson
1953
Film
Ace in the Hole
Mr. Federber
1951
Film
The Bad Seed
Henry Daigle
1956
Film
The Million Dollar Duck
Assayer
1971
Series
These Are the Days
1974
Series
Klondike
1960
Film
Father of the Bride
Timid Engagement Party Guest (uncredited)
1950
Film
Young Man with a Horn
Hotel Clerk (uncredited)
1950
Film
The Tin Star
Abe Pickett (uncredited)
1957
Series
Glynis
1963
Film
He Walked by Night
Pete Hammond
1949
Film
When Worlds Collide
Harold Ferris
1951
Film
Hearts of the West
Pa Tater
1975
Film
The Indian Fighter
Trader Joe
1955
Film
Let's Make It Legal
Ferguson
1951
Film
7 Faces of Dr. Lao
Mayor James Sargent
1964
Film
It's a Great Feeling
Oculist (uncredited)
1949
Film
Three Violent People
Doctor
1956
Film
Zandy's Bride
Pa Allan
1974
Film
D.O.A.
Eddie - Bartender (uncredited)
1949
Front Row Center
1945
Film
Flamingo Road
1949
Film
Take One False Step
Reporter (uncredited)
1949
Film
Hunt the Man Down
Showbox Puppeteer (uncredited)
1950
Film
Return to Green Acres
Sam Drucker
1990
Film
The History of Hooterville
Self
2005
Film
Special Agent
Motorist (uncredited)
1949
Film
Mrs. O'Malley and Mr. Malone
Harry (uncredited)
1950
Film
Trial
Canford (uncredited)
1955
Film
The Lady Takes a Sailor
Mr. Wentworth (uncredited)
1949
Film
The Next Voice You Hear...
Bald Plant Worker in Locker Room (uncredited)
1950
Film
The Crooked Way
1949
Film
The Girl Most Likely
Pop
1958
Film
The Man Who Understood Women
John Milstead
1959
Film
Experiment Alcatraz
Max Henry
1950
Film
Lightning Strikes Twice
Gas Station Man
1951
Film
The Missouri Traveler
Willie Poole
1958
Film
The Checkered Coat
Skinner
1948
Film
Convicted
Eddie (uncredited)
1950
Film
Perfect Strangers
Geologist (uncredited)
1950
Film
Sarge Goes to College
Prof. Edwards
1947
Film
Pretty Baby
Janitor (uncredited)
1950
Film
The Great Rupert
Mr. Taney - Tax Investigator
1950
Film
The Sellout
Bennie Amboy
1952
Film
Dial 1119
Fred Backett (uncredited)
1950
Film
Marry Me Again
Dr. Day
1953
Film
Half a Hero
Mr. Watts
1953
Film
Abandoned
Nolan - City Editor (uncredited)
1949
Film
Three Husbands
Elevator Operator (uncredited)
1950
Film
The Boy and the Bronc Buster
Clothing Store Proprietor
1973
Film
Dear Brat
Parole Officer Creavy
1951
Film
The Atomic City
F.B.I. Agent George Weinberg
1952
Film
Soup and Me
Mr. Sutter
1978
Film
Bungalow 13
Gus Barton
1948
Pal, Fugitive Dog
Doctor
1950