Personal Info
Known For:
Acting
Birthday:
September 8, 1915
Place of Birth:
Susanville, California, USA
Social Media
Frank Cady
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.
Known For
Filmography
| Year | Movie | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | The History of Hooterville | Self |
| 1990 | Return to Green Acres | Sam Drucker |
| 1978 | Soup and Me | Mr. Sutter |
| 1975 | Hearts of the West | Pa Tater |
| 1974 | Zandy's Bride | Pa Allan |
| 1973 | The Boy and the Bronc Buster | Clothing Store Proprietor |
| 1971 | The Million Dollar Duck | Assayer |
| 1964 | 7 Faces of Dr. Lao | Mayor James Sargent |
| 1959 | The Man Who Understood Women | John Milstead |
| 1958 | The Missouri Traveler | Willie Poole |
| 1958 | The Girl Most Likely | Pop |
| 1957 | The Tin Star | Abe Pickett (uncredited) |
| 1956 | The Bad Seed | Henry Daigle |
| 1956 | Three Violent People | Doctor |
| 1955 | The Indian Fighter | Trader Joe |
| 1955 | Trial | Canford (uncredited) |
| 1954 | Rear Window | Man on Fire Escape |
| 1953 | Marry Me Again | Dr. Day |
| 1953 | Half a Hero | Mr. Watts |
| 1952 | The Sellout | Bennie Amboy |
| 1952 | The Atomic City | F.B.I. Agent George Weinberg |
| 1951 | Let's Make It Legal | Ferguson |
| 1951 | Ace in the Hole | Mr. Federber |
| 1951 | When Worlds Collide | Harold Ferris |
| 1951 | Dear Brat | Parole Officer Creavy |
| 1951 | Lightning Strikes Twice | Gas Station Man |
| 1950 | Perfect Strangers | Geologist (uncredited) |
| 1950 | Experiment Alcatraz | Max Henry |
| 1950 | Young Man with a Horn | Hotel Clerk (uncredited) |
| 1950 | The Next Voice You Hear... | Bald Plant Worker in Locker Room (uncredited) |
| 1950 | Three Husbands | Elevator Operator (uncredited) |
| 1950 | Dial 1119 | Fred Backett |
| 1950 | The Asphalt Jungle | Night Clerk (uncredited) |
| 1950 | Mrs. O'Malley and Mr. Malone | Harry (uncredited) |
| 1950 | The Great Rupert | Mr. Taney - Tax Investigator |
| 1950 | Pretty Baby | Janitor (uncredited) |
| 1950 | Father of the Bride | Timid Engagement Party Guest (uncredited) |
| 1950 | Convicted | Eddie (uncredited) |
| 1950 | Hunt the Man Down | Showbox Puppeteer (uncredited) |
| 1949 | It's a Great Feeling | Oculist (uncredited) |
| 1949 | D.O.A. | Eddie - Bartender (uncredited) |
| 1949 | The Crooked Way | |
| 1949 | Abandoned | Nolan - City Editor (uncredited) |
| 1949 | Special Agent | Motorist (uncredited) |
| 1949 | He Walked by Night | Pete Hammond |
| 1949 | Take One False Step | Reporter (uncredited) |
| 1949 | Flamingo Road | |
| 1948 | The Checkered Coat | Skinner |
| 1948 | Bungalow 13 | Gus Barton |
| 1947 | Sarge Goes to College | Prof. Edwards |