Frank Cady
Known for Acting · 93 credits
- Born
- 1915-09-08
- Died
- 2012-06-08
- Place of birth
- Susanville, California, USA
- Also known as
- Frank Randolph Cady
Biography
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.
Known For
TV Shows (41)
Perry Mason
1957
as Joe Widlock / Hiram Widlock
The Andy Griffith Show
1960
as Luke / Farley Upchurch
Hawaii Five-O
1968
as Judge Bergstrom
Wagon Train
1957
as Hiram
Maverick
1957
as Hamelin
The Virginian
1962
as Mr. Hardy
Green Acres
1965
as Sam Drucker / Sam Drucker / Ben Drucker
The Beverly Hillbillies
1962
as Sam Drucker
The Untouchables
1959
as Larry Croft
Cheyenne
1955
Rawhide
1959
as Storekeeper
Petticoat Junction
1963
as Sam Drucker
Hawaiian Eye
1959
Gunsmoke
1955
as Webb
The Colgate Comedy Hour
1950
as Self
The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet
1952
as Dr. Williams / Doctor Williams / Doc Williams
Hazel
1961
The Real McCoys
1957
as Ed Oliver
Dennis the Menace
1959
Sugarfoot
1957
as Jay Hollis
The Deputy
1959
as Harry Rickert
Trackdown
1957
as Bob-Tail
Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse
1958
The Danny Thomas Show
1953
as Will Hoople - Town Drunk
December Bride
1954
Pete and Gladys
1960
The Great Adventure
1963
as Drover
The Alaskans
1959
You Are There
1953
Weekend Special
1977
AfterMASH
1983
as Gus Bell
Grindl
1963
General Electric Theater
1953
as George Hanson
Private Secretary
1953
Guestward, Ho!
1960
Monster Squad
1976
as The Farmer
Klondike
1960
Glynis
1963
The Jane Wyman Show
1955
These Are the Days
1974
Front Row Center
1945
Movies (52)
Rear Window
1954
as Man on Fire Escape
The Bad Seed
1956
as Henry Daigle
Ace in the Hole
1951
as Mr. Federber
The Asphalt Jungle
1950
as Night Clerk (uncredited)
Father of the Bride
1950
as Timid Engagement Party Guest (uncredited)
D.O.A.
1949
as Eddie - Bartender (uncredited)
The Tin Star
1957
as Abe Pickett (uncredited)
Pretty Baby
1950
as Janitor (uncredited)
The Indian Fighter
1955
as Trader Joe
When Worlds Collide
1951
as Harold Ferris
Dial 1119
1950
as Fred Backett (uncredited)
The Million Dollar Duck
1971
as Assayer
Trial
1955
as Canford (uncredited)
Zandy's Bride
1974
as Pa Allan
Dear Brat
1951
as Parole Officer Creavy
Three Violent People
1956
as Doctor
Young Man with a Horn
1950
as Hotel Clerk (uncredited)
Take One False Step
1949
as Reporter (uncredited)
Flamingo Road
1949
Convicted
1950
as Eddie (uncredited)
Hearts of the West
1975
as Pa Tater
Three Husbands
1950
as Elevator Operator (uncredited)
Bungalow 13
1948
as Gus Barton
It's a Great Feeling
1949
as Oculist (uncredited)
Perfect Strangers
1950
as Geologist (uncredited)
7 Faces of Dr. Lao
1964
as Mayor James Sargent
Abandoned
1949
as Nolan - City Editor (uncredited)
The Crooked Way
1949
Let's Make It Legal
1951
as Ferguson
He Walked by Night
1949
as Pete Hammond
The Next Voice You Hear...
1950
as Bald Plant Worker in Locker Room (uncredited)
The Atomic City
1952
as F.B.I. Agent George Weinberg
Special Agent
1949
as Motorist (uncredited)
The Missouri Traveler
1958
as Willie Poole
The Great Rupert
1950
as Mr. Taney - Tax Investigator
Hunt the Man Down
1950
as Showbox Puppeteer (uncredited)
Lightning Strikes Twice
1951
as Gas Station Man
The Man Who Understood Women
1959
as John Milstead
Return to Green Acres
1990
as Sam Drucker
The Boy and the Bronc Buster
1973
as Clothing Store Proprietor
The Sellout
1952
as Bennie Amboy
The Lady Takes a Sailor
1949
as Mr. Wentworth (uncredited)
The History of Hooterville
2005
as Self
Mrs. O'Malley and Mr. Malone
1950
as Harry (uncredited)
Marry Me Again
1953
as Dr. Day
Half a Hero
1953
as Mr. Watts
Soup and Me
1978
as Mr. Sutter
Experiment Alcatraz
1950
as Max Henry
The Girl Most Likely
1958
as Pop
The Checkered Coat
1948
as Skinner
Sarge Goes to College
1947
as Prof. Edwards
Pal, Fugitive Dog
1950
as Doctor
About Frank Cady
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 commercial… With 93 credits spanning from 1945 to 2005, Frank Cady has appeared in 52 films and 41 TV shows.
Fans searching for Frank Cady movies, Frank Cady filmography, or the latest projects starring Frank Cady can stream many of these titles on Bowood.TV, free and in HD, with no subscription required.
Most Popular Frank Cady Movies
- Rear Window (1954) — as Man on Fire Escape
- The Bad Seed (1956) — as Henry Daigle
- Ace in the Hole (1951) — as Mr. Federber
- The Asphalt Jungle (1950) — as Night Clerk (uncredited)
- Father of the Bride (1950) — as Timid Engagement Party Guest (uncredited)
Where to Watch Frank Cady Films
Most Frank Cady movies and series are available to stream on Bowood.TV in full HD, completely free and without signup. Browse the complete filmography above to jump directly to any title. For more films and the latest web series featuring Frank Cady, check our movies catalogue and browse page.