CINEFILER

Frank Cady

Born
September 8, 1915
Died
June 8, 2012
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
The Tin Star
(1957)
Abe Pickett (uncredited)
Rear Window
(1954)
Man on Fire Escape
Father of the Bride
(1950)
Timid Engagement Party Guest (uncredited)
The Bad Seed
(1956)
Henry Daigle
The Asphalt Jungle
(1950)
Night Clerk (uncredited)
Ace in the Hole
(1951)
Mr. Federber
Flamingo Road
(1949)
He Walked by Night
(1949)
Pete Hammond
When Worlds Collide
(1951)
Harold Ferris
The Million Dollar Duck
(1971)
Assayer
The Indian Fighter
(1955)
Trader Joe
D.O.A.
(1949)
Eddie - Bartender (uncredited)
Pretty Baby
(1950)
Janitor (uncredited)
It's a Great Feeling
(1949)
Oculist (uncredited)
Full Filmography
Acting
Sarge Goes to College
(1947)
Prof. Edwards
The Checkered Coat
(1948)
Skinner
Bungalow 13
(1948)
Gus Barton
D.O.A.
(1949)
Eddie - Bartender (uncredited)
He Walked by Night
(1949)
Pete Hammond
It's a Great Feeling
(1949)
Oculist (uncredited)
Abandoned
(1949)
Nolan - City Editor (uncredited)
Flamingo Road
(1949)
The Crooked Way
(1949)
Take One False Step
(1949)
Reporter (uncredited)
Experiment Alcatraz
(1950)
Max Henry
Pretty Baby
(1950)
Janitor (uncredited)
Convicted
(1950)
Eddie (uncredited)
Young Man with a Horn
(1950)
Hotel Clerk (uncredited)
The Next Voice You Hear...
(1950)
Bald Plant Worker in Locker Room (uncredited)
Hunt the Man Down
(1950)
Showbox Puppeteer (uncredited)
Father of the Bride
(1950)
Timid Engagement Party Guest (uncredited)
Perfect Strangers
(1950)
Geologist
Three Husbands
(1950)
Elevator Operator (uncredited)
Dial 1119
(1950)
Fred Backett
The Asphalt Jungle
(1950)
Night Clerk (uncredited)
Mrs. O'Malley and Mr. Malone
(1950)
Harry (uncredited)
The Great Rupert
(1950)
Mr. Taney - Tax Investigator
Dear Brat
(1951)
Parole Officer Creavy
Lightning Strikes Twice
(1951)
Gas Station Man
When Worlds Collide
(1951)
Harold Ferris
Let's Make It Legal
(1951)
Ferguson
Ace in the Hole
(1951)
Mr. Federber
The Atomic City
(1952)
F.B.I. Agent George Weinberg
The Sellout
(1952)
Bennie Amboy
Half a Hero
(1953)
Mr. Watts
Marry Me Again
(1953)
Dr. Day
Rear Window
(1954)
Man on Fire Escape
The Indian Fighter
(1955)
Trader Joe
Trial
(1955)
Canford (uncredited)
Three Violent People
(1956)
Doctor
The Bad Seed
(1956)
Henry Daigle
The Tin Star
(1957)
Abe Pickett (uncredited)
The Missouri Traveler
(1958)
Willie Poole
The Girl Most Likely
(1958)
Pop
The Man Who Understood Women
(1959)
John Milstead
7 Faces of Dr. Lao
(1964)
Mayor James Sargent
The Million Dollar Duck
(1971)
Assayer
Zandy's Bride
(1974)
Pa Allan
Hearts of the West
(1975)
Pa Tater
Soup and Me
(1978)
Mr. Sutter
Return to Green Acres
(1990)
Sam Drucker
The History of Hooterville
(2005)
Self
Data provided by TMDB