Frank Cady

Frank Cady

Birth name: Frank Randolph Cady
Born: September 8, 1915
Died: June 8, 2012 (at age 96)
Birthplace: Susanville, California, U.S.
Popularity:
Biography

Frank Randolph Cady (September 8, 1915 - June 8, 2012) was an American actor best known for his recurring and popular role as storekeeper Sam Drucker in three American television series during the 1960s - Petticoat Junction, Green Acres, and The Beverly Hillbillies - and his earlier role as "Doc Williams" on The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet.

Early life

Cady was born in Susanville, California, the youngest of three children of Leon and Clara Cady. In high school he worked at a local newspaper, The Lassen County Advocate. Cady's family later moved to Wilsonville, Oregon.

He studied journalism and drama at Stanford University, where he was involved with the campus humor magazine, the Stanford Chaparral. Following college graduation Cady served an apprenticeship at the Westminster Theater in London, England, appearing in four plays. In England he made an early television appearance on the BBC in late 1938.

He returned to Stanford in 1939 for graduate studies and a position as teaching assistant. While at Stanford, Cady met and later married his wife, Shirley Katherine Jones, in 1940. Born in Oakland, California, Shirley Cady, a Stanford University graduate, had several vocations - professional singer, teacher and legal secretary.

Dissatisfied with academia, Frank began a series of jobs two years later, as an announcer and news broadcaster at various California radio stations. His career was put on hold in 1943 when he joined the United States Army Air Corps, serving in England, France and Germany during World War II.

Television and movie career

After being discharged from military service in 1946, Cady appeared in a series of plays in the Los Angeles area which led to movie roles, beginning in 1947. In 1950, he had an uncredited speaking role in the classic film noir drama D.O.A. and another uncredited role in Father of the Bride (1950). He had a small part in the noir classic The Asphalt Jungle (also 1950) playing a witness who refused to identify a robbery suspect. He appeared in George Pal's film When Worlds Collide (1951), and worked with Pal again in 1964 in The 7 Faces of Dr. Lao.

Cady had a prominent role in Billy Wilder's Ace in the Hole (aka, The Big Carnival, also 1951) and had a small non-speaking role in Rear Window in 1954. He played the husband of Eileen Heckart characters in two films: The Bad Seed (1956) and Zandy's Bride (1974). He appeared on the Make Room For Daddy episode that was the pilot for The Andy Griffith Show. He was cast on some radio programs, including Gunsmoke episode #140 ("Outlaw Robin Hood") on January 8, 1955.

In the 1950s, Cady played Doc Williams in Ozzie and Harriet (1953-64). In 1961 Cady made a guest appearance on Perry Mason as twin brothers Joe and Hiram Widlock in "The Case of the Pathetic Patient". He was prolific in television and was the only actor to play a recurring character on three television sitcoms at the same time, which he did from 1968 to 1969, appearing on The Beverly Hillbillies, Green Acres, and Petticoat Junction simultaneously. As Sam Drucker, he appeared in 142 of 170 Green Acres episodes during its six-year run from 1965-71. Also as Sam Drucker, he was one of only three co-stars of Petticoat Junction who stayed with the series for its entire seven-year run (1963-70), along with Edgar Buchanan and Linda Henning, appearing in 152 of the show's 222 episodes. He played Sam in 10 episodes of The Beverly Hillbillies in 1968-70.

His final acting role was in the television movie Return to Green Acres (1990). In a 1995 interview with the Portland Oregonian Cady spoke of his television career: "You get typecast. I'm remembered for those shows and not for some pretty good acting jobs I did other times. I suppose I ought to be grateful for that, because otherwise I wouldn't be remembered at all. I've got to be one of the luckiest guys in the world."

In 2005, Cady attended Eddie Albert's funeral, along with Green Acres co-stars Sid Melton and Mary Grace Canfield.

Later life

Cady loved to write humorous poems, limericks, and parodies of songs. He also enjoyed making friends and family happy while he entertained them. He also loved playing golf with friends as well as traveling, he enjoyed many years of hiking in Switzerland. In 1977, he and his wife moved to Cambria, California. In 1991, they moved again, to his native Wilsonville, Oregon.

Death

Shirley Cady died on August 22, 2008 at the age of 91. The Cadys, who were married 68 years, were the parents of two children - daughter Catherine Turk and son Steven Cady. They had three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Frank Cady died at his home on June 8, 2012 at age 96. No specific cause was given. He was interred at Meridian United Church of Christ Cemetery in Wilsonville, Oregon.

Selected filmography

Year Title Role Other notes
1948 He Walked by Night Pete Hammond, Suspect Uncredited
1949 Flamingo Road Tom Hill Uncredited
1950 The Asphalt Jungle Night Clerk Uncredited
D.O.A. Eddie, Bartender in Banning CA Uncredited
"Experiment Alcatraz" Max Henry
The Great Rupert Mr. Taney, Tax Collector
Father of the Bride Uncredited
1951 When Worlds Collide Harold Ferris
Let's Make It Legal Ferguson
The Sellout Bennie Amboy
1952 The Atomic City F.B.I. Agent George Weinberg
1953 Half a Hero Mr. Watts
1954 Rear Window Husband above the Thorwalds
1954-1965 The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet Doc Williams Television, 61 episodes
1955 Trial Canford Uncredited
1956
The Bad Seed Henry Daigle
December Bride Television, 1 episode
Private Secretary Barney Television, 1 episode
1957 Broken Arrow Thaddeus Parker Television, 1 episode
The Girl Most Likely Pop
1958 The Missouri Traveler Willie Poole
Maverick Hamelin Television, 1 episode
Trackdown Bob Tail Television, 1 episode
1959 The Gale Storm Show Television, 1 episode
Sugarfoot Lawyer Jay Hollis Television, episode "The Mysterious Stranger"
The Man Who Understood Women John Milstead
1960 The Alaskans Bradshaw Television, episode "The Last Bullet"
Make Room for Daddy Town Drunk Television, 1 episode
Klondike Lester Television, 1 episode
1961 Guestward, Ho! Harry Crawford Television, episode "Bill, the Fireman"
Hawaiian Eye Harvey Gamson Television, 1 episode
Pete and Gladys Teller Television, 1 episode "The Live-In Couple"
Perry Mason Joe/Hiram Widlock Television, 1 episode
1962 Cheyenne Television, 1 episode
Dennis the Menace Dr. Ferguson Television, 1 episode
1963 The Virginian Mr. Hardy Television, 1 episode
Grindl Mr. Burroughs Television, 1 episode
Glynis Episode entitled "The Pros and Cons" Television, 1 episode
1963-1970 Petticoat Junction Mr. Drucker, The General Store Shopkeeper Television, 139 episodes
1964 Hazel Mr. Pincus Television, 1 episode
Gunsmoke Webb Norton Television, 1 episode
7 Faces of Dr. Lao Mayor James Sargent
1965-1966 The Andy Griffith Show Luke, a drunk Television, 2 episodes
1965-1971 Green Acres Mr. Drucker, The General Store Shopkeeper Television, 145 Episodes
1967 The Gnome-Mobile Charlie Pettibone Uncredited
1968-1970 The Beverly Hillbillies Sam Drucker Television, 10 episodes
1970 The Million Dollar Duck Assayer
1974 Zandy's Bride Pa Allan
Hawaii Five-O Judge Edgar Bergstrom Television, 1 episode
1974-1975 These Are the Days Homer (Voice) Television, 16 episodes
1975 Hearts of the West Pa Tater
1977 Eight Is Enough Television, 1 episode
1977 ABC Weekend Special
"The Winged Colt"
Mr. Sutter Television, 3 episodes
1990 Return to Green Acres Sam Drucker
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