Edgar Buchanan facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Edgar Buchanan
Buchanan circa 1971
Born	William Edgar Buchanan II (1903-03-20)March 20, 1903 Humansville, Missouri, U.S.
Died	April 4, 1979(1979-04-04) (aged 76) Palm Desert, California, U.S.
Education	North Pacific College (DDS)
Occupation	Dentist, actor, singer
Years active	1939–1974
Spouse(s)	Mildred Marguerite Spence (1928–1979; his death)
Children	1

William Edgar Buchanan II (born March 20, 1903 – died April 4, 1979) was a well-known American actor. He had a long and successful career in both movies and television shows. Many people remember him best as Uncle Joe Carson. This character appeared in the popular 1960s TV comedies Petticoat Junction, Green Acres, and The Beverly Hillbillies.

About Edgar Buchanan

Early Life and First Career

Edgar Buchanan was born in Humansville, Missouri. When he was seven, his family moved to Oregon. He studied dentistry and became a dentist in 1928. His wife, Mildred, was also a dentist. They met in dental school and got married in 1928. They had one son, named Buck.

In 1939, the family moved to Altadena, California. They opened their dental practice there. But Edgar had another passion: acting! He joined the Pasadena Playhouse, a famous theater group. He got his first movie role in 1939 when he was 36 years old. After that, his wife took over the dental practice, and Edgar focused on acting.

Becoming a Star Actor

Edgar Buchanan appeared in more than 100 movies! He often played friendly, sometimes grumpy, but always memorable characters. Some of his famous films include Texas (1941), where he played a dentist. He also appeared in Penny Serenade (1941) with Cary Grant. Other notable movies were The Talk of the Town (1942) and Cheaper by the Dozen (1950). Later in his career, he starred in Westerns like Ride the High Country (1962) and McLintock! (1963) with John Wayne. His final movie role was in Benji (1974).

He was also a popular guest star on many TV shows. He appeared in Cimarron City, The Californians, and The Rifleman. On The Rifleman, he played different characters like Grandpa Fogerty and Doc Burrage. He was also in Maverick with James Garner. Other shows included Leave It to Beaver, The Twilight Zone, and Gunsmoke.

Uncle Joe Carson and Beyond

Edgar Buchanan is most famous for his role as Uncle Joe Carson. He played this character in all 222 episodes of Petticoat Junction. He was the only actor to appear in every single episode! He also played Uncle Joe in 17 episodes of Green Acres and three episodes of The Beverly Hillbillies. These shows were all connected, and characters often appeared on each other's programs.

After the main star of Petticoat Junction, Bea Benaderet, passed away in 1968, Buchanan's character, Uncle Joe, took over running the Shady Rest Hotel. This made him an even more central part of the show. His real-life son, Buck, even made a few cameo appearances on Petticoat Junction. Edgar also appeared with Higgins the dog (who played Benji) in the 1974 movie Benji.

He also had a regular role as Red Connors in the Western series Hopalong Cassidy. Later, he played J.J. Jackson in the crime drama Cade's County. In 1967, he even released a spoken-word record called "Phantom 309".

A "crossover" episode: Irene Ryan as "Granny" from The Beverly Hillbillies and Edgar Buchanan as "Uncle Joe" on Petticoat Junction (1968)

Later Years and Passing

Edgar Buchanan passed away on April 4, 1979, in Palm Desert, California. He is buried in the Forest Lawn - Hollywood Hills Cemetery in Los Angeles. He left behind a legacy of memorable characters and a long career in entertainment.

Selected Filmography

Selected Television Roles

Images for kids

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  Buchanan circa 1971

See also

In Spanish: Edgar Buchanan para niños