Frank Cady facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Frank Cady
Cady in The Great Rupert (1950)
Born	Frank Randolph Cady (1915-09-08)September 8, 1915 Susanville, California, U.S.
Died	June 8, 2012(2012-06-08) (aged 96) Wilsonville, Oregon, U.S.
Resting place	Los Osos Valley Memorial Park, Los Osos, California
Other names	Frankie Cady Frank R. Cady
Alma mater	Stanford University
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1947–1990
Known for	Sam Drucker
Television	The Beverly Hillbillies Green Acres Petticoat Junction
Spouse(s)	Shirley Cady ​ ​ (m. 1940; died 2008)​
Children	2

Frank Randolph Cady (born September 8, 1915 – died June 8, 2012) was an American actor. He was best known for playing the friendly storekeeper Sam Drucker. This character appeared in three popular American TV shows during the 1960s: Petticoat Junction, Green Acres, and The Beverly Hillbillies. Before that, he was also known for his role as Doc Williams on The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet.

Frank Cady's Early Life

Frank Cady was born in Susanville, California. He was the youngest of three children. His parents were Leon and Clara Cady.

When he was in high school, Frank worked at a local newspaper called The Lassen County Advocate. Later, his family moved to Wilsonville, Oregon.

Education and Early Career

Frank studied journalism and drama at Stanford University. He also worked on the campus humor magazine, the Stanford Chaparral. After college, he trained at the Westminster Theater in London, England. He even appeared on the BBC in late 1938, which was an early TV appearance.

In 1939, he returned to Stanford for more studies. There, he met Shirley Katherine Jones, and they married in 1940. Shirley was also a Stanford graduate. She worked as a singer, teacher, and legal secretary.

Frank wasn't happy with school anymore. So, he started working as a radio announcer and news reporter in California. In 1943, he joined the United States Army Air Forces. He served in England, France, and Germany during World War II.

Frank Cady's Acting Career

After leaving the military in 1946, Frank Cady started acting in plays in Los Angeles. This led to his first movie roles in 1947.

Early Movie Roles

In 1949, he had a small, uncredited speaking part in the movie D.O.A.. The next year, 1950, he had another uncredited role in Father of the Bride. He also appeared in The Asphalt Jungle as a witness.

Frank worked with director George Pal on two science fiction films: When Worlds Collide (1951) and 7 Faces of Dr. Lao (1964). He also appeared in Ace in the Hole (1951) and Rear Window (1954). In Rear Window, he played a man sleeping on a fire escape.

He played the husband of actress Eileen Heckart in two movies: The Bad Seed (1956) and Zandy's Bride (1974). He also appeared in a pilot episode for The Andy Griffith Show.

Television Success

In the 1950s, Frank Cady became well-known as Doc Williams on Ozzie and Harriet. He played this role from 1953 to 1964. In 1961, he guest-starred on Perry Mason, playing twin brothers Joe and Hiram Widlock.

A unique part of his career was playing a recurring character on three TV shows at the same time. From 1968 to 1969, he appeared as Sam Drucker on The Beverly Hillbillies, Green Acres, and Petticoat Junction.

• As Sam Drucker, he was in 142 episodes of Green Acres (1965–1971).
• He was also one of only three actors to stay with Petticoat Junction for its entire seven-year run (1963–1970). He appeared in 152 episodes of that show.
• He played Drucker in 10 episodes of The Beverly Hillbillies from 1968 to 1970.

His last acting role was in the TV movie Return to Green Acres in 1990. In an interview, Frank Cady said he was lucky to be remembered for these shows. He felt he was "one of the luckiest guys in the world."

Later Life and Hobbies

Frank Cady enjoyed writing funny poems and songs. He also loved playing golf with his friends. He traveled a lot and spent many years hiking in Switzerland.

In 1977, he and his wife, Shirley, moved to Cambria, California. In 1991, they moved again to his old hometown, Wilsonville, Oregon.

Frank Cady's Death

Shirley Cady, Frank's wife, passed away on August 22, 2008, at age 91. They had been married for 68 years. They had two children, Catherine and Steven, along with three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Frank Cady died at his home on June 8, 2012, at the age of 96. The cause of his death was not shared. His ashes were buried next to his wife's at Los Osos Valley Memorial Park in Los Osos, California.

Filmography

Television Credits