Green Acres, Petticoat Junction: Frank Cady Dies; Farewell Sam Drucker

Beloved character actor Frank Cady has died at the age of 96 years old. According to his daughter Catherine Turk, he passed away on June 8th at his home in Wilsonville, Oregon. Cady was best known for his role as shopkeeper Sam Drucker on CBS’ Green Acres and Petticoat Junction.

Born in Susanville, California on September 8, 1915, Cady studied journalism at Stanford University and met his future wife Shirley there. Following graduation, Cady served an apprenticeship at the Westminster Theater in London, appeared in four plays, and made an appearance on television on the BBC in 1938. He returned to Stanford but was unhappy as a teaching assistant so went into broadcasting.

He appeared in several movies, like Rear Window and When Worlds Collide, but became best know for his work in television. Cady had a recurring role as Doc Williams on The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet, appearing in 19 episodes. He also acted on classic shows like The Andy Griffith Show, Hawaii Five-0, Eight is Enough, and The Virginian.

Cady was best known however as affable Sam Drucker and worked concurrently as a series regular on both Green Acres and Petticoat Junction. Both shows took place in the same rural community of Hootverville. Cady also appeared on 10 episodes of The Beverly Hillbillies and his character was the object of Granny’s affections. All three shows were part of CBS’ “rural purge” and were cancelled in the early 1970s.

The actor played Sam Drucker in 317 half hour episodes of television and reunited with the surviving members of the Green Acres cast for the TV movie Return to Green Acres. It aired on May 18, 1990 and was his final role.

Cady and his wife moved to moved to Oregon in the 1990s and she died in 2008.

What do you think? What are your memories of Frank Cady’s work?

More about: Eight is Enough, Green Acres, Hawaii Five-0, Petticoat Junction, The Andy Griffith Show, The Beverly Hillbillies, The Virginian

Newer and/or Related Articles