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Edgar Buchanan

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Edgar Buchanan
Buchanan circa 1971
Born
William Edgar Buchanan II

(1903-03-20)March 20, 1903
Humansville, Missouri, U.S.
DiedApril 4, 1979(1979-04-04) (aged 76)
Palm Desert, California, U.S.
Occupation(s)Dentist, Actor, Singer
Years active1939–74
SpouseMildred Marguerite Spence (1928–1979; his death)
Children1

William Edgar Buchanan II (March 20, 1903 – April 4, 1979) was an American actor with a long career in both film and television. He is most familiar today as Uncle Joe Carson from the Petticoat Junction,[1] Green Acres, and The Beverly Hillbillies television sitcoms of the 1960s.

Biography

Early life

The son of Dr. and Mrs. William Edgar Buchanan, he was born in Humansville, Missouri, and moved with his family to Oregon when he was seven.[2][3] In 1928, he earned a DDS degree from North Pacific College School of Dentistry, which later became Oregon Health & Science University School of Dentistry.[4] His wife Mildred (1907–1987) and he, classmates in dental school, were married in 1928, the year he graduated. They had one child, a son named Buck.[5] In 1939, they moved from Eugene, Oregon, to Altadena, California, where they relocated their dental practice. He joined the Pasadena Playhouse as an actor.[6] He appeared in his first film in 1939, at the age of 36, after which he turned his dentistry practice over to his wife. He was a member of Theta Chi fraternity[7] and a Freemason.[8]

Career

Buchanan appeared in more than 100 films, including Texas (1941), in which he played a dentist and starred with William Holden and Glenn Ford and later in Penny Serenade (1941) with Cary Grant, Tombstone, the Town Too Tough to Die (1942), The Talk of the Town (1942) with Ronald Colman and Jean Arthur, The Man from Colorado (1949), Cheaper by the Dozen (1950), She Couldn't Say No (1954), Ride the High Country (1962) with Randolph Scott and Joel McCrea, McLintock! (1963) with John Wayne, Move Over, Darling (1963) with Doris Day and James Garner, and Benji (1974).

Among the many television series in which he was cast as a guest star were Cimarron City, The Californians, and The Rifleman. Edgar appeared in six episodes of The Rifleman, playing Grandpa Fogerty in “The Long Goodbye” (episode 119) and Doc Burrage in the other five: “The Pet” (episode 15), “The Second Witness” (episode 23), “The Trade” (episode 24), “The Deadly Wait” (episode 26), and “The Angry Man” (episode 31).[9] He portrayed Jed Christianson in the episode "Duel at Sundown" on Maverick with James Garner and Clint Eastwood, and was on Leave It to Beaver (as both "Uncle Billy" and "Captain Jack"), The Twilight Zone, Riverboat (as Wingate Pardee in the 1960 episode, "Duel on the River"), Gunsmoke, Route 66, Bringing Up Buddy, Bus Stop, and The Lloyd Bridges Show.

Buchanan's roles as a regular cast member in television programs included Red Connors in the syndicated Western Hopalong Cassidy,[10] and J.J. Jackson in the CBS crime drama Cade's County.[1]

In 1956, Buchanan portrayed the lead in the 39-episode syndicated Western television series, Judge Roy Bean,[10] set in Langtry, Texas, and filmed in color in California. Only loosely based on the career of the legendary storekeeper, bartender, and justice of the peace, Roy Bean, the series had supporting roles for Jack Buetel, Jackie Loughery, and Russell Hayden as a Texas Ranger. The series popularized Bean's claim to having been "The Only Law West of the Pecos", a reference to the Pecos River in Val Verde County in West Texas.[11] From 1960 to 1962, he appeared four times on the NBC Western series Laramie; Buchanan made two guest appearances on Perry Mason: in 1958 as a small-town coroner in "The Case of the Perjured Parrot" and in 1962 as a small-town judge in "The Case of the Lurid Letter".

Buchanan appeared as Uncle Joe Carson in all 222 episodes of Petticoat Junction, the only actor from the show to do so, as well as in 17 episodes of Green Acres,[1]: 416  and three episodes of The Beverly Hillbillies. On Petticoat Junction, he took over as proprietor of the Shady Rest Hotel following the 1968 death of show star Bea Benaderet, who had played Kate Bradley; Buchanan had starred as second lead since the series' inception. In 1969, in the episode "Kathy Jo's First Birthday Party", he appeared with his real-life son, Buck (who had a cameo as an ice cream vendor). Another star from Petticoat Junction and he appeared together in the 1974 movie Benji; the other "star" was Higgins the dog, which portrayed the title character.

In 1967, Dot Records released "Phantom 309" (Dot #17047), a narration by Buchanan. The 45-rpm single was backed with "Cotton Picker".[12]

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

Death

Buchanan died from a stroke complicated by pneumonia in Palm Desert, California,[12] and was interred in the Forest Lawn - Hollywood Hills Cemetery in Los Angeles.[13]

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
1939 My Son Is Guilty Dan, Bartender
1940 Too Many Husbands Det. Adolph McDermott
Three Cheers for the Irish Party Guest Uncredited
Tear Gas Squad Cousin Andy, a Policeman
Escape to Glory Charles Atterbee
The Seahawk Ben Rollins Uncredited
When the Daltons Rode Narrator / Old-timer Uncredited
Arizona Judge Bogardus
1941 Penny Serenade Applejack Carney
Her First Beau Elmer Tuttle
The Richest Man in Town Pete Martin
Texas Buford "Doc" Thorpe
You Belong to Me Billings, Groundskeeper
1942 Tombstone, the Town Too Tough to Die Curly Bill Brocious
The Talk of the Town Sam Yates
1943 City Without Men Michael T. Mallory
The Desperadoes Uncle Willie McLeod
Good Luck, Mr. Yates Jonesey Jones
Destroyer Kansas Jackson
1944 Buffalo Bill Sergeant Chips McGraw
Bride by Mistake Jonathan Connors
The Impatient Years Judge
Strange Affair Lt. Washburn
1946 The Fighting Guardsman Pepe, bandit-valet
Abilene Town Sheriff 'Bravo' Trimble
The Bandit of Sherwood Forest Friar Tuck
Perilous Holiday George Richards
The Walls Came Tumbling Down Rev. George Bradford
Renegades Kirk Dembrow
If I'm Lucky Darius J. Magonnagle
1947 The Sea of Grass Jeff
Framed Jeff Cunningham
1948 The Swordsman Angus MacArden
The Wreck of the Hesperus George Lockhart
The Black Arrow Lawless
Adventures in Silverado Dr. Hendersonn, aka The Monk
Best Man Wins Jim Smiley
Coroner Creek Sheriff O'Hea
The Untamed Breed John Rambeau
1949 The Man from Colorado Doc Merroan
The Walking Hills Old Willy
Red Canyon Jonah Johnson
Lust for Gold Wiser
Any Number Can Play Ed
1950 Cheaper by the Dozen Dr. Burton
Cargo to Capetown Sam Bennett
The Big Hangover Uncle Fred Mahoney
Devil's Doorway Zeke Carmody
1951 The Great Missouri Raid Dr. Samuels
Rawhide Sam Todd
Cave of Outlaws Dobbs
Silver City Dutch Surrency
1952 The Big Trees Walter 'Yukon' Burns
Flaming Feather Sgt. O'Rourke
Wild Stallion John Wintergreen
Toughest Man in Arizona Jim Hadlock
She Couldn't Say No Ed Meeker
1953 The War of the Worlds Square dance musician Uncredited
It Happens Every Thursday Jake
Shane Fred Lewis
1954 Make Haste to Live Sheriff Lafe
Human Desire Alec Simmons
Dawn at Socorro Sheriff Cauthen
Destry The Honorable Hiram J. Sellers, Mayor
1955 Rage at Dawn Judge
The Silver Star Will "Bill" Dowdy
The Lonesome Trail Dan Wells
Wichita Doc Black
1956 Come Next Spring Mr. Canary
1957 Spoilers of the Forest Tom Duncan
1958 Day of the Bad Man Sam Wyckoff
The Sheepman Milt Masters
1959 King of the Wild Stallions Idaho
It Started with a Kiss Congressman Richard Tappe
Edge of Eternity Sheriff Edwards
Hound-Dog Man Doc Cole
Stump Run Buck Gaskin
1960 Four Fast Guns Dipper
Cimarron Judge Neal Hefner
Chartroose Caboose Woody Watts
1961 Tammy Tell Me True Judge Carver
Devil's Partner Don Lucas
The Comancheros Judge Thaddeus Jackson Breen
1962 Ride the High Country Judge Tolliver
1963 Donovan's Reef Boston Attorney Francis X. O'Brien
A Ticklish Affair Captain Martin
McLintock! Bunny Dull
Move Over, Darling Judge Bryson
1965 The Rounders Vince Moore
The Man from Button Willow Sorry Voice
1966 Gunpoint Bull
1967 Welcome to Hard Times Brown
1969 Angel in My Pocket Axel Gresham
1974 Benji Bill (final film role)

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1953 Make Room for Daddy Captain Chris Episode: "The Sea Captain"
1954 Crown Theatre with Gloria Swanson Uncle Harry Episode: "Uncle Harry"
1952–1954 Hopalong Cassidy Red Connors
1955 Ford Theatre Papa Mumby Episode: "The Mumbysa"
Screen Directors Playhouse Sub Royal Episode: "The Bush Roper"
1953, 1955 Cavalcade of America Horace Greeley / Doc Mathew 4 episodes
1956 Judge Roy Bean Judge Roy Bean
Strange Stories Episode: "Con Game"
Crossroads Bart Alden Episode: "The Lamp of Father Cataldo"
1957 Whirlybirds Burton Episode: "The Perfect Crime"
The Christophers John Augustus Episode: "Sentence Deferred"
Climax! Spencer 2 episodes
1958 The Adventures of Jim Bowie Ringtail Episode: "Deaf Smith"
The Restless Gun Ethan Greenfield / Sheriff Gabe Starns 2 episodes
Studio One Dan Ferris Episode: "Birthday Present"
The Gale Storm Show Jasper Stokes Episode: "Hayride Ahoy"
26 Men Episode: "Cross and Doublecross"
Cimarron City Shanty Episode: "Kid on a Calico Horse"
1959 Lawman Jess Miller Episode: "The Captives"
Trackdown Tully Saxon Episode: "The Trick"
Wanted Dead or Alive Pop Michaels / Chester Blake 2 episodes
Alfred Hitchcock Presents Pops Episode: "Coyote Moon"
The Deputy Isbel Episode: "Man of Peace"
1955–1959 General Electric Theater
1958, 1959 The Californians Dutch / Major 2 episodes
1960 Bronco Pop Owens Episode: "Winter Kill"
Bat Masterson Cactus Charlie Episode: "Debt of Honor"
Assignment: Underwater Charlie Noble Episode: "Charlie Noble's Pearl"
Stagecoach West Lum Jensen Episode: "Red Sand"
Outlaws Nulty 2 episodes
Route 66 Jack McConkle Episode: "The Beryllium Eater"
Riverboat Wingate Pardee Episode: "Duel on the River"
1957, 1960 Wagon Train The Tramp / Ben Mattox 2 episodes
1961 Klondike Sam Perkins Episode: "The Golden Burro"
National Velvet Grandpa Harwell 2 episodes
The Barbara Stanwyck Show Judge Franklin Episode: "A Man's Game"
The Tall Man Archie Keogh Episode: "The Judas Palm"
The New Bob Cummings Show Episode: "The Oxtail Incident"
Bus Stop Judge Neal Episode: "The Man from Bootstrap"
The Andy Griffith Show Henry Wheeler Episode: "Aunt Bee's Brief Encounter"
1960-1961 Bonanza Hallelujah Hicks / John Henry Hill 2 episodes
1957–1961 Tales of Wells Fargo Bob Dawson / Doc Dawson 6 episodes
1958–1961 Maverick Daddy Forge / Jed Christianson / Colonel Hamilton / Red Daniels 5 episodes
The Rifleman Doc Burrage / Grandpa Fogarty
1962 The Twilight Zone Doc Bolton Episode: "The Last Rites of Jeff Myrtlebank"
Thriller Doc O'Connor Episode: 'Til Death Do Us Part
Alcoa Premiere Crab Holman Episode: "Flashing Spikes"
Stoney Burke Dawes Episode: "Fight Night"
Have Gun – Will Travel Cardiff Episode: "Man in an Hourglass"
The Wide Country Uncle Walt Guthrie Episode: "Good Old Uncle Walt"
Dennis the Menace Mr. Meekin Episode: "Dennis and the Hermit"
1958, 1962 Perry Mason Andy Templet / Judge Edward Daley 2 episodes
1960–1962 Laramie Tully Casper
Cletus McBain		 4 episodes
1962-1963 The Lloyd Bridges Show Doc / Tyree 2 episodes
Gunsmoke Dan Witter / Dan York 2 episodes
Dr. Kildare Steve Devitt / Judge Manning 2 episodes
1957–1963 Leave It to Beaver Captain Jack / William 'Uncle Billy' Cleaver 3 episodes
1965 Luke and the Tenderfoot Luke Herkimer
1968 Something for a Lonely Man Old Man Wolenski TV movie
The Beverly Hillbillies Uncle Joe Carson 3 episodes
1969 The Over-the-Hill Gang Jason Fitch TV movie
1965–1969 Green Acres Uncle Joe Carson There were many crossovers from Petticoat Junction cast members in the series
1970 The Name of the Game Felson Episode: "Little Bear Died Running"
The Mod Squad Hargis Episode: "Welcome to the Human Race, Levi Frazee!"
The Over-the-Hill Gang Rides Again Jason Fitch TV movie
1963–1970 Petticoat Junction Joseph P. "Uncle Joe" Carson
1971 "The Men From Shiloh" (rebranded name of The Virginian) Teddy Birdwell Episode: "The Legacy of Spencer Flats"
Yuma Mules McNeil TV movie
1971–1972 Cade's County J.J. Jackson
1972 The Partridge Family Judge McElwreath Episode: "M is for Many Things"
1973 Love, American Style Segment: Love and the Family Hour

References

  1. ^ a b c Terrace, Vincent (January 10, 2014). Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 through 2010 (2nd ed.). McFarland. p. 151. ISBN 978-0-7864-6477-7.
  2. ^ "Buck Comes Home". The Eugene Guard. May 18, 1959. p. 11. Retrieved July 28, 2017 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  3. ^ Edgar Buchanan, Actor, Matineeclassics.com; retrieved March 10, 2013. Archived December 19, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ "Edgar Buchanan: the frontier dentist who played one on TV". Oregon Health & Science University. July 12, 2010. Retrieved June 10, 2013.
  5. ^ "Actor Edgar Buchanan, TV's 'Uncle Joe,' Is Dead". Pittsburgh Post Gazette. April 5, 1979. p. 12. Retrieved December 16, 2018.
  6. ^ Monush, Barry (2003). Screen World Presents the Encyclopedia of Hollywood Film Actors: From the silent era to 1965. Hal Leonard Corporation. p. 96. ISBN 978-1-5578-3551-2. Retrieved 29 July 2017.
  7. ^ The Rattle of Theta Chi. Theta Chi Fraternity Inc. 1942. p. 13. Retrieved 28 July 2017.
  8. ^ Karg, Barb; Sutherland, Rick (May 18, 2010). Secret America: The Hidden Symbols, Codes and Mysteries of the United States. Simon & Schuster. ISBN 978-1-4405-0723-6.
  9. ^ "Secrets Of TV's The Rifleman: More Than Just Guns And Good Times". Trend-chaser.com. 1970-01-01. p. 66. Retrieved 2017-07-13.
  10. ^ a b Erickson, Hal (1989). Syndicated Television: The First Forty Years, 1947-1987. McFarland & Company, Inc. p. 97. ISBN 978-0-8995-0410-0.
  11. ^ Hathorn, Billy. "Roy Bean, Temple Houston, Bill Longley, Ranald Mackenzie, Buffalo Bill, Jr., and the Texas Rangers: Depictions of West Texans in Series Television, 1955 to 1967", West Texas Historical Review, Vol. 89 (2013), pp. 102-118
  12. ^ a b Leszczak, Bob (2015). From Small Screen to Vinyl: A Guide to Television Stars Who Made Records, 1950-2000. Rowman & Littlefield. pp. 35–36. ISBN 978-1-4422-4274-6. Retrieved 29 July 2017.
  13. ^ Ellenburger, Alan R. (May 1, 2001). Celebrities in Los Angeles Cemeteries: A Directory. McFarland. ISBN 978-0-7864-5019-0.

Further reading

  • Maltin, Leonard (2015) [First published 1969]. "Edgar Buchanan". The Real Stars : Profiles and Interviews of Hollywood's Unsung Featured Players (softcover) (Sixth / eBook ed.). Great Britain: CreateSpace Independent. pp. 13–37. ISBN 978-1-5116-4485-3.
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