Oliver Wendell Douglas
A man who was baffled by the people of Hooterville as much as they were about the way he dressed. Graduated from Harvard, Mr. Douglas wanted to give up the rat race of the city and live on a farm.
Eddie Albert - Born on April 22, 1908 in Rock Island, Illinois with the name Albert Heimberger. When he was one year old, his family moved to Minneapolis, where he was able to make his classmates laugh just by wiggling his ears without touching them.
Before making his movie debut in the film Brother Rat, he worked as a radio announcer. People used to confuse his name and called him Hamburger, so he changed it to Albert.
Albert married actress Margo Bolado y O'Donnel on December 5, 1945. They had a son, Eddie Jr. and adopted a daughter, Maria.
Additional TV Appearances:
'The Man from U.N.C.L.E.', 'Petticoat Junction', 'The Beverly Hillbillies', 'Columbo', 'The David Frost Show', 'McCloud', 'Switch', 'Here's Lucy', 'Kung Fu', 'Simon & Simon', 'Love Boat', 'Murder, She Wrote', 'Highway to Heaven', 'Falcon Crest', 'The Twilight Zone', 'thirtysomething'.
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Lisa Douglas
A Hungarian who mangled the English language a bit. Some examples are: She asked Oliver a hypodermical question - or the time she didn't want to jump to any concussions, or the electricical outlets. She was engaged six times before marring Oliver, including a count and a sheik.
Eva Gabor was the youngest of three sisters, born to Vilmos and Jolie Gabor on February 11, 1926. (Sisters were Magda, and Sari (aka Zsa Zsa)) She was the first of the sisters to come over to the States, and soon after she signed a contract with Paramount Pictures.
Eva was the chairman of the board of the world's largest wig company, Eva Gabor International. She has provided the voices for Disney animated character Miss Bianca in THE RESCUERS & THE RESCUERS DOWN UNDER as well as others.
Additional TV Appearances:
"Masterpiece Playhouse"; "Suspense"; "Studio One"; "GE Theatre"; "The Tonight Show"; "Burke's Law"; "To Tell the Truth"; "Hollywood Squares"; "Petticoat Junction"; "The Beverly Hillbillies"; "The Dean Martin Show"; "Night Gallery"; "Here's Lucy"; "Ellery Queen"; "Tattletales"; "Hart to Hart"; "Love Boat"; "Hotel"; "One on One"; "Hi Honey, I'm Home!"
Additional Movie Appearances:
The Last Time I Saw Paris (1954); Artists and Models (1955); Don't Go Near the Water (1957); My Man Godfrey (1957); It Started with a Kiss (1959); Gigi (1959); Youngblood Hawke (1964); The Aristocats (1969); Return to Green Acres (1991)
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Eb Dawson
A naive, clumsy, basically honest birdbrain. He had no career, rarely got a date, and hardly changed his cloths over the run of the series. Oh, and he had a pet turtle!
Tom Lester - Born on September 23, 1938 in Jackson, Mississippi. He was brought up on his grandfather's farm, shucking corn, fishing, hunting, and picking cotton. He graduated from the University of Mississippi, majoring in Chemistry. He taught science and biology at a school in Purcell, Oklahoma, before moving to Hollywood.Lester has remained single and spends his time between Laurel, Mississippi, and Hollywood. He speaks to youth groups and at religious gatherings at times about his faith. He's shared the stage three times with Billy Graham, and feels his notoriety from the show enables him to spread the word of God.
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Additional TV Appearances:
"Petticoat Junction"; "The Beverly Hillbillies"; "Marcus Welby, M.D."; "Love American Style"; "Little House on the Prairie;" "Charo and the Sergeant"
Additional Movie Appearances:
Benji (1974); Pistol Pete (1990); Return to Green Acres (1991)
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Sam Drucker
The straight man of the bunch. He was occasionally feisty, but you got the feeling he was the only sane native Hootervillian. He was a confirmed bachelor, a staple of the community, the town postmaster, mayor, and owner of the general store, which was the center of the Hooterville universe.
Frank Cady - born on September 8, 1915 in Susanville, California. He graduated from Stanford University, where he earned a BA in speech and drama. Frank is a lot like Sam Drucker - gentle, kindhearted, sincere, eager to help, and happy. Before Sam Drucker, he played Doc Williams on "The Ozzie and Harriet Show" for 12 years. After the series, he became a TV commercial spokesman for the dog food Fit & Trim, while working in films and television.Frank and his wife, Shirley, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 1990. They have two children, Steve and Catherine, and two grandchildren. They live near Portland, Oregon, and the two of them enjoy annual hikes, in the Swiss Alps!
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Additional TV Appearances: "Studio One"; "Life with Father"; "December Bride"; "The Jane Wyman Show"; "The Danny Thomas Show"; "The Alaskans"; "Guestward Ho!"; "Perry Mason"; "Pete and Gladys"; "Dennis the Menace"; "GE Theatre"; "Maverick"; "You Are There"; "Glynis"; "Cheyenne"; "The Real McCoys"; "Desilu Playhouse"; "Grindl"; "The Best Years"; "The Virginian"; "Great Adventures"; "Hazel"; "The Andy Griffith Show"; "The Practice"; "Gunsmoke"; "Hawaii Five-O"; "After M*A*S*H"; "Famliy Feud."
Additional Movie Appearances: The Asphalt Jungle (1950) The Big Carnival (1951), When Worlds Collide (1951), The Bad Seed (1956), The Girl Most Likely (1957), The Seven Faces of Dr. Lao (1964), Zandy's Bride (1974), Hearts of the West (1975)
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Hank Kimball
He was possible the most cunning parody of a premature Alzheimer's victim. Although likeable, he was irritating. He was like a toothache...well, not a toothache... The vacant expression on Kimball's face and sometimes his slow reactions were reminiscent of Stan Laurel at his best.
Alvy Moore...born in Vincennes, Indiana on December 5, 1925. While in grammar school, he moved with his parents to Terre Haute, Indiana. He served four years in the Marine Corps, including the battle for Iwo Jima. On May 14, 1950 he married Carolyn Mohr, in Las Vegas. Alvy has three children, Barry, Janet, and Alyson, the latter of whom appeared as an extra in a "Green Acres" episode.Alvy is associated with many classics, with his role as a member of Marlon Brando's motorcycle gang in The Wild One being the most unusual. His character was called Pidgeon, and he refused to ride any of the motorcycles in any of the scenes.
Alvy was asked to address the Department of Agriculture during the show's run, and he brought along his costume. They didn't know what to think, but everything went ok and they asked him to attend the county agent's convention in Omaha later that year.
Besides Eddie Albert, Alvy enjoyed the aid of teleprompters. "They were a godsend," he says. "...For me, the dialogue was just so disjointed it was hard to memorize." He was originally only hired for a two part episode, but Jay Sommers liked his unique delivery and timing that he was added to the cast.
Now 68, Alvy copes with a bad knee and continues to make guest appearances on TV and at golf tournaments around the country.
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Additional TV Appearances: "The Schlitz Playhouse"; "Silent Service"; "My Friend Irma"; "Space Patrol"; "Fireside Theatre"; "Zane Grey Theatre"; "Johnny Ringo"; "Broken Arrow"; "Death Valley Days"; "77 Sunset Strip"; "Blue Angels"; "The Ann Sothern Show"; "Wagon Train"; "Dragnet"; "Perry Mason"; "Daniel Boone"; "Surfside Six"; "Burke's Law"; "The Virginian"; "The Andy Griffith Show"; "My Little Margie"; "My mother, the car"; "The Beverly Hillbillies"; "Gomer Pyle"; "Dennis the Menace"; "The Donna Reed Show"; "The Monsters"; "Trapper John, M.D."; "Newhart"; "Evening Shade"
Additional Movie Appearances: Okinawa (1952); You for Me (1952); China Venture (1953); Riot in Cell Block 11 (1954); Screaming Eagles (1956); Three Nuts in Search of a Bolt (1964); The Late Liz (1971); A Boy and His Dog (1975); The Horror Show (1989); Nightcrew (1989); Little White Lies (1989); Return to Green Acres (1991)
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Mr. Haney
The country con artist....the personification of capitalism at its worst. Always looking for opportunities to make, or swindle, a buck. All of his relations are in positions of authority, which aggravates the heck out of Oliver.
Pat Buttram...was born on June 19, 1917 in Alabama. He studied theology at Birmingham-Southern College and spent 13 years working with radio in Chicago. He was married once, to Sheila Ryan, an actress he met while working on 'Mule Train'. They had one daughter, Kathleen Kerry born in 1954. His wife passed away in 1975, and he recently passed away & is buried near Haleyville, Alabama at Maxwell Chapel.
Additional TV Appearances: "The Gene Autry Show"; "The George Gobel Show"; "The Real McCoys"; "Alfred Hitchcock Presents"; "The Ed Sullivan Show"; "The Munsters"; "Petticoat Junction"; "Simon & Simon".
Additional Movie Appearances: National Born Dance (1944), Stawberry Roan (1948), Indian Territory (1950), Hills of Utah (1951), Twighlight of Honor (1963), The Hanged Man (1974), Back to the Future III (1990), Return to Green Acres (1991). He also provided the voices for The Aristocats, Robin Hood, & The Rescuers.
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Fred Ziffel
He was the seasoned elder farmer in Hooterville, filled with wisdom and knowledge. Although some of his advice was 'off', he was just too endearing not to like. With his thumbs wound around his overall straps or under his armpits, Fred spoke in that think, garbled, deep voice of his. He and Doris has a 'son', Arnold the Pig whom they raised as their own. Fred seemed to like being around Arnold more then around Doris. :)
Hank Patterson...was born on Oct 9, 1888 in Alabama as Elmer Calvin Patterson and began his career as a piano player for a road show in 1910. He was an actor in tent shows and moved to Los Angelas in the 1920's, eventually ending up in films and television. He died of complications from bronchial pneumonia and a stroke at the age of 86 on Aug 23, 1975. He was survived by his wife, Daisy M. Sheeler.
Additional TV Appearances: "The Abbott & Costello Show"; "Death Valler Days"; "Broken Arrow"; "Restless Gun"; "Burke's Law"; "Have Gun, Will Travel"; "Twilight Zone"; "The Andy Griffith Show"; "Petticoat Junction"; "The Beverly Hillbillies"; "Love, American Style".
Additional Movie Appearances: The Spider (1945), Tarantula (1955), The Amazing Colossal Man (1957), Man of a Thousand Faces (1957), The Beginning of the End (1957), The Decks Ran Red (1958), Monster on the Campus (1958), Terror in a Texas Town (1958).
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Doris Ziffel
The mother to a pig who wore the pants in the family, did the plowing, cooked, bathed Arnold, and got him ready for school.
Barbara Pepper...born on May 31, 1912 as Marion Pepper. She changed her name at age 16 and became a showgirl in the last of the great Ziegfeld Follies of 1931-32. During the early 1940's she married actor Craig Reynolds and had two boys, Dennis & John. Her husband was killer in a motorcycle accident in 1949 leaving her devastated. Eventually her health declined and was hospitalized during a hiatus from GREEN ACRES. She returned for a few episodes, but was replaced by Fran Ryan for the 1969 season. Suffering from a heart ailment, Barbara died on July 18, 1969 in California at the age of 57.
Additional TV Appearances: "I Love Lucy"; "The Jack Benny Show"; "The Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet"; "Perry Mason"; "Mr. Ed"; "The Fugitive"; "Daniel Boone"; "Date with the Angels"; "My Three Sons".
Additional Movie Appearances: (Way to many to list them all!) Moulin Rouge (1933), Showboat (1936), The Westland Case (1937), Sweethearts (1938), The Girl Downstairs (1939), South of Tahiti (1941), Let's Face It (1943), Terror Trail (1947), Inferno (1953), Sex Kittens Go to College (1960), A Child Is Waiting (1963), The Patsy (1964), Kiss Me Stupid (1964)
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Alf Monroe
The brother of the team of carpenters, specializing in chicken coops, happily working on the bedroom of the Douglas' house which they never finished. Alf was quirky & passive, and just as inept as Ralph, his sister.
Sid Melton...born in 1920 with showbiz in his blood. His father (I. Meltzer) was a theater performer during the vaudeville days. Sid had two brothers, Murray and Lewis Meltzer. Murray, Sid's idol and inspiration, died suddenly at the age of 29. His career really took off once he moved to Hollywood when he was 22. He worked with Al Jolson in Seein' Hollywood, playing a GI lost in Tinseltown. In 1949 he acted with Humphrey Bogart in Knock on Any Door. For two years Sid was with the musical Guys and Dolls starring Allan Jones. Eventually he joined the cast of 'The Danny Thomas Show' as Charlie Halper, the owner of the nightclub where Danny preformed.
Sid made his first appearance on 'Green Acres' as Ed Ferguson the plumber, which led to the part of Alf the carpenter. He also played the recurring con artist on 'Gomer Pyle' as well as in dream sequences & flashbacks from 'The Golden Girls'. (Sophia's husband)
Additional TV Appearances:
'It's Always Jan'; 'December Bride'; 'Schlitz Playhouse of Stars'; 'The Lucille Ball-Desi Arnaz Show'; 'Dragnet'; 'The Adventures of Superman'; 'Captain Midnight'; 'The Bob Hope Show'; 'Gomer Pyle'; 'Petticoat Junction'; 'Mod Squad'; 'Make Room for Daddy'; 'Rhoda'; 'Hunter'; 'The Fall Guy'; 'The Golden Girls'; 'Nurses'.
Additional Movie Appearances:
Blondie Goes to College (1942); Hey, Rookie (1944); On the Town (1949); White Heat (1949); Return of Jesse James (1950); Savage Drums (1951); Steel Helmet (1951); The Lost Continent (1951); The Lemon Drop Kid (1951); Bigger then Life (1956); Beau James (1957); The Joker is Wild (1957); The Geisha Boy (1958); It Takes All Kinds (1969); The Lady from Peking (1971); Lady Sings the Blues (1972); The Day the Earth Moved (1974); Return to Green Acres (1991)
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Ralph Monroe
The sister of the team of carpenters, specializing in chicken coops, happily working on the bedroom of the Douglas' house which they never finished. Ralph was always falling in love, esp. with Hank Kimball. She played cymbals and a 'buggel' and was a very good cook.
Mary Grace Canfield...mother of Phoebe and Alison and was a caretaker of her parents. She has fond memories of the time she spent with the show, finding it 'relaxing, fun, silly.' She grew up in Rochester, NY and later studied at Hedgerow Theatre before appearing on Broadway in Galieo. She was in many plays and even had a date with Gomer Pyle in a vintage episode of 'The Andy Griffith Show'. She lives happily with her husband in Maine.
Additional TV Appearances:
'Studio One'; 'The Goodyear Playhouse'; 'Robert Montgomery Presents'; 'My Sister Eileen'; 'Thriller'; 'Hazel'; 'The Joey Bishop Show'; 'The Farmer's Daughter'; 'It's About time'; 'Bewitched'; 'Run, Buddy, Run'; 'Love, American Style'; 'The New Land'; 'Adam-12'; 'General Hospital'; 'Love Boat'; 'Cagney & Lacey'; 'Alica'.
Additional Movie Appearances:
Pollyanna (1960); The Interns (1962); Come Blow Your Horn (1963); The St. Valentine's Day Massacre (1967); Night of Terror (1972); Promise Him Anything (1975); Something Wicked This Way Comes (1982); Burning Rage (1984); South of Reno (1988); Return to Green Acres (1991); Young Goodman Brown (1991)
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Newt Kiley
Although he would only visit Drucker's store every now and then, his presence was felt when he did. He was a quiet farmer who only added to Oliver's aggravation by misconstruing everything or adding an off the wall comment to any conversation.
Kay E. Kuter...Born on April 25, 1925. His father Leo was an art director who designed the radio tower logo for RKO Radio Pictures, as well as set designs on films such as Rio Bravo, PT 109, Key Largo, and Yankee Doodle Dandy. His mother was an actress in silent films. When he was in grade school he decided to join the family business. He graduated from Carnegi Tech with a drama degree, and worked in radio before moving to TV in 1949. Kuter lives in California and remains very active in theater, television and other work.
Additional TV Appearances:
"Pony Express"; "The Californains"; "Iron Horse"; "Medic"; "The Jack Benny Show"; "The Cale Storm Show"; "Lassie"; "The Millionaire"; "The Twilight Zone"; "Perry Mason"; "Mr. Ed"; "V: The Series" (Does anyone know which episodes?!); "Star Trek:TNG"; "Baywatch"
Additional Movie Appearances:
The Big Night (1951); The True Story of Jesse James (1957); The FBI Story (1959); The Last Starfighter (1984)
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Arnold Ziffel
Arnold Ziffel...was a pig. And not just any pig. He was the son the Ziffels never had but always wanted. He was twice named Best Actor and recipient of a Patsy Award, the American Humane Society's annual accolade to animal actors. Arnold loved to watch TV, especially westerns and he could even imitate Lassie's bark! He went to school, had a paper route, was always sending away for mail-order items, and could speak three languages- French, Spanish, and a bit of Japanese. There was nothing this pig couldn't do!
We owe a great big thanks to Frank Inn for training Arnold and making him who he was. Arnold added much to the show, and without him it wouldn't have been the same.
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Supporting Cast
Supporting Cast
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Guest Cast
Adrian, Iris (Mrs. Bennett) Audley, Eleanor (Mother) Baer, Parley (Mr. Webster) Bannon, Jack (student) Baldwin, Walter (Grandpappy Miller) Benaderet, Bea (Kate Bradley) Buchanan, Edgar (Uncle Joe) Burnette, Smiley (Charley Pratt) Bouchey, Willias (Mr. Felton) Bonney, Gail (Mrs. Miller) Davis, Rufe (Floyd Smoot) Drew (Secretary) Edwards, Sam (Wally Wilkins) Fadden, Tom (Ben Miller) Farrar, Stanley (Dr. Fillmore) Garretsaon, Majorie (Maid) Gordon, Gavin (Roland Weatherby) Gordon, Phil (Carl Flint) Harmon, John (Jack Parker) Hausner, Jerry (Ed Ferguson) Hutten, Jeffery (child) Jellison, Robert (Roland Wilson) Jones, Jackie J. (Young Oliver) Kuter, Kay E. (Newt Kiley) Leeds, Peter (Moving man) Melton, Sid (Ed Ferguson, the plumber) Neff, William (Mr. Wilson) Phillips, Terry (Duke) Saunders, Lori (Bobbie Jo Bradley) Scott, Henry (Riley) Stratton, Chet (Mr. Peters) Talbot, Lyle (Mr. Bennett) Wendell, Howard (Bennington) White, Jesse (George Jenkins) Wikerson, Guy (Ben) Winters, Roland (Judson Carter Felton) Willock, Dave (Bennington)
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