---
name: "Edgar Buchanan"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/edgar-buchanan"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "20 March 1903"
died: "4 April 1979"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 3
average_fi1m_score: 72
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 3
updated: "2026-09-20T02:35:19.983912+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Edgar Buchanan

Actor. Born 20 March 1903 in Humansville, Missouri, USA. Died 4 April 1979.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 20 March 1903, Humansville, Missouri, USA
- **Died:** 4 April 1979
- **Active:** 1942–1960
- **Also known as:** William Edgar Buchanan II
- **Frequently works with:** [George Stevens](https://film.one/person/george-stevens.md), [Jean Arthur](https://film.one/person/jean-arthur.md)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 72, as actor, over 3 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1940s 75 (1), 1950s 83 (1), 1960s 57 (1)
- **Score spread:** 1 at 80+, 1 at 60–79, 1 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 0 of 2 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Drama 2, Western 2, Comedy 1, Romance 1
- **Screen time:** 6 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $32m across 3 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edgar_Buchanan, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q950397, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0118000/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/30512

## Streaming the US now

- **Apple TV:** [*Shane*](https://film.one/film/shane.md) (83)
- **Tubi:** [*The Talk of the Town*](https://film.one/film/the-talk-of-the-town.md) (75)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on Edgar Buchanan

> Edgar Buchanan mumbled through his moustache in more than a hundred films and never once pretended to be anyone else. The sly, tired, decent rustic was his only part, and in the right Western it was the one worth watching.

In *The Talk of the Town* (1942), the fugitive Dilg needs a lawyer, and the one he gets is Edgar Buchanan's Sam Yates, a man who appears to be addressing his own moustache and who nonetheless lands every line he is given. That is Buchanan in one part. He looks as if he has wandered in from the feed store, he sounds like gravel in a bucket, and he is the one man at the table you would trust with your money.

He came to it late. He was a dentist until he was thirty-six, joined the Pasadena Playhouse in 1939, was signed by a studio and made his debut the same year in *My Son Is Guilty*. From there he did what studio character men did, which was work: more than a hundred films through the 1950s and 1960s, many of them Westerns, thirteen of them with Glenn Ford. Then television, where *Petticoat Junction* (1963–1970) kept him occupied as Uncle Joe Carson for all 222 episodes. He retired after *Benji* (1974).

He never claimed to be doing anything but turning up. "I've always played myself, whether doing a dramatic or comedy role," he said in 1972. The complaint that follows from that, and it followed him for forty years, is that he played the same rustic rogue in everything, and it is true. It is also the reason he was worth casting. In *Shane* (1953) the farmers are mostly hats; Buchanan's Fred Lewis, who would rather sell up and go, is one of the two drawn with any care, and we found ourselves more on his side than we expected to be, because a worn-out man saying he has had enough sounds like plain sense when Buchanan says it.

Directors valued that understated delivery, and George Stevens, who made both films we have reviewed, got the most from it by letting him talk in a parlour full of better-dressed people and trusting us to notice who was making sense. He liked *Penny Serenade* (1941) best himself, and there is a late Western part as Judge Tolliver in *Ride the High Country* (1962) that admirers of his still mention. We would start with *The Talk of the Town*, where he has the most to say, and *Shane*, where he has the least and makes it count. A hundred films of the same man sounds like a limitation. It was a career, and a better one than most of the hats managed.

## Biography

Edgar Buchanan, also credited as William Edgar Buchanan II, was an American actor. Born in Humansville, Missouri, he trained as a dentist, graduating from North Pacific College School of Dentistry in Portland, Oregon, and practised in Oregon and California before turning to acting in the late 1930s.

He made his film debut in 1939 and appeared in more than 100 films, including *The Talk of the Town* (1942) as Sam Yates, *Shane* (1953) as Fred Lewis, *Ride the High Country* (1962) as Judge Tolliver and *McLintock!* (1963) as Bunny Dull. On television he played recurring roles in series such as *The Andy Griffith Show* (1960) and *Bonanza* (1959), and is best known as Uncle Joe Carson in *Petticoat Junction*, *Green Acres* and *The Beverly Hillbillies*.

Buchanan died in Palm Desert, California, in 1979.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.*

## On Fi1m (3)

- *Cimarron* (1960), Fi1m 57, as Judge Neal Hefner — [page](https://film.one/film/cimarron.md)
- *Shane* (1953), Fi1m 83, as Fred Lewis — [page](https://film.one/film/shane.md)
- *The Talk of the Town* (1942), Fi1m 75, as Sam Yates — [page](https://film.one/film/the-talk-of-the-town.md)

## Complete filmography (152)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Benji* (1974), as Bill
- *The Marshal of Madrid* (1972), as Deputy JJ Jackson
- *Sam Cade* (1972), as J.J. Jackson
- *Cade's County* (1971), series, as Senior Deputy J.J. Jackson
- *Yuma* (1971), as Mules McNeil
- *The Over-the-Hill Gang Rides Again* (1970), as Jason Fitch
- *The Partridge Family* (1970), series, as Judge McElwreath
- *The Over the Hill Gang* (1969), as Jason Fitch
- *Angel in My Pocket* (1969), as Axel Gresham
- *Something for a Lonely Man* (1968), as Old Man Wolenski
- *The Mod Squad* (1968), series, as Hargis
- *Welcome to Hard Times* (1967), as Brown
- *Gunpoint* (1966), as Bull
- *Green Acres* (1965), series, as Joe Carson
- *The Man from Button Willow* (1965), as Sorry (voice)
- *The Rounders* (1965), as Vince Moore
- *Move Over, Darling* (1963), as Judge Bryson
- *McLintock!* (1963), as Bunny Dull
- *Petticoat Junction* (1963), series, as Joe Carson
- *A Ticklish Affair* (1963), as Captain Martin / Gramps
- *Vacation Playhouse* (1963), series, as Luke
- *Donovan's Reef* (1963), as Francis O'Brien
- *Flashing Spikes* (1962), as Crab Holman
- *Stoney Burke* (1962), series, Actor
- *The Beverly Hillbillies* (1962), series, as Joe Carson
- *The Lloyd Bridges Show* (1962), series, as Doc Lawton
- *Ride the High Country* (1962), as Judge Tolliver
- *The Comancheros* (1961), as Circuit Court Judge Thaddeus Jackson Breen
- *Bus Stop* (1961), series, Actor
- *Dr. Kildare* (1961), series, as Steve Devitt, Judge Wilfred Manning
- *Devil's Partner* (1961), as Doc Lucas
- *Tammy Tell Me True* (1961), as Judge Carver
- *Chartroose Caboose* (1960), as Woodrow 'Woody' Watts
- *Cimarron* (1960), as Judge Neal Hefner — Fi1m 57, [page](https://film.one/film/cimarron.md)
- *Bringing Up Buddy* (1960), series, Actor
- *Route 66* (1960), series, as Magistrate Abe Chumley
- *Stagecoach West* (1960), series, as Lum Jensen
- *The Andy Griffith Show* (1960), series, as Henry Wheeler
- *Outlaws* (1960), series, Actor
- *The Barbara Stanwyck Show* (1960), series, as Judge Franklin
- *National Velvet* (1960), series, as Grandpa Harwell
- *Thriller* (1960), series, as Doc O'Connor
- *The Tall Man* (1960), series, Actor
- *Four Fast Guns* (1960), as Dipper
- *Stump Run* (1960), Actor
- *Hound-Dog Man* (1959), as Doc Cole
- *Edge of Eternity* (1959), as Sheriff Edwards
- *The Twilight Zone* (1959), series, as Doc Bolton — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-twilight-zone.md)
- *Laramie* (1959), series, Actor
- *Riverboat* (1959), series, as Wingate Pardee
- *Bonanza* (1959), series, as Hallelujah Hicks
- *It Started with a Kiss* (1959), as Richard Tappe
- *King of the Wild Stallions* (1959), as Idaho
- *Bat Masterson* (1958), series, as Cactus Charlie
- *The Rifleman* (1958), series, as Grandpa Fogarty, Doc J. Burrage
- *Bronco* (1958), series, Actor
- *Wanted: Dead or Alive* (1958), series, as Pop Michaels, Chester Blake
- *The Sheepman* (1958), as Milt Masters
- *Day of the Badman* (1958), as Sam Wyckoff
- *26 Men* (1957), series, Actor
- *Leave It to Beaver* (1957), series, as Captain Jack
- *Trackdown* (1957), series, as Tully Saxon
- *The Californians* (1957), series, as Major
- *The Restless Gun* (1957), series, as Ethan Greenfield
- *Maverick* (1957), series, as Jed Christianson, Daddy David Forge, Sheriff Hadley
- *Perry Mason* (1957), series, as Andy Templet, Judge Edward Daley
- *Wagon Train* (1957), series, as Ben Mattox, Thaddeus Briscoe
- *Have Gun, Will Travel* (1957), series, Actor
- *Spoilers of the Forest* (1957), as Tom Duncan
- *The Gale Storm Show* (1956), series, as Jasper Stokes
- *The Adventures of Jim Bowie* (1956), series, Actor
- *Come Next Spring* (1956), as Mr. Canary
- *The Brush Roper* (1955), as Sub Doyal
- *Alfred Hitchcock Presents* (1955), series, as Pops
- *Gunsmoke* (1955), series, as Dan, York
- *Judge Roy Bean* (1955), series, Actor
- *Wichita* (1955), as Doc Black
- *The Lonesome Trail* (1955), as Dan Wells
- *The Silver Star* (1955), as Will 'Bill' Dowdy (as Edgar Buchanon)
- *Rage at Dawn* (1955), as Judge
- *The Millionaire* (1955), series, as William Eliot Vaughan
- *Destry* (1954), as The Honorable Hiram J. Sellers, Mayor
- *Climax!* (1954), series, as Spencer, Constable
- *Dawn at Socorro* (1954), as Sheriff Cauthen
- *Human Desire* (1954), as Alec Simmons
- *Make Haste to Live* (1954), as Sheriff Lafe
- *She Couldn't Say No* (1954), as Ed Meeker
- *The Danny Thomas Show* (1953), series, as Captain Archie
- *Shane* (1953), as Fred Lewis — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/film/shane.md)
- *It Happens Every Thursday* (1953), as Jake
- *General Electric Theater* (1953), series, as Buckskin, Colonel Starbottle, Preacher Bailey, Parson Meacham, Doctor, Timothy Dwight
- *Toughest Man in Arizona* (1952), as Jim Hadlock
- *The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet* (1952), series, as Park Commissioner
- *The Ford Television Theatre* (1952), series, as Papa Mumby
- *Cavalcade of America* (1952), series, as Horace Greeley, Doc Mathew
- *Hopalong Cassidy* (1952), series, as Red Connors
- *Wild Stallion* (1952), as John Wintergreen
- *The Big Trees* (1952), as Walter 'Yukon' Burns
- *Flaming Feather* (1952), as Sgt. O'Rourke
- *Silver City* (1951), as Dutch Surrency
- *Cave of Outlaws* (1951), as Dobbs
- *Schlitz Playhouse of Stars* (1951), series, as Henry Maguire
- *Rawhide* (1951), as Sam Todd
- *The Great Missouri Raid* (1951), as Dr. Samuels
- *Devil's Doorway* (1950), as Zeke Carmody
- *The Big Hangover* (1950), as Uncle Fred Mahoney
- *Cargo to Capetown* (1950), as Sam Bennett
- *Cheaper by the Dozen* (1950), as Dr. Burton
- *Any Number Can Play* (1949), as Ed
- *Lust for Gold* (1949), as Wiser
- *Red Canyon* (1949), as Jonah Johnson
- *The Walking Hills* (1949), as Old Willy
- *Studio One* (1948), series, as Dan Ferris
- *The Untamed Breed* (1948), as John Rambeau
- *The Man from Colorado* (1948), as Doc Merriam
- *Coroner Creek* (1948), as Sheriff O'Hea
- *Best Man Wins* (1948), as Jim Smiley
- *Adventures in Silverado* (1948), as Dr. Hendersonn
- *The Black Arrow* (1948), as Lawless
- *The Wreck of the Hesperus* (1948), as George Lockhart
- *The Swordsman* (1948), as Angus MacArden
- *Framed* (1947), as Jeff Cunningham
- *The Sea of Grass* (1947), as Jeff
- *If I'm Lucky* (1946), as Darius J. Magonnagle
- *Renegades* (1946), as Kirk Dembrow
- *The Walls Came Tumbling Down* (1946), as George Bradford
- *Perilous Holiday* (1946), as George Richards
- *The Bandit of Sherwood Forest* (1946), as Friar Tuck
- *Abilene Town* (1946), as Sheriff Bravo Trimble
- *The Fighting Guardsman* (1945), as Brown
- *Strange Affair* (1944), as Lt. Washburn
- *The Impatient Years* (1944), as Judge
- *Bride by Mistake* (1944), as Jonathan Connors
- *Buffalo Bill* (1944), as Sgt. Chips McGraw
- *Destroyer* (1943), as Kansas Jackson
- *Good Luck, Mr. Yates* (1943), as Jonesey Jones
- *The Desperadoes* (1943), as Uncle Willie McLeod
- *City Without Men* (1943), as Judge Michael T. Mallory
- *The Talk of the Town* (1942), as Sam Yates — Fi1m 75, [page](https://film.one/film/the-talk-of-the-town.md)
- *Tombstone: The Town Too Tough to Die* (1942), as Curly Bill
- *You Belong to Me* (1941), as Billings
- *Texas* (1941), as Buford 'Doc' Thorpe
- *The Richest Man in Town* (1941), as Pete Martin
- *Her First Beau* (1941), as Elmer Tuttle
- *Penny Serenade* (1941), as Applejack
- *Arizona* (1940), as Judge Bogardus
- *When the Daltons Rode* (1940), as Narrator / Old-Timer (uncredited)
- *The Sea Hawk* (1940), as Ben Rollins
- *Escape to Glory* (1940), as Charles Atterbee
- *Tear Gas Squad* (1940), as Cousin Andy
- *Too Many Husbands* (1940), as McDermott
- *My Son Is Guilty* (1939), as Dan, Bartender

## Gallery

- ![Edgar Buchanan](https://film.one/media/person/1224988/gallery-9afb2ebdad31.jpg) Edgar Buchanan — CBS Television, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4b/Edgar_Buchanan.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Photo of Irene Ryan and Edgar Buchanan from the television program Petticoat Junction. Ryan, as Granny Clampett from The Beverly Hillbillies, visits Hooterville (1968)](https://film.one/media/person/1224988/gallery-e93779e403f8.jpg) Photo of Irene Ryan and Edgar Buchanan from the television program Petticoat Junction. Ryan, as Granny Clampett from The Beverly Hillbillies, visits Hooterville (1968) — CBS Television, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/68/Irene_Ryan_Edgar_Buchanan_1968.JPG?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Cast photo from the television program Petticoat Junction. Back, L-R: Frank Cady (Sam Drucker), Edgar Buchanan (Uncle Joe). Front - Lori Saunders (Bobbie Jo), M (1968)](https://film.one/media/person/1224988/gallery-7a30ef1a1e66.jpg) Cast photo from the television program Petticoat Junction. Back, L-R: Frank Cady (Sam Drucker), Edgar Buchanan (Uncle Joe). Front - Lori Saunders (Bobbie Jo), M (1968) — CBS Television, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4d/Petticoat_Junction_cast_1968.JPG?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Photo of Cary Grant, Irene Dunne and Edgar Buchanan from the 1941 film Penny Serenade. From the trade publication Film Bulletin. Note that the uploaded photo is](https://film.one/media/person/1224988/gallery-2a862d69d372.jpg) Photo of Cary Grant, Irene Dunne and Edgar Buchanan from the 1941 film Penny Serenade. From the trade publication Film Bulletin. Note that the uploaded photo is — Film Bulletin, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f2/Penny_Serenade_3.jpg/1280px-Penny_Serenade_3.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/edgar-buchanan