Background
Born into a showbusiness family, his first role was as a baby in his mother"s arms.
- Photos
- Works
- Photos
- Works
Sam Edwards
Edit ProfileCareer
His most famous role on television was a banker on Little House on the Prairie. His first major screen role was as Chuck Ramsey in the movie serial version of Captain Midnight (1942). After the war, he kept very busy on a variety of radio programs, and landed a starring role opposite Janet Waldo in the long-running Meet Corliss Archer series.
He also had recurring or cast member roles in radio on Father Knows Best, Fort Laramie, Gunsmoke, Dragnet, Suspense, Escape, This Is Your Federal Bureau of Investigation, The Six Shooter, Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar, and Crime Classics.
From 1949 to 1981, Mr. Edwards made several film appearances, with significant roles in Twelve O"Clock High (1949),, Gangbusters (1954), and supporting roles in The Beatniks (1960) and Suppose They Gave A War and Nobody Came (1969).
He was also seen in The Absent-Minded Professor (1961), Hello, Dolly! (1969) and The Postman Always Rings Twice (1981). Sam also appeared on many television series starting in the mid-1950s.
Most notable of these include many episodes of Dragnet and Gunsmoke throughout their long runs.
He also appeared on over 60 different series, including The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show, The Andy Griffith Show, Petticoat Junction, Green Acres, Mannix, Mission: Impossible, The Streets of San Francisco, Adam-12, The Red Skelton Show, Happy Days, The Dukes of Hazzard, and even Days of Our Lives. As a voice actor and radio veteran, Sam was also often heard behind animated characters both on film and records. In 1942, he voiced the adult Thumper in the animated classic Bambi.
Later work for Disney was largely on LP Records, including the voices of the Cowardly Lion and Tin Woodman on their Oz series, and as the bouncy Tigger, Rabbit and Owl on the Winnie the Pooh records.
He voiced the title character of Rod Rocket in an early 1960s educational series, and did some episodes of the cult classic Jonny Quest. His last work for Disney was as Mr.
Owl opposite singer Burl Ives as Sam the Eagle on their long-running America Sings attraction at Disneyland. There were numerous television and radio commercials as well, both in front of and behind the camera.
He spent his last 24 years based in Durango, Colorado where he died.
-
Born
-
Died
July 28, 2004 (aged 89) -
Nationality
American