Sam Edwards

Biography

Sam Edwards (May 26, 1915 - July 28, 2004) was an American actor. His most famous role on TV was as the banker in the TV series Little House on the Prairie. Born into a showbusiness family, his first role was as a baby in his mother's arms. He appeared on radio in the 1930s in the Adventures of Sonny and Buddy one of the first radio serials ever syndicated, and later in The Edwards Family, a series based on the life of Sam, brother Jack, sister Florida, and his parents, Edna Parks and Jack Edwards Sr. Sam was also an early cast member of one of the first radio soap operas, One Man's Family. His first major screen role was as Chuck Ramsey in the movie serial version of Captain Midnight (1942). During World War II, Sam was inducted into the Army and ended up serving as part of the morale-building entertainment corps, spending much of the time in the African, European and India/Burma theater, travelling for a time with Dwight D. Eisenhower and George S. Patton's regiments. 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 FBI, 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), Operation Pacific (1951), 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 Burns and Allen Show, The Andy Griffith Show, Petticoat Junction, Green Acres, Mannix, Mission: Impossible, The Streets of San Francisco, Adam-12, The Red Skelton Variety 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 TV and radio commercials as well, both in front of and behind the camera. Mr. Edwards spent much of his retirement travelling the world with his wife of 35 years, Beverly, and attending many Old Time Radio conventions where he participated in recreations of original shows from the 1940s and 1950s, as well as newer scripts. He spent his last 24 years based in Durango, Colorado where he died. He is survived by Beverly, stepchildren William, Deborah and Linda Edwards, and several grandchildren.