If you’ve ever spent a Saturday morning watching old reruns of Petticoat Junction, you know the face. It’s that wonderfully lived-in, slightly rumpled face belonging to Edgar Buchanan. He had a voice like a bucket of gravel being stirred with a wooden spoon. Most people know him as the lazy, scheme-hatching Uncle Joe Carson—the man who was "movin' kind of slow" at the Shady Rest Hotel.
But honestly, there is so much more to the story than just Hooterville.
Before he was a Hollywood staple, Buchanan was actually a successful dentist. Yeah, a real-life D.D.S. He followed his father’s footsteps in Oregon, married a fellow dentist named Mildred, and practiced for years. It wasn't until he was 36—an age when most actors are already "washed up" by industry standards—that he moved to Altadena and joined the Pasadena Playhouse. His wife basically took over the dental practice so he could go chase cameras. Talk about a supportive partner.
The Western King You Didn't Realize Was Everywhere
When people search for edgar buchanan movies and tv shows, they usually start with the sitcoms, but the man was a titan of the Western genre. He didn't just play the hero; he played the guy the hero needed to talk to.
In the 1953 classic Shane, he played Fred Lewis. He wasn't the guy in the gunfight, but he was the soul of the community. That was his gift. He could play a judge, a sheriff, or a rascally outlaw with equal parts warmth and grit. Take a look at Ride the High Country (1962). He’s in there with legends like Joel McCrea and Randolph Scott. He held his own because he felt real. He didn't look like a movie star; he looked like your neighbor who knew where the best fishing hole was.
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He was a workhorse. Between 1940 and 1941 alone, he appeared in something like 15 films. You’ve probably seen him in:
- Penny Serenade (1941) with Cary Grant.
- The Talk of the Town (1942).
- McLintock! (1963) alongside John Wayne.
- Cheaper by the Dozen (1950).
He had this way of making every scene better just by standing in the background and looking skeptical.
The Uncle Joe Phenomenon
You can't talk about Edgar Buchanan without mentioning the "Paul Henning Universe." Buchanan’s Uncle Joe Carson is one of the few characters in TV history to appear in three different shows simultaneously. He was the backbone of Petticoat Junction, appearing in all 222 episodes. But he’d also wander over to Green Acres or pop up on The Beverly Hillbillies.
It’s hard to overstate how much people loved that character. He was the "lovable loafer." Every week, he had a new get-rich-quick scheme that inevitably blew up in his face. After the tragic death of Bea Benaderet (who played Kate Bradley), Buchanan essentially became the lead of the show. He carried that transition with a lot of grace, even though the tone of the show shifted.
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Why the Raspy Voice Worked
It wasn't just a gimmick. That voice gave him instant authority—or instant comedy. When he played Judge Roy Bean in the mid-50s, he sounded like a man who had seen everything. When he played a handyman on The Andy Griffith Show, he sounded like a guy who had been breathing sawdust for forty years.
He was the ultimate "Hey, it's that guy!" actor.
A Surprising Final Act: Benji
Most actors fade away or take bit parts in their 70s. Not Edgar. His very last film role was in the 1974 smash hit Benji. If you grew up in the 70s, you cried at that movie.
There’s a beautiful symmetry to his role in Benji. The dog that played Benji—a terrier mix named Higgins—actually got his start on Petticoat Junction. Buchanan had been working with that dog for years. Seeing them together on the big screen for Buchanan’s final performance felt like a curtain call with an old friend. He retired right after that, heading out to Palm Desert until he passed away in 1979.
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What Most People Get Wrong
People think Buchanan was just a "comedy guy." Wrong.
If you watch his guest spots on The Rifleman or Gunsmoke, he could be genuinely menacing. He played Doc Burrage in multiple episodes of The Rifleman, and he brought a level of gravitas that balanced out the show's action. He wasn't just a caricature of a rural American; he was a craftsman.
Actionable Ways to Explore His Work
If you're looking to dive into the best of edgar buchanan movies and tv shows, don't just stick to the hits. Try this:
- Watch "Texas" (1941): He plays a dentist (very meta) alongside William Holden and Glenn Ford. It’s one of his best early roles.
- Find the "Twilight Zone" Episode: He stars in "The Last Rites of Jeff Myrtlebank." It’s a creepy, folksy tale where his performance is pitch-perfect.
- Binge "Judge Roy Bean": It’s often overlooked, but he’s the star here, and his "Law West of the Pecos" energy is infectious.
- Look for the Crossovers: Watch a 1968 episode of Petticoat Junction called "Granny Goes to Hooterville" to see him trade barbs with Irene Ryan.
Edgar Buchanan represented a specific era of Hollywood where "character" meant more than "celebrity." He didn't need a gym routine or a stylist. He just needed a porch chair and a script. Whether he was pulling teeth in a Western or trying to turn the Shady Rest into a health spa, he was always the most believable person in the room.
To really appreciate his legacy, start by moving away from the black-and-white sitcoms and look at his 1940s film noir and western credits. You'll find an actor with a range that most modern leads would envy.