Hank Patterson

Hank Patterson (October 9, 1888 – August 23, 1975) was an American character actor and musician renowned for portraying rustic, cantankerous farmers and townsfolk in mid-20th-century Westerns and sitcoms.^[1]^[2] Born Elmer Calvin Patterson in Springville, Alabama, to parents Green and Mary Newton Patterson, he began his film career in the late 1930s with uncredited bit parts in Westerns, such as a townsman in the Roy Rogers vehicle The Arizona Kid (1939).^[3]^[4] Over the next three decades, Patterson amassed over 190 screen credits, often playing supporting roles like blacksmiths, stablemen, and elderly settlers in B-movies and television series produced by Republic Pictures and others.^[2] Notable film appearances include Abilene Town (1946) with Randolph Scott, The Gunfighter (1950), Shane (1953), and science fiction entries like The Amazing Colossal Man (1957) and Attack of the Puppet People (1958).^[5] Patterson achieved his greatest recognition on television in the 1960s, recurring as the dim-witted farmer Fred Ziffel—complete with his pet pig Arnold—on the CBS sitcoms Petticoat Junction (1964–1970) and Green Acres (1965–1971), appearing in dozens of episodes across both shows.^[2] He also portrayed stableman Hank Miller in 33 episodes of the long-running Western Gunsmoke (1962–1972), alongside guest spots in classics like The Twilight Zone, Have Gun – Will Travel, Death Valley Days, and Perry Mason.^[2] Despite partial hearing loss in his later years, which required on-set accommodations, Patterson continued working until shortly before his death from bronchial pneumonia at age 86 in Woodland Hills, California.^[2] He was married to Daisy Marguerite Sheeler from 1915 until his death in 1975 and was the great-uncle of actress Téa Leoni; he is buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Hollywood Hills.^[1]^[6]

Early Life

Birth and Family Background

Elmer Calvin Patterson, professionally known as Hank Patterson, was born on October 9, 1888, in Springville, St. Clair County, Alabama, United States.^[7] He was one of seven children born to Green Davis Patterson, an insurance agent, and Mary Isabell "Mollie" Newton Patterson.^[8] Between 1894 and 1897, the Patterson family relocated from Alabama to Taylor, Texas, where Hank spent most of his boyhood years amid a growing rural community northeast of Austin.^[4] This move marked a shift from his Alabama roots to the Texas plains, shaping his early experiences in a larger family setting that included two older brothers, one younger brother, and one younger sister, alongside the full sibling count of seven.^[4] Patterson's formal education was modest, concluding after the eighth grade during his time in Taylor, Texas, which limited his academic pursuits but left room for other interests.^[8] In 1917, at age 28, Patterson registered for the World War I draft in Lubbock County, Texas, listing his occupation as a musician employed by himself and describing his physical build as medium height and slender, with brown eyes, dark hair, and no balding. This registration reflected his early involvement in music, including an aspiration to become a serious pianist that later drew him toward vaudeville.^[8]

Early Career Aspirations

From a young age, Hank Patterson aspired to become a professional pianist, honing his skills with the ambition of pursuing a career as a serious musician.^[8] Despite this initial goal, he transitioned into performing as a vaudeville pianist in the early 20th century, starting with small-time traveling revues that took him across the United States. By 1917, at the age of 28, Patterson had established himself in these vaudeville circuits, playing piano to accompany acts in various shows.^[4] Patterson's family background, which included a move from Springville, Alabama, to Taylor, Texas, in the 1890s during his boyhood, contributed to his early mobility and exposure to diverse regional influences that shaped his path into entertainment.^[9] His pre-1930s experiences in vaudeville involved navigating the demands of road performances, including long travels and adapting to different audiences, which tested his musical versatility beyond formal piano training.^[8] These years in traveling shows provided practical stage experience, gradually building his reputation in the entertainment world. In the 1920s, Patterson relocated to California to seek broader opportunities in the burgeoning film and performance industries, marking the end of his primary vaudeville phase and the beginning of his integration into Hollywood circles. This move reflected his determination to leverage his musical and performance background in a new entertainment hub, though it required adapting to the competitive West Coast scene.^[10]

Acting Career

Film Roles

Hank Patterson made his film debut in the 1939 Western The Arizona Kid, appearing uncredited as a townsman in the Roy Rogers vehicle directed by Joseph Kane. This marked the beginning of a career that spanned from the late 1930s through the 1960s, with Patterson accumulating approximately 50 film credits, primarily in supporting or uncredited roles. His early work often consisted of bit parts in B-Westerns, reflecting his transition from vaudeville stages to Hollywood in the 1930s.^[5] Throughout the 1940s and 1950s, Patterson became a familiar face in low-budget Westerns, frequently cast as rugged frontiersmen, ranch hands, or authority figures in rural settings. Notable examples include his role as Jeff Winters in The El Paso Kid (1946), Doug Neil in Abilene Town (1946), Postmaster Fred in Oklahoma Badlands (1948), and Hardrock Haggerty in the Republic Pictures serial Desperadoes of the West (1950).^[11] These appearances, often in productions from studios like Republic and Monogram, showcased his versatility in playing heavies or comic relief amid the genre's emphasis on action and moral simplicity. By the post-World War II era, his roles evolved from anonymous extras to more defined supporting characters, such as Sgt. Cooper in The Denver Kid (1948) and Luke in Gene Autry's Riders in the Sky (1949), allowing him to contribute to the narrative through gruff, down-to-earth personas. Patterson also ventured into science fiction and other genres during the 1950s, capitalizing on the era's interest in atomic-age thrillers. He portrayed Josh, a desert hermit, in Jack Arnold's Tarantula (1955), a Universal-International horror film about a giant spider experiment gone awry. In Bert I. Gordon's Beginning of the End (1957), he played Dave, a hapless bystander caught in a locust invasion, exemplifying his typecasting as an everyman in peril.^[12] Other genre credits included the janitor in Attack of the Puppet People (1958) and Townsend in Monster on the Campus (1958), both low-budget efforts from American International Pictures that highlighted his ability to ground fantastical plots with authentic rural eccentricity.^[5] By the 1960s, roles like Andy Ferris in Gunfighters of Abilene (1960) underscored his enduring niche in Westerns, though his film work tapered off as television opportunities grew.

Television Roles

Hank Patterson began his television career in the 1950s, frequently appearing in Western series that capitalized on his ability to portray rugged, down-to-earth characters. He had multiple guest roles in The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp, including as Cookie in various episodes and as Wells Fargo Manager Milt Caney in "Wyatt Earp Rides Shotgun" (season 3, episode 23, 1958).^[13] These early appearances helped establish his presence in the genre, often as supporting figures in frontier settings.^[14] Patterson's most prominent recurring television role outside of sitcoms was as stableman Hank Miller in the long-running Western Gunsmoke, appearing in 33 episodes from 1962 to 1973.^[3] As the livery stable owner in Dodge City, Miller was depicted as a reliable, no-nonsense townsman who provided comic relief through his gruff yet affable demeanor, often interacting with Marshal Matt Dillon in everyday scenarios.^[15] This role replaced the original stableman character and added continuity to the series' ensemble of local residents, enhancing the show's portrayal of small-town Western life over its extended run. In addition to Westerns, Patterson made notable guest appearances in anthology series, showcasing his versatility in dramatic and supernatural narratives. He appeared in three episodes of The Twilight Zone: as Freitag in "Kick the Can" (season 3, episode 21, 1962), Mr. Gentry in "Ring-a-Ding Girl" (season 5, episode 13, 1963), and the Old Man in "Come Wander with Me" (season 5, episode 34, 1964). He also guest-starred in Perry Mason as Jack Gilly in "The Case of the Terrified Typist" (season 1, episode 38, 1958), contributing to the procedural drama's tense office intrigue.^[16] Other anthology and Western guest spots included a blacksmith role in Bonanza's "The Hopefuls" (season 2, episode 5, 1960), where he aided a Quaker wagon train amid threats from outlaws.^[17] Throughout his career, Patterson amassed over 100 television appearances, predominantly in episodic formats from the 1950s to the 1970s, reflecting his typecasting as folksy, rural archetypes such as farmers, shopkeepers, and laborers.^[3] His prior experience in vaudeville and over 50 film roles facilitated a smooth adaptation to the demands of early filmed television, including quick scene transitions and ensemble dynamics in live-audience Westerns. These contributions solidified his status as a dependable character actor in the medium, often bringing authenticity to secondary roles that grounded the narratives.^[2]

Role as Fred Ziffel

Hank Patterson portrayed the character of Fred Ziffel, a recurring role that spanned two interconnected CBS rural sitcoms. He first appeared as Ziffel in 11 episodes of Petticoat Junction from 1963 to 1966, establishing the farmer as a quirky resident of the fictional Hooterville community. The role expanded significantly in the spin-off Green Acres, where Patterson appeared in 84 episodes from 1965 to 1971, becoming one of the show's most beloved supporting characters.^[3] Fred Ziffel was depicted as an elderly, good-natured farmer living a simple life on his Hooterville farm, married to the equally eccentric Doris Ziffel (played by Barbara Pepper in 30 episodes from 1965 to 1968). The couple's most famous "child" was their pet pig, Arnold, whom they treated as a human family member capable of watching television, attending school, and even participating in community events, all of which amplified the show's absurd rural humor. Patterson's portrayal emphasized Ziffel's folksy wisdom, slow drawl, and unwavering affection for farm life, contrasting sharply with the urban sensibilities of leads Oliver and Lisa Douglas.^[18]^[3] Several episodes highlighted Ziffel's antics, particularly those centered on Arnold's misadventures, which often led to crossovers with Petticoat Junction characters. In the season 3 premiere "Love Comes to Arnold Ziffel" (1967), Fred desperately tries to prevent Arnold from eloping with a sow named Cynthia Haney, showcasing the pig's "romantic" inclinations and Fred's protective paternalism. Other notable installments include "Arnold Goes to School" (season 2, 1966), where Fred enrolls Arnold in Hooterville schools, resulting in comedic chaos, and "The Great Mayoralty Campaign" (season 6, 1970), underscoring the Ziffels' integration into Hooterville's whimsical politics. These storylines frequently involved farm life crossovers, such as shared events at the Shady Rest Hotel from Petticoat Junction, blending the series' universes for enhanced humor.^[19]^[20]^[21] Behind the scenes, Patterson, who was in his late 70s and almost completely deaf during filming, relied on accommodations to perform effectively. Producers adapted by writing his dialogue to allow memorization in advance, enabling him to deliver lines with precise comedic timing despite his hearing loss. This approach preserved Ziffel's authentic rural persona without compromising the show's pace.^[22] Patterson's embodiment of Fred Ziffel played a key role in Green Acres' enduring appeal, contributing to the series' top-20 Nielsen ratings in its early seasons and its status as a cornerstone of 1960s rural comedy programming. The character helped bridge the "rural purge" era of CBS, where such shows faced network shifts, yet retained a loyal audience through syndication. For Patterson, the role marked a pinnacle of late-career recognition, transforming him from a prolific character actor—previously known for Western stableman parts—into a television icon synonymous with Hooterville's charm.^[18]^[3]

Personal Life

Marriage and Family Connections

Hank Patterson married Daisy Marguerite Sheeler on May 18, 1915, in Oklahoma.^[23]^[24] The couple shared residences in Los Angeles, as recorded in the 1930 and 1940 U.S. Censuses, including at 12034 Otsego Street in 1940.^[25]^[24] Their marriage was childless, spanning over six decades until Patterson's death in 1975. Daisy outlived him, passing away on February 2, 1979, at age 86.^[23]^[8] Patterson was the great-uncle of actress Téa Leoni, whose mother, Emily Ann Patterson, was his niece; this familial tie connected him indirectly to later generations in entertainment, though no direct professional influences are documented.^[8]^[26]

Health and Daily Challenges

In his later years, Hank Patterson experienced progressive hearing loss, becoming nearly deaf by his late seventies. This condition, which onset during the 1960s, presented significant personal challenges, though specific non-professional coping strategies are not well-documented in available records.^[4] As he aged, Patterson also contended with the general frailty associated with a long life spanning nearly nine decades, from his birth in 1888 to his passing in 1975 at age 86. This physical decline was compounded by the toll of an extended career in entertainment, contributing to diminished mobility and overall vitality in old age.^[3]^[4] Following his retirement, Patterson resided at the Motion Picture & Television Country Home in Woodland Hills, California, a supportive community for aging professionals in the industry where he spent his final years in relative quietude. He maintained a personal interest in music as a hobby, reflecting a lifelong passion that provided solace amid his health struggles.^[4]

Death

Final Years

Following the conclusion of Green Acres in 1971, Hank Patterson effectively retired from acting, though he made two final guest appearances: as a farmer in an episode of Love, American Style on November 3, 1972, and as livery stable owner Hank in the Gunsmoke episode "The Widow-Maker" on October 8, 1973. These roles marked the end of his extensive career, which had spanned vaudeville performances in the early 1900s to recurring television characters in the 1960s and early 1970s.^[4] In his later years, Patterson resided in Woodland Hills, California, at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital, a facility dedicated to supporting retired entertainment industry professionals.^[4] He had been married to Daisy Marguerite Sheeler since 1915, and she remained by his side during this period, providing companionship until his passing; she survived him by nearly four years, dying on February 2, 1979, at age 86.^[23] Patterson died on August 23, 1975, at age 86, from bronchial pneumonia while recuperating from a stroke at the Woodland Hills Motion Picture Hospital.^[4]

Burial and Tributes

Hank Patterson was interred at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in the Hollywood Hills section of Los Angeles County, California, in the Murmuring Trees plot (Map #G32, Lot 4345, Space 1).^[1] His gravestone bears the inscription "Beloved Husband."^[1] No public records detail a formal funeral service or family attendance following his death.^[1] Posthumously, Patterson has been remembered in retrospectives of the Green Acres cast, including fan-produced videos documenting his life and contributions to the series.^[27] His portrayal of Fred Ziffel continues to inspire fan remembrances online and at his gravesite, where over 799 virtual flowers have been left in tribute.^[1] As a supporting actor, Patterson received no major awards or dedicated memorials after his passing, though his work endures in actor databases and television histories.^[3] A subtle aspect of his legacy connects to his great-niece, actress Téa Leoni, whose mother was Patterson's niece.^[1]