Elmer Calvin "Hank" Patterson (October 9, 1888 – August 23, 1975) was an American actor and musician. He is known foremost for playing two recurring characters on three television series: the stableman Hank Miller on ''

Gunsmoke ''Gunsmoke'' is an American radio and television Western drama series created by director Norman Macdonnell and writer John Meston. It centers on Dodge City, Kansas, in the 1870s, during the settlement of the American West. The central chara ...

'' and farmer Fred Ziffel on both ''

Petticoat Junction ''Petticoat Junction'' is an American television sitcom that originally aired on CBS from September 1963 to April 1970. The series takes place at the Shady Rest Hotel, which is run by Kate Bradley; her three daughters Billie Jo, Bobbie Jo, and B ...

'' and ''

Green Acres ''Green Acres'' is an American television sitcom starring Eddie Albert and Eva Gabor as a couple who move from New York City to a country farm. Produced by Filmways as a sister show to '' Petticoat Junction'', the series was first broad ...

''.

Early life

Patterson was born in Springville, Alabama, one of seven children of Green Davis Patterson, an insurance agent, and Mary Isabell "Mollie" Newton Patterson. By the 1890s his family had moved to

Taylor, Texas Taylor is a city in Williamson County, Texas, United States. The population was 13,575 at the 2000 census; it was 15,191 at the 2010 census; it was 16,267 at the 2020 census. History In 1876, the Texas Land Company auctioned lots in anticipati ...

, where he spent most of his boyhood and attended school through 8th grade. In 1917 he registered for a

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was List of wars and anthropogenic disasters by death toll, one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, ...

draft card in

Lubbock County, Texas Lubbock County is a County (United States), county located in the U.S. state of Texas. The 2020 United States Census, 2020 census placed the population at 310,639. Its county seat and largest city is Lubbock, Texas, Lubbock. The county was cre ...

. Patterson had intended to be a serious pianist, but he instead became a

vaudeville Vaudeville (; ) is a theatrical genre of variety entertainment born in France at the end of the 19th century. A vaudeville was originally a comedy without psychological or moral intentions, based on a comical situation: a dramatic compositio ...

piano player. By the end of the 1920s he moved to California. He entered the movie business as an actor during the 1930s. His earliest identified screen work was an uncredited appearance in the

Roy Rogers Roy Rogers (born Leonard Franklin Slye; November 5, 1911 – July 6, 1998) was an American singer, actor, and television host. Following early work under his given name, first as co-founder of the Sons of the Pioneers and then acting, the rebra ...

Western Western may refer to: Places *Western, Nebraska, a village in the US * Western, New York, a town in the US *Western Creek, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western Junction, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western world, countries that i ...

film ''The Arizona Kid'' (1939).

Movies and TV

Patterson found plenty of movie work, mainly playing cantankerous types as well as blacksmiths, hotel clerks, farmers, shopkeepers and other townsmen, usually bit roles and character parts in

Republic Pictures Republic Pictures Corporation (currently held under Melange Pictures, LLC) was an American motion picture production-distribution corporation in operation from 1935 to 1967, that was based in Los Angeles. It had studio facilities in Studio City a ...

westerns, and then in popular TV westerns such as ''

The Cisco Kid The Cisco Kid is a fictional character found in numerous film, radio, television and comic book series based on the fictional Western character created by O. Henry in his 1907 short story "The Caballero's Way", published in ''Everybody's Magaz ...

'', ''

The Adventures of Kit Carson ''The Adventures of Kit Carson'' is an American Western that aired from 1951 to 1955. The show ran for four seasons and consisted of 104 episodes over four years. The original air date was Saturday, August 11, 1951. It concluded on January 22, 19 ...

'', ''

The Lone Ranger The Lone Ranger is a fictional masked former Texas Ranger who fought outlaws in the American Old West with his Native American friend Tonto. The character has been called an enduring icon of American culture. He first appeared in 1933 in ...

'', and ''

Annie Oakley Annie Oakley (born Phoebe Ann Mosey; August 13, 1860 – November 3, 1926) was an American sharpshooter who starred in Buffalo Bill's Wild West show. Oakley developed hunting skills as a child to provide for her impoverished family in western ...

''. He also had small cameo appearances in a number of sci-fi movies by Bert I. Gordon: '' Beginning of the End'', ''

The Amazing Colossal Man ''The Amazing Colossal Man'' (also known as ''The Colossal Man'') is a 1957 American black-and-white science fiction film from American International Pictures. Produced and directed by Bert I. Gordon, it stars Glenn Langan, Cathy Downs, Wil ...

'', '' Attack of the Puppet People'', and '' Earth vs. The Spider''. Patterson played recurring or different roles in adult/family TV westerns, including the role of Hank Miller in 33 episodes of ''

'' from 1962 through 1973, on '' Have Gun-Will Travel'' (eleven episodes), ''

Death Valley Days ''Death Valley Days'' is an American old-time radio and television anthology series featuring true accounts of the American Old West, particularly the Death Valley country of southeastern California. Created in 1930 by Ruth Woodman, the progra ...

'' (nine episodes), ''

Tales of Wells Fargo ''Tales of Wells Fargo'' is an American Western television series starring Dale Robertson that ran from 1957 to 1962 on NBC. Produced by Revue Productions, the series aired in a half-hour format until its final season, when it expanded to a ...

'' (seven episodes),'' Maverick'' (four episodes), ''

Cheyenne The Cheyenne ( ) are an Indigenous people of the Great Plains. Their Cheyenne language belongs to the Algonquian languages, Algonquian language family. Today, the Cheyenne people are split into two federally recognized tribe, federally recognize ...

'' (four episodes), ''

Wagon Train ''Wagon Train'' is an American Western series that aired 8 seasons: first on the NBC television network (1957–1962), and then on ABC (1962–1965). ''Wagon Train'' debuted on September 18, 1957, and became number one in the Nielsen ratings ...

'' (three episodes), ''

Daniel Boone Daniel Boone (September 26, 1820) was an American pioneer and frontiersman whose exploits made him one of the first folk heroes of the United States. He became famous for his exploration and settlement of Kentucky, which was then beyond the w ...

'' (three episodes), '' The Virginian'' (two episodes), ''

The Rifleman ''The Rifleman'' is an American Western television program starring Chuck Connors as rancher Lucas McCain and Johnny Crawford as his son Mark McCain. It was set in the 1880s in the fictional town of North Fork, New Mexico Territory. The show ...

'', ''

Bonanza ''Bonanza'' is an American Western television series that ran on NBC from September 13, 1959, to January 16, 1973. Lasting 14 seasons and 432 episodes, ''Bonanza'' is NBC's longest-running western, the second-longest-running western series on ...

'', and in episodes of '' Lawman'', ''

Bat Masterson Bartholemew William Barclay "Bat" Masterson (November 26, 1853 – October 25, 1921) was a U.S. Army scout, lawman, professional gambler, and journalist known for his exploits in the 19th and early 20th-century American Old West. He was born to ...

'' (sometimes in a recurring role as former Confederate Soldier Soda Smith), ''

The Restless Gun ''The Restless Gun'' is an American Western television series that appeared on NBC between 1957 and 1959, with John Payne in the role of Vint Bonner, a wandering cowboy in the era after the American Civil War. A skilled gunfighter, Bonner is an ...

'', and many others. In 1959 Patterson appeared as a sodbuster in an uncredited role on '' Lawman'' ("The Young Toughs"). He made additional TV appearances, including in three episodes of ''

The Twilight Zone ''The Twilight Zone'' is an American media franchise based on the anthology series, anthology television program, television series created by Rod Serling. The episodes are in various genres, including fantasy, science fiction, absurdism, dysto ...

'' as well as ''

Perry Mason Perry Mason is a fictional character, an American criminal defense lawyer who is the main character in works of detective fiction written by Erle Stanley Gardner. Perry Mason features in 82 novels and 4 short stories, all of which involve a cli ...

'', '' Burke's Law'', '' The Untouchables'', '' Judd for the Defense'', ''

My Three Sons ''My Three Sons'' is an American television sitcom that aired from September 29, 1960, to April 13, 1972. The series was broadcast on ABC during its first five seasons, before moving to CBS for the remaining seasons. ''My Three Sons'' chroni ...

'', and in later years ''

The Mod Squad ''The Mod Squad'' is an American crime drama series, originally broadcast for five seasons on ABC from September 24, 1968, to March 1, 1973. It starred Michael Cole as Peter "Pete" Cochran, Peggy Lipton as Julie Barnes, Clarence Williams III ...

'' and ''

Love, American Style ''Love, American Style'' is an anthology comedy television series that aired on ABC from 1969 to 1974. The series was produced by Paramount Television. During the 1971–72 and 1972–73 seasons, it was a part of ABC's Friday primetime lineup ...

'' and ''

Highway Patrol A highway patrol, or state patrol is either a police unit created primarily for the purpose of overseeing and enforcing traffic safety compliance on roads and highways, or a detail within an existing local or regional police agency that is prima ...

''.

''Green Acres''

In 1963 Patterson first appeared in what would become a recurring role as farmer Fred Ziffel on the popular CBS rural comedy ''

''. In 1965 CBS debuted another rural comedy, ''Green Acres''. Both series were set in the mythical farming community of Hooterville, with characters from ''Petticoat Junction'' often also appearing in ''Green Acres'', including Patterson's Fred Ziffel character. It was on the popular, irreverent ''Green Acres'' that Patterson earned his greatest fame. In 1965 and 1966—two of the years in which the two series ran concurrently—Patterson frequently appeared in both shows in the same week in prime time. The association of Patterson's character with the popular character Arnold, the pet pig whom Fred and his wife Doris treated as a son, ensured Patterson a place in TV history. Arnold attended school, watched TV and was a talented artist, piano player, and actor. He even "talked" (snorted, grunted and squealed) in a language that everyone in Hooterville seemed to understand except

Oliver Wendell Douglas Oliver Wendell Douglas was the main character in the 1960s CBS situation comedy ''Green Acres''. Portrayed by Hollywood veteran Eddie Albert, Oliver Wendell Douglas was a New York City attorney acting out his long-harbored dream of moving to the ...

(''Green Acres'' co-star

Eddie Albert Edward Albert Heimberger (April 22, 1906 – May 26, 2005) was an American actor and activist. He was twice nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor; the first nomination came in 1954 for his performance in ''Roman Holiday'', ...

). According to westernclippings.com "Characters and Heavies" by Boyd Magers, "Ironically, by the time Patterson was doing 'Green Acres' he was in his late 70s and almost completely deaf, but the producers loved his portrayal so much they worked around his hearing impairment by having the dialogue coach lying on the floor out-of-shot tapping Hank's leg with a yardstick as a cue to speak his line."

Personal life

Hank Patterson was married to Daisy Marguerite (Sheeler) Patterson, a Kentucky native four years younger than Hank whose parents were both of German ancestry. They are listed together in the U.S. Census for both 1930 and 1940 as residing in Los Angeles. In the 1940 census, Hank's occupation is listed as "Actor, Motion Picture Studio & Stage." Patterson's great-grandfather, James Pearson, was an original settler of St. Clair County, Alabama, as was his mother's great-grandfather, Thomas Newton. His great-grandfather, Henry S. Patterson, moved to

Blount County, Alabama Blount County is a county located in the U.S. state of Alabama. As of the 2020 census, the population was 59,134. Its county seat is Oneonta. Blount County is a moist county. In the November 6, 2012 elections, a countywide ballot initiative ...

, around 1857 from

Murray County, Georgia Murray County is a county located in the northwestern part of the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 39,973. The county seat is Chatsworth. Murray County is part of the Dalton, GA Metropolitan Statistical Area, ...

. Between 1894 and 1897, the family left Alabama to live in Texas. Hank Patterson died at age 86 on August 23, 1975 of bronchial pneumonia. He is buried in Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Hollywood. Daisy died, also at age 86, on February 2, 1979. Patterson's great-niece is actress Téa Leoni.Leoni Online: The Articles - Elle Magazine
/ref>

Selected filmography

*'' The Arizona Kid'' (1939) - Townsman (uncredited) *''

Sabotage Sabotage is a deliberate action aimed at weakening a polity, effort, or organization through subversion, obstruction, disruption, or destruction. One who engages in sabotage is a ''saboteur''. Saboteurs typically try to conceal their identiti ...

'' (1939) - Minor Role (uncredited) *''

The Covered Trailer ''The Covered Trailer'' is a 1939 American comedy film directed by Gus Meins and written by Jack Townley. The film stars James Gleason, Lucile Gleason, Russell Gleason, Harry Davenport, Mary Beth Hughes and Tommy Ryan. The film was released o ...

'' (1939) - Townsman (uncredited) *'' Three Faces West'' (1940) - Pool Player (uncredited) *''

Abilene Town ''Abilene Town'' is a 1946 American Western film directed by Edwin L. Marin and starring Randolph Scott, Ann Dvorak, Edgar Buchanan, Rhonda Fleming and Lloyd Bridges. Adapted from Ernest Haycox's 1941 novel ''Trail Town'', the productio ...

'' (1946) - Doug Neil *'' The Scarlet Horseman'' (1946) - Sen. Masters (uncredited) *'' I Ring Doorbells'' (1946) - Mr. Bradley *'' The El Paso Kid'' (1946) - Jeff Winters *'' Conquest of Cheyenne'' (1946) - Rancher (uncredited) *''

Wild Beauty ''Wild Beauty'' is a 1946 American action film directed by Wallace Fox and written by Adele Buffington. The film stars Don Porter, Lois Collier, Jacqueline deWit, Robert Wilcox, George Cleveland, Dick Curtis and Robert 'Buzz' Henry. Th ...

'' (1946) - Ed (uncredited) *''

Santa Fe Uprising ''Santa Fe Uprising'' is a 1946 American Western film in the Red Ryder film series directed by R. G. Springsteen, written by Earle Snell, and starring Allan Lane, Robert Blake, Martha Wentworth, Barton MacLane, Jack La Rue and Tom London. It wa ...

'' (1946) - Deputy Jake *'' Gallant Bess'' (1946) - Ranch Hand (uncredited) *'' Bells of San Angelo'' (1947) - Deaf Bus Passenger *'' Robin Hood of Texas'' (1947) - Taxicab Driver (uncredited) *'' Springtime in the Sierras'' (1947) - Old-Timer *'' Under Colorado Skies'' (1947) - Slim *'' The Tender Years'' (1948) - Zeke (uncredited) *'' Relentless'' (1948) - Bob Pliny (uncredited) *'' Oklahoma Badlands'' (1948) - Postmaster Fred *'' Panhandle'' (1948) - Old Timer (uncredited) *''

Night Time in Nevada '' Night Time in Nevada '' is a 1948 American Western film directed by William Witney and starring Roy Rogers. Plot Ran Farrell kills his mining partner and instead of giving the money to his partner's (Jim Andrews) daughter he steals it. Joan ...

'' (1948) - Dancing Tramp *'' The Denver Kid'' (1948) - Sergeant Cooper *'' The Plunderers'' (1948) - Stage Manager (uncredited) *'' Belle Starr's Daughter'' (1948) - Townsman (uncredited) *'' Red Canyon'' (1949) - Osborne (uncredited) *'' Outcasts of the Trail'' (1949) - Hank Barris - Station Agent (uncredited) *'' The James Brothers of Missouri'' (1949, Serial) - Duffy

h. 4 H is the eighth letter of the Latin alphabet. H may also refer to: Musical symbols * H number, Harry Halbreich reference mechanism for music by Honegger and Martinů * H, B (musical note) * H, B major People * H. (noble) (died after 12 ...

/ Duffy 1*'' The Cowboy and the Indians'' (1949) - Tom - Ranch Foreman *'' Tell It to the Judge'' (1949) - Sleigh Driver (uncredited) *'' Riders in the Sky'' (1949) - Luke - Stagecoach Driver *'' Perfect Strangers'' (1950) - Witness in Montage (uncredited) *'' Code of the Silver Sage'' (1950) - Sgt. Woods *'' No Sad Songs for Me'' (1950) - Night Construction Workman (uncredited) *'' Please Believe Me'' (1950) - Sam Smith (uncredited) *'' The Gunfighter'' (1950) - Jake (uncredited) *'' Desperadoes of the West'' (1950, Serial) - Hardrock Haggerty

h. 4, 5 H is the eighth letter of the Latin alphabet. H may also refer to: Musical symbols * H number, Harry Halbreich reference mechanism for music by Honegger and Martinů * H, B (musical note) * H, B major People * H. (noble) (died after 12 ...

*'' The Return of Jesse James'' (1950) - Clay County Marshal *'' Al Jennings of Oklahoma'' (1951) - Jeff (uncredited) *''

Silver City Bonanza ''Silver City Bonanza'' is a 1951 American Western film directed by George Blair and written by Robert Creighton Williams. Starring Rex Allen, Buddy Ebsen, Mary Ellen Kay, Billy Kimbley, Alix Ebsen and Bill Kennedy, it was released on March ...

'' (1951) - Postman *'' Don Daredevil Rides Again'' (1951, Serial) - Buck Bender *'' Indian Uprising'' (1952) - Jake Wilson (uncredited) *'' Rose of Cimarron'' (1952) - Hunter on Trail (uncredited) *'' California Conquest'' (1952) - Sam Lawrence (uncredited) *'' Woman They Almost Lynched'' (1953) - Townsman (uncredited) *'' Canadian Mounties vs. Atomic Invaders'' (1953, Serial) - Jed Larson h.2-5*'' Jack Slade'' (1953) - Old Tom (uncredited) *''

Ride Clear of Diablo ''Ride Clear of Diablo'' is a 1954 American Technicolor Western film directed by Jesse Hibbs starring Audie Murphy, Dan Duryea, Susan Cabot and Abbe Lane. made for Universal Pictures. Cabot and Murphy had appeared in two films together previou ...

'' (1954) - Wagon Driver (uncredited) *'' Southwest Passage'' (1954) - Barstow (uncredited) *''

Many Rivers to Cross "Many Rivers to Cross" is a song written and recorded in 1969 by Jimmy Cliff. It has since been recorded by many musicians, including Harry Nilsson, John Lennon, Joe Cocker, Percy Sledge, Little Milton, Desmond Dekker, UB40, Cher, The Bra ...

'' (1955) - Second Innkeeper (uncredited) *'' Murder Is My Beat'' (1955) - Medical Examiner (uncredited) *''

Tarantula! ''Tarantula!'' is a 1955 American science-fiction monster film produced by William Alland and directed by Jack Arnold. It stars John Agar, Mara Corday, and Leo G. Carroll. The film is about a scientist developing a miracle nutrient to feed a rap ...

'' (1955) - Josh *'' Last of the Desperados'' (1955) - Hank - Wagon Driver (uncredited) *''

The Great Locomotive Chase ''The Great Locomotive Chase'' is a 1956 American adventure western film produced by Walt Disney Productions, based on the Great Locomotive Chase that occurred in 1862 during the American Civil War. Filmed in CinemaScope and in color, the ...

'' (1956) - Turner - Friendly Jailer (uncredited) *''

'' (1956) - Old Man Kimberley (uncredited) *''

The First Traveling Saleslady ''The First Traveling Saleslady'' is a 1956 American film, starring Ginger Rogers and Carol Channing. Commercially unsuccessful, it was among the films that helped to close RKO Pictures. Future western stars Clint Eastwood and James Arness ...

'' (1956) - First Cowhand in Courtroom (uncredited) *'' Strange Intruder'' (1956) - Knife Sharpener (uncredited) *'' Julie'' (1956) - Ellis *''

The Storm Rider ''The Storm Rider'' is a 1957 American Western film directed by Edward Bernds, written by Edward Bernds and Don Martin, and starring Scott Brady, Mala Powers, Bill Williams, John Goddard, William Fawcett and Roy Engel. It is based on the short ...

'' (1957) - Tom Milstead *'' Beginning of the End'' (1957) - Dave *'' God Is My Partner'' (1957) - John Biddle (uncredited) *'' Man of a Thousand Faces'' (1957) - Scotty, Stage Door Man (uncredited) *'' Gunsight Ridge'' (1957) - George Clark (uncredited) *''

'' (1957) - Henry *'' Escape from Red Rock'' (1957) - Sheriff Grover *''

Day of the Badman ''Day of the Badman'' is a 1958 American Western film directed by Harry Keller and starring Fred MacMurray, Joan Weldon and John Ericson. Plot Judge Jim Scott (Fred MacMurray) wants to sentence a killer to die, but the outlaw's family members ...

'' (1958) - George Foley (uncredited) *'' Attack of the Puppet People'' (1958) - Janitor *''

'' (1958) - as Jonah in Episode "A Pressing Engagement" *''

'' (1958) - as Milt in Episode "Sheriff Billy" *''

Tombstone Territory ''Tombstone Territory'' is an American Western series starring Pat Conway and Richard Eastham. The series' first two seasons aired on ABC from 1957 to 1959. The first season was sponsored by Bristol-Myers (consumer products) and the second se ...

'' (1058) - Episode "Desert Survival" *'' Terror in a Texas Town'' (1958) - Brady (uncredited) *'' Earth vs. the Spider'' (1958) - Hugo the Janitor *'' The Saga of Hemp Brown'' (1958) - Gil Henry (uncredited) *''

The Decks Ran Red ''The Decks Ran Red'' (also called ''Infamy'') is a 1958 MGM seagoing suspense drama based on the book ''Infamy at Sea'', and directed by Andrew L. Stone. The feature starred James Mason, Dorothy Dandridge, Broderick Crawford, and Stuart Whitm ...

'' (1958) - Mr. Moody *''

Monster on the Campus ''Monster on the Campus'' (a.k.a. ''Monster in the Night'' and ''Stranger on the Campus'') is a 1958 American black-and-white science fiction/horror film from Universal-International, produced by Joseph Gershenson, directed by Jack Arnold, fro ...

'' (1958) - Townsend - Night Watchman (uncredited) *''

'' (1959 episode Lola Montez) - Larson *''

No Name on the Bullet ''No Name on the Bullet'' is a 1959 American CinemaScope Western film directed by Jack Arnold, and starring Audie Murphy, Charles Drake, and Joan Evans. It is one of a handful of pictures in that genre directed by Arnold, better known for his ...

'' (1959) - Ed - Chess Player (uncredited) *'' Lone Texan'' (1959) - Jack Stone (uncredited) *'' Gunmen from Laredo'' (1959) - Stableman (uncredited) *''

Gunfighters of Abilene ''Gunfighters of Abilene'' is a 1960 American Western film directed by Edward L. Cahn and starring Buster Crabbe, Barton MacLane and Judith Ames.

'' (1960) - Andy Ferris (uncredited) *'' The Absent Minded Professor'' (1961) - Fisherman Spectator (uncredited) *''

Tammy Tell Me True ''Tammy Tell Me True'' is a 1961 American Eastmancolor comedy film directed by Harry Keller and starring Sandra Dee and John Gavin, Charles Drake, Virginia Grey and Julia Meade. The film was based on Cid Ricketts Sumner's 1959 novel of th ...

'' (1961) - Rural Character (uncredited) *'' Straightaway'' (1961 episode "The Tin Caesar") – Parker *'' The Virginian'' (1964 episode "Smile of a Dragon") - Old Man *''

A Covenant with Death ''A Covenant with Death'' is a 1967 American legal drama film directed by Lamont Johnson (in his feature directorial debut), from a screenplay by Lawrence B. Marcus and Saul Levitt, based on the 1964 novel of the same name by Stephen Becker. Th ...

'' (1967) - Old Man (uncredited)

Selected Television

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Patterson, Hank 1888 births 1975 deaths People from Springville, Alabama American male television actors American male pianists Vaudeville performers American male film actors Burials at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills) 20th-century American male actors Male actors from Alabama Western (genre) television actors Male Western (genre) film actors 20th-century American male musicians