HP
Hank Patterson
Actor
Born October 9, 1888Died August 23, 1975 (86 years)
Hank Patterson (born Elmer Calvin 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 and farmer Fred Ziffel on both Petticoat Junction and Green Acres.
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 westerns, and then in popular juvenile TV westerns such as The Cisco Kid, The Adventures of Kit Carson, The Lone Ranger, and Annie Oakley.
Patterson played recurring or different roles in adult/family TV westerns, including the role of "Hank Miller" in 33 episodes of Gunsmoke from 1962 through 1972, on Have Gun-Will Travel (eleven episodes), Death Valley Days (nine episodes), Tales of Wells Fargo (seven episodes), Maverick (four episodes), Cheyenne (four episodes), Wagon Train (three episodes), Daniel Boone (three episodes), The Virginian (two episodes), The Rifleman, Bonanza, and in episodes of Lawman, Bat Masterson, The Restless Gun, and many others.
He made additional TV appearances, including three episodes of The Twilight Zone as well as Perry Mason, Burke's Law, The Untouchables, Judd for the Defense, My Three Sons, and in later years The Mod Squad and Love, American Style.Highway Patrol.
In 1963 Patterson first appeared in what would become a recurring role as farmer Fred Ziffel on the popular CBS rural comedy Petticoat Junction. 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 on primetime.
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 (Green Acres co-star Eddie Albert).
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."
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 westerns, and then in popular juvenile TV westerns such as The Cisco Kid, The Adventures of Kit Carson, The Lone Ranger, and Annie Oakley.
Patterson played recurring or different roles in adult/family TV westerns, including the role of "Hank Miller" in 33 episodes of Gunsmoke from 1962 through 1972, on Have Gun-Will Travel (eleven episodes), Death Valley Days (nine episodes), Tales of Wells Fargo (seven episodes), Maverick (four episodes), Cheyenne (four episodes), Wagon Train (three episodes), Daniel Boone (three episodes), The Virginian (two episodes), The Rifleman, Bonanza, and in episodes of Lawman, Bat Masterson, The Restless Gun, and many others.
He made additional TV appearances, including three episodes of The Twilight Zone as well as Perry Mason, Burke's Law, The Untouchables, Judd for the Defense, My Three Sons, and in later years The Mod Squad and Love, American Style.Highway Patrol.
In 1963 Patterson first appeared in what would become a recurring role as farmer Fred Ziffel on the popular CBS rural comedy Petticoat Junction. 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 on primetime.
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 (Green Acres co-star Eddie Albert).
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."
Movies & Shows on Plex
Filmography
| 1969 | Love, American Style (TV Series) · as Farmer (segment "love And The Return Of Raymond") |
| 1968 | The Mod Squad (TV Series) |
| 1968 | The Outcasts (TV Series) · as Mountain Joe |
| 1967 | Judd for the Defense (TV Series) · as Pearson |
| 1967 | The Guns of Will Sonnett (TV Series) |
| 1967 | Cimarron Strip (TV Series) |
| 1967 | Custer (TV Series) |
| 1967 | A Covenant with Death · as Old Man |
| 1965 | The Loner (TV Series) · as The Bartender |
| 1965 | The Wild Wild West (TV Series) · as Porter Richards |
| 1965 | Laredo (TV Series) |
| 1965 | Green Acres (TV Series) · as Fred Ziffel |
| 1965 | A Man Called Shenandoah (TV Series) · as Godey |
| 1965 | The Legend of Jesse James (TV Series) · as Porter |
| 1964 | Daniel Boone (TV Series) · as Jed Harper (uncredited) |
| 1963 | Petticoat Junction (TV Series) · as Fred Ziffell |
| 1963 | Burke's Law (TV Series) · as Lukey Slade |
| 1962 | The Eleventh Hour (TV Series) · as Justice Of The Peace |
| 1962 | The Beverly Hillbillies (TV Series) |
| 1962 | Empire (TV Series) · as Hughes |
| 1962 | The Virginian (TV Series) · as Old Man |
| 1962 | The Lloyd Bridges Show (TV Series) · as Dexter |
| 1961 | Alcoa Premiere (TV Series) · as Bates |
| 1961 | Ripcord (TV Series) · as Henry Travis |
| 1961 | 87th Precinct (TV Series) |
| 1961 | Tammy Tell Me True · as Rural Character |
| 1961 | Whispering Smith (TV Series) · as Leadville Oldtimer |
| 1961 | The Absent Minded Professor · as Fisherman Spectator (uncredited) |
| 1961 | Mister Ed (TV Series) |
| 1960 | Klondike (TV Series) · as Spunky |
| 1960 | The Andy Griffith Show (TV Series) · as Hobo |
| 1960 | Michael Shayne (TV Series) · as Manager |
| 1960 | The Westerner (TV Series) · as Sample |
| 1960 | Outlaws (TV Series) · as Davy |
| 1960 | Guestward Ho! (TV Series) · as Court Clerk |
| 1960 | My Three Sons (TV Series) · as Quinby Lewis |
| 1960 | The Tall Man (TV Series) |
| 1960 | |
| 1960 | Overland Trail (TV Series) · as Old Timer In Stagecoach Station |
| 1959 | Shotgun Slade (TV Series) · as Sheriff |
| 1959 | The Alaskans (TV Series) |
| 1959 | Hotel de Paree (TV Series) · as Harry Lewis |
| 1959 | The Twilight Zone (TV Series) · as Old Man |
| 1959 | Johnny Ringo (TV Series) · as Old Man |
| 1959 | Gunfighters of Abilene · as Andy Ferris |
| 1959 | Lock-Up (TV Series) |
| 1959 | The June Allyson Show (TV Series) · as Mr. Phillips |
| 1959 | Laramie (TV Series) · as Stage Driver |
| 1959 | Riverboat (TV Series) · as Johnny Mullins (uncredited) |
| 1959 | The Man and the Challenge (TV Series) · as Swede |
| 1959 | |
| 1959 | The Deputy (TV Series) · as Luke Mason |
| 1959 | No Name on the Bullet · as Ed - Chess Player |
| 1959 | |
| 1959 | The Untouchables (TV Series) · as Charlie |
| 1959 | Black Saddle (TV Series) · as Harvey Morgan |
| 1959 | Rawhide (TV Series) · as Simpson |
| 1958 | Monster on the Campus · as Townsend - Night Watchman |
| 1958 | The Decks Ran Red · as Moody |
| 1958 | U.S. Marshal (TV Series) · as Sam Castro |
| 1958 | Bat Masterson (TV Series) · as Prospector |
| 1958 | Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse (TV Series) |
| 1958 | Lawman (TV Series) · as Harrison Lester |
| 1958 | The Saga of Hemp Brown · as Gil Henry |
| 1958 | Mackenzie's Raiders (TV Series) · as Old Man |
| 1958 | The Rifleman (TV Series) |
| 1958 | The Texan (TV Series) |
| 1958 | Bronco (TV Series) |
| 1958 | Earth vs the Spider · as Hugo |
| 1958 | Terror in a Texas Town · as Brady |
| 1958 | Attack of the Puppet People · as Theater Janitor |
| 1958 | Day of the Badman · as George Foley |
| 1958 | Sea Hunt (TV Series) |
| 1957 | Escape from Red Rock · as Sheriff Grover |
| 1957 | Man of a Thousand Faces · as Scotty, Stage Door Man |
| 1957 | The New Adventures of Spin and Marty (TV Series) |
| 1957 | The Amazing Colossal Man · as Henry |
| 1957 | Tombstone Territory (TV Series) · as Old Timer |
| 1957 | Trackdown (TV Series) |
| 1957 | The Californians (TV Series) · as Prospector |
| 1957 | The Restless Gun (TV Series) · as Jonah |
| 1957 | Maverick (TV Series) · as Clean-Up Man |
| 1957 | Perry Mason (TV Series) · as Jack Gilly |
| 1957 | Wagon Train (TV Series) · as Horse Dealer |
| 1957 | Have Gun, Will Travel (TV Series) |
| 1957 | Gunsight Ridge · as George Clark (uncredited) |
| 1957 | God Is My Partner · as John Biddle |
| 1957 | Beginning of the End · as Dave |
| 1957 | Tales of Wells Fargo (TV Series) · as Benson |
| 1957 | The Storm Rider · as Milstead |
| 1957 | Guns Don't Argue · as Scully Wass (farmer) |
| 1956 | Julie · as Ellis |
| 1956 | Zane Grey Theater (TV Series) · as Slim Baker |
| 1956 | Broken Arrow (TV Series) · as Stage Driver |
| 1956 | Circus Boy (TV Series) · as Farmer |
| 1956 | The Sheriff of Cochise (TV Series) · as Attendant |
| 1956 | Strange Intruder · as Knife Grinder |
| 1956 | The First Traveling Saleslady · as Courtroom Spectator |
| 1956 | The Great Locomotive Chase · as Turner |
| 1956 | The Lone Ranger · as Old Man Kimberley |
| 1955 | Tarantula · as Josh |
| 1955 | Highway Patrol (1955) (TV Series) |
| 1955 | Sergeant Preston of the Yukon (TV Series) |
| 1955 | The Adventures of Champion (TV Series) · as Trem Holt |
| 1955 | |
| 1955 | Navy Log (TV Series) |
| 1955 | Gunsmoke (TV Series) · as Hank |
| 1955 | The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp (TV Series) |
| 1955 | The Mickey Mouse Club (TV Series) · as Pete Duggan |
| 1955 | Science Fiction Theatre (TV Series) · as George |
| 1955 | Buffalo Bill Jr. (TV Series) |
| 1955 | Murder Is My Beat · as Medical Examiner |
| 1955 | Many Rivers to Cross · as Second Innkeeper |
| 1955 | The Star and the Story (TV Series) · as Cast |
| 1954 | Disneyland (TV Series) · as Jailer |
| 1954 | Studio 57 (TV Series) · as Cast |
| 1954 | Captain Midnight (TV Series) · as Lars Ekberg |
| 1954 | Southwest Passage · as Barstow |
| 1954 | Ride Clear of Diablo · as Wagon Driver |
| 1954 | Annie Oakley (TV Series) · as Jake Wilkin |
| 1954 | Meet Corliss Archer (TV Series) · as Locksmith |
| 1953 | Jack Slade · as Old Tom |
| 1953 | Topper (TV Series) · as Cast |
| 1953 | Meet Mr. McNutley (TV Series) · as Cast |
| 1953 | Canadian Mounties vs. Atomic Invaders · as Jed Larson |
| 1953 | The Revlon Mirror Theater (TV Series) · as Cast |
| 1953 | Woman They Almost Lynched · as Townsman |
| 1952 | The Abbott and Costello Show (TV Series) · as The Tramp |
| 1952 | Rose of Cimarron · as Hunter On Trail |
| 1952 | Ford Theatre: All Star Theatre (TV Series) · as Conductor |
| 1952 | Hopalong Cassidy (TV Series) |
| 1952 | |
| 1952 | Gang Busters (TV Series) |
| 1952 | Death Valley Days (TV Series) · as Abe |
| 1952 | Indian Uprising · as Jake Wilson |
| 1951 | The Roy Rogers Show (TV Series) · as Hermit |
| 1951 | Schlitz Playhouse of Stars (TV Series) |
| 1951 | Sky King (TV Series) · as Ezzie |
| 1951 | The Adventures of Kit Carson (TV Series) · as Old Timer Sierra Jack |
| 1951 | Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok (TV Series) |
| 1951 | Don Daredevil Rides Again · as Buck Bender |
| 1951 | Silver City Bonanza · as Postman |
| 1951 | Al Jennings of Oklahoma · as Jeff |
| 1950 | Racket Squad (TV Series) · as Tom Taylor |
| 1950 | The Trouble with Father (TV Series) · as Gus - The Milkman |
| 1950 | The Return of Jesse James · as Clay County Marshal |
| 1950 | The Gunfighter · as Jake (uncredited) |
| 1950 | Desperadoes of the West · as Hardrock Haggerty |
| 1950 | The Gene Autry Show (TV Series) · as Wagon Driver Idaho |
| 1950 | Perfect Strangers · as Witness In Montage |
| 1950 | Please Believe Me · as Sam Smith |
| 1950 | No Sad Songs for Me · as Night Construction Workman (uncredited) |
| 1950 | Code of the Silver Sage · as Sergeant Woods |
| 1950 | The Cisco Kid (TV Series) · as Jess Fleming |
| 1949 | Riders in the Sky · as Luke - Stagecoach Driver |
| 1949 | Tell It to the Judge · as Sleigh Driver |
| 1949 | The Cowboy and the Indians · as Ranch Hand Tom |
| 1949 | The Lone Ranger (TV Series) · as Calico |
| 1949 | The James Brothers of Missouri · as Duffy [ch. 4] / Duffy [11] |
| 1949 | Red Canyon · as Osborne |
| 1949 | Fireside Theatre (TV Series) · as Townsman |
| 1948 | Belle Starr's Daughter · as Townsman |
| 1948 | The Plunderers · as Stage Manager |
| 1948 | The Denver Kid · as Sergeant Cooper |
| 1948 | Nighttime in Nevada · as Tramp |
| 1948 | Panhandle · as Old Timer (uncredited) |
| 1948 | Oklahoma Badlands · as Postmaster Fred |
| 1948 | Relentless · as Bob Pliny (uncredited) |
| 1947 | Under Colorado Skies · as Slim |
| 1947 | Springtime in the Sierras · as Old-Timer |
| 1947 | Robin Hood of Texas · as Guest |
| 1947 | Bells of San Angelo · as Deaf Bus Passenger |
| 1946 | Duel in the Sun · as Man (uncredited) |
| 1946 | Gallant Bess · as Ranch Hand |
| 1946 | Santa Fe Uprising · as Deputy Jake |
| 1946 | Conquest of Cheyenne · as Rancher |
| 1946 | The El Paso Kid · as Jeff Winters |
| 1946 | Abilene Town · as Doug Neil |
| 1940 | Three Faces West · as Pool Player |
| 1939 | Sabotage · as (uncredited) |
| 1939 | The Arizona Kid · as Townsman |