What's After the Movie
Edgar Buchanan
**William Edgar Buchanan II** was born on *March 20, 1903* in the small town of Humansville, Missouri, to Rose (Kee) Buchanan and dentist William Edgar Buchanan Sr. When he was seven his family moved to Eugene, Oregon, where his father ran a dental practice and strongly encouraged his son to follow the same profession. Despite his father's objections, young Edgar pursued theatre studies at the University of Oregon, joined a Portland acting troupe, and helped found the Portland Civic Theatre. He earned a DDS degree from North Pacific College School of Dentistry in 1928, the same year he married his fellow graduate Mildred Marguerite “Millie” Spence, also a dentist. The couple adopted a son, William Edgar “Buck” Buchanan III, and for a brief period managed a dental office together before a pivotal 1939 move to Altadena, California, where Edgar entered the Pasadena Playhouse. Studio scouts discovered his talent, signing him to a seven‑year Hollywood contract and prompting him to abandon dentistry permanently in favor of a flourishing acting career.
From his debut at age 36, Buchanan appeared in over one hundred films, ranging from *Texas* (1941) where he played a dentist, to iconic titles such as *Shane* (1953) and John Wayne’s *McLintock!* (1963). His television work proved equally prolific, with guest spots on classics like *The Rifleman*, *The Twilight Zone*, and *Gunsmoke*. He became a household name as **Uncle Joe Carson**, a role he sustained in every episode of *Petticoat Junction* (222 episodes), as well as recurring appearances on *Green Acres* and *The Beverly Hillbillies*. In the late 1960s he even released a spoken‑word single, “Phantom 309,” on Dot Records. Buchanan’s career spanned the golden age of Westerns, sitcoms, and family films, cementing his reputation as a beloved character actor. He died of a stroke complicated by pneumonia on April 4, 1979, in Palm Desert, California, and was interred at Forest Lawn‑Hollywood Hills.
Biography, Career & Filmography
Learn more about Edgar Buchanan, including a detailed biography, career timeline, personal life insights, and complete filmography. Discover how Edgar Buchanan rose to fame, their major roles, industry impact, and personal milestones in the world of film.
Given Name: William Edgar Buchanan II
Born: Humansville, Missouri, U.S.
Citizenship: United States
Birthday: March 20, 1903
Occupations: dentist, actor, singer
Years Active: 1939-1974
Children: 1
Spouses: Mildred Marguerite Spence
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Movies Featuring Edgar Buchanan
McLintock!
Shane
Ride the High Country
Benji
Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage
Abilene Town
Penny Serenade
Come Next Spring
The Over-the-Hill Gang Rides Again
Cave of Outlaws
Human Desire
Devil’s Doorway
City Without Men
Texas
Flashing Spikes
You Belong to Me
The Walls Came Tumbling Down
Adventures in Silverado
Too Many Husbands
Tear Gas Squad
The Big Hangover
Silver City
The Desperadoes
Red Canyon
The Great Missouri Raid
The Sea of Grass
Rawhide
Hound-Dog Man
Any Number Can Play
Toughest Man in Arizona
Move Over, Darling
Tammy Tell Me True
Yuma
The Black Arrow
The Swordsman
Bride by Mistake
The Big Trees
Wichita
If I’m Lucky
The Sea Hawk
The Walking Hills
Framed
Devil’s Partner
The Man from Button Willow
The Silver Star
The Bandit of Sherwood Forest
Cheaper by the Dozen
Renegades
Gunpoint
Strange Affair
Four Fast Guns
Make Haste to Live
Welcome to Hard Times
The Man from Colorado
It Started with a Kiss
Buffalo Bill
The Talk of the Town
Dawn at Socorro
Arizona
The Marshal of Madrid
It Happens Every Thursday
She Couldn’t Say No
Cimarron
Lust for Gold
The Sheepman
Edge of Eternity
A Ticklish Affair
Angel in My Pocket
My Son Is Guilty
The Impatient Years
When the Daltons Rode
Tombstone: The Town Too Tough to Die
Rage at Dawn
Career Timeline
Track the complete movie timeline of Edgar Buchanan, including all film releases, career breakthroughs, and notable roles. Follow their journey from early performances to recent blockbusters and upcoming projects.
1959
Hound-Dog Man
Doc Cole
It Started with a Kiss
Congressman Richard Tappe
Edge of Eternity
Sheriff Edwards
1954
Human Desire
Alec Simmons
Make Haste to Live
Sheriff Lafe
Dawn at Socorro
Sheriff Cauthen
She Couldn’t Say No
Ed Meeker
1951
Cave of Outlaws
Dobbs
Silver City
Dutch Surrency
The Great Missouri Raid
Dr. Samuels
Rawhide
Sam Todd
1950
Devil’s Doorway
Zeke Carmody
The Big Hangover
Uncle Fred Mahoney
Cheaper by the Dozen
Dr. Burton
1949
Red Canyon
Jonah Johnson
Any Number Can Play
Ed
The Walking Hills
Old Willy
Lust for Gold
Wiser
1948
Adventures in Silverado
Dr. Hendersonn
The Black Arrow
Lawless
The Swordsman
Angus MacArden
The Man from Colorado
Doc Merriam
1946
Abilene Town
Sheriff Bravo Trimble
The Walls Came Tumbling Down
George Bradford
If I’m Lucky
Darius J. Magonnagle
The Bandit of Sherwood Forest
Friar Tuck
Renegades
Kirk Dembrow
1944
Bride by Mistake
Jonathan Connors
Strange Affair
Lt. Washburn
Buffalo Bill
Sgt. Chips McGraw
The Impatient Years
Judge
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