Edgar Buchanan

Best known to TV audiences as Uncle Joe Carson on "Petticoat Junction," "Green Acres," and "The Beverly Hillbillies," Edgar Buchanan moved with his family to Oregon not long after his birth, and after studying at the University of Oregon, Buchanan followed in his father's footsteps, and became a dentist. In 1939, Buchanan and him wife moved to Altadena, California, where he got involved with the Pasadena Players. After landing his first film role in 1939's "My Son is Guilty," he left dentistry to pursue acting professionally. Despite his late start, Buchanan had no trouble getting started. He appeared in seven films in 1940, and would go on to appear in more than 90 films and 70 television programs in his career. While he appeared in a number of popular films including "Penny Serenade," "Shane," and "The Talk of the Town," Buchanan made his biggest impact on TV playing Uncle Joe. First cast on "Petticoat Junction" in 1963, Buchanan would go on to play Uncle Joe in more than 240 episodes between the three shows that shared the character, which was retired in 1970 when "Petticoat Junction" was cancelled. Buchanan retired in 1974 after completing "Benji," a family adventure that reunited him with Higgins, the unnamed dog who ran about "Petticoat Junction." Buchanan died April 4, 1979, in Palm Desert, California. He was 76 years old.