Hank Patterson
Biography: 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."
Place of Birth: Not available
Birthday: October 09, 1888
Deathday: August 23, 1975
Popularity:
Known For
Panhandle
1948-02-22
Panhandle
Overview: An ex-gunfighter woos two women while avenging his brother, victim of a crooked gambler.
Genres: Western
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1948-02-22
Popularity:
The Saga of Hemp Brown
1958-10-01
The Saga of Hemp Brown
Overview: Ex-army sergeant Jed Givens and his gang rob an army payroll shipment led by Lt. Hemp Brown. Givens kills a civilian woman and all the soldiers, leaving Brown alive to face a military tribunal in which he is branded a coward, stripped of all insignia and drummed out of the army. Brown sets out to track down Givens in an effort to clear his name.
Genres: Western
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1958-10-01
Popularity:
Lone Texan
1959-03-01
Lone Texan
Overview: After the Civil War, a Texan who served in the Union army comes back home to find himself ostracized by his neighbors for having fought against the Confederacy. On top of that, he finds that his younger brother is now the sheriff, and is ruling the town with an iron hand.
Genres: Western
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1959-03-01
Popularity:
Southwest Passage
1954-04-01
Southwest Passage
Overview: As the Cavalry tests the viability of bringing camels to US deserts, a surveyor, Arab drivers, and fugitive bank robbers confront Apaches and thirst. Originally filmed in 3-D
Genres: Western
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1954-04-01
Popularity:
California Conquest
1952-07-04
California Conquest
Overview: The period is the 1840s and California is part of Mexico. Many of the citizens wish to become part of the United States. Other countries are also interested and the Russians have established bases in the northern part of the state. To further their hold they have stolen guns and Don Arturo Bordega, a leader of those wanting statehood, is out to recover them.
Genres: Adventure History Romance Western
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1952-07-04
Popularity:
Terror in a Texas Town
1958-09-01
Terror in a Texas Town
Overview: Armed with a harpoon, a Swedish whaler is out for revenge after the death of his father. A greedy oil man trying to buy up the Swede's land might be the guilty party.
Genres: Western
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1958-09-01
Popularity:
Attack of the Puppet People
1958-04-01
Attack of the Puppet People
Overview: A deranged scientist creates a ray that can shrink people down to doll size.
Genres: Horror Science Fiction
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1958-04-01
Popularity:
Gunmen from Laredo
1959-03-01
Gunmen from Laredo
Overview: A framed Texas rancher escapes from prison for a showdown with a saloonkeeper.
Genres: Western
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1959-03-01
Popularity:
Gunfighters of Abilene
1960-01-01
Gunfighters of Abilene
Overview: A gunman receives a request for help from his brother, but arrives too late to save him from the lawless rancher who wanted him dead.
Genres: Western
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1960-01-01
Popularity:
The Cowboy and the Indians
1949-09-15
The Cowboy and the Indians
Overview: Finding Indians stealing from his ranch, Gene learns they are suffering from malnutrition. Store owner Martin is cheating them and now he is after the Chief's valuable necklace. When the dying chief is found, having been attacked and robbed, Martin blames Lakhona who would become the new chief. When Gene helps Lakhona they soon find themselves fleeing from the law.
Genres: Western
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1949-09-15
Popularity:
The Arizona Kid
1939-09-28
The Arizona Kid
Overview: Roy is a Confederate officer stationed in Missouri during the Civil War. He must put an end to outlaw gangs working under the pretense of service to the Confederacy.
Genres: Western
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1939-09-28
Popularity:
Gunsight Ridge
1957-09-01
Gunsight Ridge
Overview: An undercover agent takes the job of sheriff in order to find the men responsible for a series of stagecoach robberies.
Genres: Western Action Adventure
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1957-09-01
Popularity:
Duel in the Sun
1946-12-31
Duel in the Sun
Overview: Beautiful half-breed Pearl Chavez becomes the ward of her dead father's first love and finds herself torn between her sons, one good and the other bad.
Genres: Western Romance Drama
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1946-12-31
Popularity:
The Return of Jesse James
1950-08-01
The Return of Jesse James
Overview: Frank James resents and tries to stop a ruthless drifter who has adopted the name of his dead brother in order to duplicate his crimes.
Genres: Drama Western Action
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1950-08-01
Popularity:
The Absent-Minded Professor
1961-03-16
The Absent-Minded Professor
Overview: Bumbling professor Ned Brainard accidentally invents flying rubber, or "Flubber", an incredible material that gains energy every time it strikes a hard surface. It allows for the invention of shoes that can allow jumps of amazing heights and enables a modified Model-T to fly. Unfortunately, no one is interested in the material except for Alonzo Hawk, a corrupt businessman who wants to steal the material for himself.
Genres: Comedy Family Science Fiction
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1961-03-16
Popularity:
The Decks Ran Red
1958-10-10
The Decks Ran Red
Overview: A band of dishonest seamen plans a murderous mutiny aboard the S.S. Berwind.
Genres: Thriller Adventure Drama Crime
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1958-10-10
Popularity:
The Spider
1958-09-01
The Spider
Overview: Teenagers from a small town and their high school science teacher join forces to battle a giant mutant spider, living in a cave nearby and getting hungry.
Genres: Horror Science Fiction
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1958-09-01
Popularity:
Attack of the Puppet People
1958-04-01
Attack of the Puppet People
Overview: A deranged scientist creates a ray that can shrink people down to doll size.
Genres: Horror Science Fiction
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1958-04-01
Popularity:
Beginning of the End
1957-06-28
Beginning of the End
Overview: An attractive reporter investigating the mysterious destruction of an Illinois town stumbles upon a secret government laboratory conducting radiation experiments on vegetables. The lead scientist is eager to help find out what happened. Together they discover that giant grasshoppers are behind the devastation. Worse yet, thousands of them are headed toward Chicago! Can they be stopped... or is this the BEGINNING OF THE END?
Genres: Horror Science Fiction
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1957-06-28
Popularity:
The Storm Rider
1957-03-01
The Storm Rider
Overview: In this fast-paced Western, smaler ranchers hire a former gunman Bart Jones (Scott Brady) in the middle of a range war when he's called on to protect a group of small-time ranchers against cattle baron Maj.
Genres: Western
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1957-03-01
Popularity:
The Amazing Colossal Man
1957-10-25
The Amazing Colossal Man
Overview: Lt. Col. Glenn Manning is inadvertently exposed to a plutonium bomb blast and although he sustains burns over 90% of his body, he survives. Then he begins to grow, but as he grows he starts losing his mind. By the time he stops he is 50 ft tall, insane and is on the rampage.
Genres: Science Fiction Adventure Thriller
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1957-10-25
Popularity:
Julie
1956-10-17
Julie
Overview: A terrified stewardess is stalked by her psychotic estranged husband.
Genres: Thriller Mystery
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1956-10-17
Popularity:
Strange Intruder
1956-09-02
Strange Intruder
Overview: A Korean War veteran must find his buddy's widow and children to keep a bizarre promise.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1956-09-02
Popularity:
Tarantula
1955-12-14
Tarantula
Overview: A rogue scientist near a small desert town arouses the suspicion of the town's doctor when his lab assistant is found dead from a case of acromegaly, which took only four days to develop. As the doctor investigates, aided by the scientist's new female assistant, they discover that something is devouring local cattle and humans in increasingly large quantities.
Genres: Science Fiction Horror
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1955-12-14
Popularity:
Jack Slade
1953-11-08
Jack Slade
Overview: A young boy witnesses his father murdered by bandits and grows into adulthood vowing revenge.
Genres: Western
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1953-11-08
Popularity:
Code of the Silver Sage
1950-03-25
Code of the Silver Sage
Overview: Arizona Territory is in the grip of outlaw terror and killer outlaws, secretly organized by Hulon Champion, who covers his power ambitions with the guise of a respectable firearms merchant. Hoping to eradicate the lawlessness plaguing the newspaperman Fred Gately prints a letter asking the president to visit the area. But Fred's killed by secret gang leader Champion, who also plans to assassinate the president. Undercover officer Rocky Lane teams with his assistant, Nugget, and Fred's spunky daughter to combat Champion's head gunslinger.
Genres: Action Drama Mystery Western
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1950-03-25
Popularity:
Night Time in Nevada
1948-09-05
Night Time in Nevada
Overview: Twenty years earlier Farrell killed his mining partner Andrews. Now Andrews daughter arrives to get her father's trust fund. Farrell having rustled Roy's cattle now takes her money from her Lawyer and lets her overhear false information of their next rustling job. With the posse at the wrong location, his men attack the cattle train and Roy on board find himself greatly outnumbered.
Genres: Action Western
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1948-09-05
Popularity:
Springtime in the Sierras
1947-07-15
Springtime in the Sierras
Overview: Jean Loring has her men illegally killing and selling game. Roy suspects her and gets himself invited to stay at her ranch. Investigating he finds the freezer where the slaughtered game are kept. But he is caught, tied up, and left to freeze.
Genres: Western
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1947-07-15
Popularity:
Bells of San Angelo
1947-04-15
Bells of San Angelo
Overview: Gridley is mining silver from an old Mexican mine and bringing it into the USA thru a passage into his worthless mine. Border guard Rogers suspects Gridley and finally finds the secret entrance to the Mexican mine. He sends Lee Madison for help only to have her captured by Gridley. Trigger brings help that takes care of Gridley's men and now Roy has to rescue Madison.
Genres: Action Adventure Drama Music Western
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1947-04-15
Popularity:
Monster on the Campus
1958-12-17
Monster on the Campus
Overview: A college paleontology professor acquires a newly discovered specimen of a coelecanth, but while examining it, he is accidentally exposed to its blood, and finds himself periodically turning into a murderous Neanderthal man.
Genres: Horror Science Fiction
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1958-12-17
Popularity:
The Gunfighter
1950-06-23
The Gunfighter
Overview: The fastest gun in the West tries to escape his reputation.
Genres: Western
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1950-06-23
Popularity:
Abilene Town
1946-01-11
Abilene Town
Overview: Marshall Dan Mitchell, who is the law in Abilene, has the job of keeping peace between two groups. For a long time, the town had been divided, with the cattlemen and cowboys having one end of town to themselves, while townspeople occupied the other end. Mitchell liked it this way, it made things easier for him, and kept problems from arising between the two factions. However…
Genres: Western Romance
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1946-01-11
Popularity:
Three Faces West
1940-07-03
Three Faces West
Overview: Viennese surgeon Dr. Braun and his daughter Leni come to a small town in North Dakota as refugees from Hitler. When the winds of the Dust Bowl threaten the town, John Phillips leads the townsfolk in moving to greener pastures in Oregon. He falls for Leni, but she is betrothed to the man who helped her and her father escape from the Third Reich. She must decide between the two men.
Genres: Drama Romance Western
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1940-07-03
Popularity:
Robin Hood Of Texas
1947-07-15
Robin Hood Of Texas
Overview: When the bank is robbed, Gene and the boys are singing nearby and the Chief arrests them as gang members but lets them go thinking they will lead them to the others.
Genres: Western
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1947-07-15
Popularity:
Robin Hood Of Texas
1947-07-15
Robin Hood Of Texas
Overview: When the bank is robbed, Gene and the boys are singing nearby and the Chief arrests them as gang members but lets them go thinking they will lead them to the others.
Genres: Western
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1947-07-15
Popularity:
Desperadoes of the West
1950-08-02
Desperadoes of the West
Overview: A group of ranchers, led by Colonel Arnold and Ward Gordon, are drilling an oil well but getting fierce opposition from an unknown gang of outlaws. Eastern promoter J.B."Dude" Dawson, is behind the gang as he is out to prevent the co-op members from striking oil before their lease expires, so he can secure the property for his company. When Ward, with the help of Arnold and his daughter Sally, arranges for a new driller to be brought in, the replacement man is killed and one of Dawson's men takes his place.
Genres: Western
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1950-08-02
Popularity:
Don Daredevil Rides Again
1951-04-10
Don Daredevil Rides Again
Overview: Stock-footage from Republic Pictures' earlier Zorro serials was served up once again in this 12 chapter cliffhanger, this time without the financially strapped studio having to credit Zorro creator Johnston McCulley or pay any royalties. Zorro simply became "Don Daredevil" (Ken Curtis), a foppish Easterner by day turned masked avenger by night. Like his not too distant relative, Don wore his disguise in order to battle nasty Roy Barcroft who, under a forged Spanish land grant, attempts to take over the surrounding ranch land.
Genres: Western
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1951-04-10
Popularity:
Silver City Bonanza
1951-03-01
Silver City Bonanza
Overview: Blind Pete Horne knows the location of the Lost Spanish Silver Lode, but is knifed before he can tell anyone. His seeing eye dog, Duke, brings Rex Allen and Gabriel Horne to Pete's lifeless body. They set out to find the killer and run into trouble near Silver City, Arizona, when they rescue Katie McIntosh from a gang that is chasing her buckboard.
Genres: Western
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1951-03-01
Popularity:
Santa Fe Uprising
1946-11-15
Santa Fe Uprising
Overview: The Duchess, the aunt of Red Ryder, comes to town to protect her property. Crawford, a town big-shot behind an outlaw gang, tries to prevent her from reaching her destination, but the attack is thwarted by Red. The latter is made town marshal, and when he gets too close to the truth and is making it too hot for the Crawford faction, Crawford has his henchman Luke kidnap Red's Indian friend Little Beaver.
Genres: Western
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1946-11-15
Popularity:
Sabotage
1939-10-13
Sabotage
Overview: The night before his grandson, Tommy Grayson, a mechanic at the Midland Aircraft Corporation, is to marry Gail, a former showgirl, Major Matt Grayson, a war veteran and watchman at the plant, catches two men breaking into the machine shop. The men run, but the major shoots one of them.....
Genres: Action Drama
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1939-10-13
Popularity:
The El Paso Kid
1946-05-22
The El Paso Kid
Overview: In this Western, an outlaw tries to escape from a gang of robbers after they refuse to assist a gang member wounded during a stagecoach caper. He and the wounded outlaw leave and try to steal a stagecoach as their ex-gang robs it. The sheriff's daughter observes the incident. Believing that the two outlaws were trying to save the stage, she takes them into town where the "heroes" are given jobs working for the stage.
Genres: Western
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1946-05-22
Popularity:
Under Colorado Skies
1947-12-15
Under Colorado Skies
Overview: Monte Hale has been working as a teller in a Texas bank during the summer to earn money for his medical college expenses during the upcoming year. He is about to leave to return to college when the bank is held up by two members of a notorious gang, headed by Marlowe, leaving Monte with the smoking gun of one of the bandits that killed the bank president. To avoid bringing disgrace on the family of his sweetheart, Julia Collins, by revealing that it was her brother Jeff, supposedly working in Denver, who induced him to open the back door of the bank to let the robbers in, Monte allows suspicion to rest on him until he can clear himself.
Genres: Western
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1947-12-15
Popularity:
The James Brothers of Missouri
1949-08-31
The James Brothers of Missouri
Overview: This 12-part serial concerns the efforts of the infamous James brothers (of which Jesse was a prominent member) to become normal everyday citizens. Of course, there's no room in the Wild West for reformed outlaws, and the duo inevitably find themselves caught up in showdowns and robberies.
Genres: Western
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1949-08-31
Popularity:
The Denver Kid
1948-09-30
The Denver Kid
Overview: When Border Patrol Lieutenant Roberts is killed, it appears that his brother Tim was the killer. To clear the Robert's name for his boss, Lieutenant Rocky Lane heads south of the border posing as an outlaw. He hopes to get in with the gang and find Tim who is using an assumed name. As always, Nugget is there to help.
Genres: Western
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1948-09-30
Popularity:
Oklahoma Badlands
1948-02-22
Oklahoma Badlands
Overview: Oklahoma Badlands is a western film directed by Yakima Canutt in 1948. Oliver Budge is after the Rawlins ranch. His henchman Sanders kills Ken Rawlins but when he tries to kill Leslie Rawlins, Rocky Lane breaks it up. But Leslie is a woman and knowing the bad guys are looking for a man, Rocky now poses as Leslie, an Eastern dude, and goes after the man that killed his friend.
Genres: Western
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1948-02-22
Popularity:
Relentless
1948-06-15
Relentless
Overview: A man wrongly accused of murder tracks the true culprit across the desert.
Genres: Western
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1948-06-15
Popularity:
Blades of the Musketeers
1950-11-24
Blades of the Musketeers
Overview: In 1625 France, D'Artagnan joins the king's musketeers, meets three new friends - Athos, Porthos and Aramis - among them and, together, the four quickly find themselves embroiled in court intrigue with Prime Minister Richelieu attempting to sabotage the congenial relationship existing between France and England. Originally produced as a 60-minute episode of THE MAGNAVOX THEATER on CBS as THE THREE MUSKETEERS. This has the distinction of being the first movie specifically made for TV. Later retitled and released theatrically.
Genres: Adventure TV Movie
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1950-11-24
Popularity:
Phantom Trails
1955-05-08
Phantom Trails
Overview: A short feature western comprised of two episodes of the TV series 'Wild Bill Hickok': "A Close Shave for the Marshal" (6/16/1952) and "Ghost Rider" (4/7/1952).
Genres: Western
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1955-05-08
Popularity:
Canadian Mounties vs. Atomic Invaders
1953-07-08
Canadian Mounties vs. Atomic Invaders
Overview: A villain named Marlof attempts to set up secret missile bases inside Canada so he can launch missiles at the U.S. The Canadian Mounted Police dispatch agents to try to stop him.
Genres: Action
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1953-07-08
Popularity:
No Sad Songs for Me
1950-04-27
No Sad Songs for Me
Overview: Mary Scott learns she only has ten months to live before dying of an incurable disease. She manages to keep the news from her husband, Brad and daughter, Polly. She tries to make every moment of her life count, but her effort is weakened by the discovery that Brad is interested in his assistant, Chris Radner. But when she learns that Brad does indeed love her and not Chris, and that Chris is leaving town, she realizes what she must do to ensure the future happiness of Brad and Polly. She persuades Chris to stay, makes a genuine friend of her and watches Polly grow towards Chris.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1950-04-27
Popularity:
The First Traveling Saleslady
1956-08-01
The First Traveling Saleslady
Overview: At the turn of the century Rose and ex-showbiz friend Molly get involved in selling steel. When they come unstuck with corsets they embark on the even more hazardous project of selling barbed wire to highly suspicious Texas cowboys.
Genres: Comedy Western
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1956-08-01
Popularity: