SAM EDWARDS

May 26, 1915

Sam George Edwards was born in Macon, Georgia, into a show business family. His first role was as a baby in his mother’s arms. He appeared on radio in the 1930s in the Adventures of Sonny and Buddy, one of the first radio serials ever syndicated, and later in The Edwards Family, a series based on the life of Sam, brother Jack, sister Florida, and his parents. Sam was also an early cast member of one of the first radio soap operas, One Man’s Family.  

During World War II, Sam was inducted into the Army and ended up serving as part of the morale-building entertainment corps. He enlisted August 6, 1942 and was discharged November 15, 1945. 

He made his screen debut in 1937 as Buddy Edwards in Top Hat.  In 1942 he was the voice of adult Thumper in Disney’s Bambi.  

His first encounter with Lucille Ball was on her radio show “My Favorite Husband” in the February 3, 1950 episode titled “The Country Club Dance”.  

His first television role was on a 1952 episode of “Space Patrol”. 

He made one appearance on “I Love Lucy” in “Lucy Meets the Queen” (ILL S5;E15) filmed on December 15, 1955 and first aired on January 30, 1956).  The Georgia-born actor played the Bellhop at the (fictional) Wimbelshire Hotel, near Buckingham Palace in London.  Although he’s never seen the Queen, he did catch a glimpse of Danny Kaye!  

Two years later he was back at Desilu for an episode of their helicopter series “Whirlybirds”.  In 1960, he did an episode of Desilu’s “The Texan.”

From 1960 to 1966, he made six appearances playing a variety of characters on “The Andy Griffith Show”, filmed on the Desilu back lot. 

His final role was Bill Anderson in “Little House on the Prairie” from 1979 to 1983.  He was in seven episodes. 

He retired from screen acting and died on July 28, 2004 at age 89 in Durango, Colorado. He was married and had three step-children.