The Life and Career of Veteran Actor, Frank Ferguson

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Frank Ferguson, 1906-1978.

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Blog Created: 8-18-2025

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Frank S. Ferguson (December 25, 1899 – September 12, 1978) was an American character actor with hundreds of appearances in both film and television.

Background ~

Ferguson was born in Ferndale, California, the younger of two children of W. Thomas Ferguson, a native Scottish merchant, and his American wife Annie Boynton. He graduated from Ferndale Union High School in 1917. He earned a bachelor's degree in speech and drama at the University of California and a master's degree from Cornell University. He also taught at UCLA and Cornell.

The Thomas Ferguson family, Ferndale, circa 1920. Clockwise from top left: Tom Ferguson, children Harriet and Frank Ferguson, and Annie Boynton Ferguson. Photo courtesy Frank Jewett.

As a young man, he became connected with Gilmor Brown, the founder and director of the Pasadena Community Playhouse, and became one of its first directors. He directed as well as acted in many plays there. He also taught at the Playhouse.

He made his film debut in 1939 in Gambling on the High Seas (released in 1940), and appeared in nearly 200 feature films and hundreds of TV episodes subsequently.

In 1948, Ferguson appeared as "McDougal" – the quickly agitated owner of "McDougal's House of Horrors" – in the Universal comedy horror film "Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein". In 1952, he had an uncredited role as a jailer in the film Ma and Pa Kettle at the Fair. He also appeared in episodes 149, 173, and 178 of "The Lone Ranger".

Frank Ferguson with Lou Costello in Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein, 1948.

In 1952, Ferguson played the part of a music professor at Pomona College in the second of two short films starring Jascha Heifetz, produced by Rudolph Polk and Bernard Luber. The set-up was that Heifetz and his accompanist, Emanuel Bay, had visited the college in order to see a collection of music/music scores. As they are leaving, the professor catches them and asks if Heifetz will come to his class and say a few words. He does, but when there are no questions immediately, he starts to leave. Suddenly there are some questions, and then it turns into a recital.

Ferguson had a well-known role as the Swedish ranch handyman, Gus Broeberg, on the 1956 CBS television series, My Friend Flicka, based on a novel of the same name. He appeared with Gene Evans, Johnny Washbrook and Anita Louise. At this time, Ferguson also portrayed the Calverton veterinarian in the first several seasons of CBS's Lassie.

In 1964–1965, Ferguson portrayed Pa Stockdale in the ABC-TV comedy No Time for Sergeants.

Ferguson played three different characters on The Andy Griffith Show, three different characters on Laramie (TV series), two different characters on Petticoat Junction, four different characters on Bonanza, four different characters on Perry Mason (including three episodes as a sheriff), and four different characters on the ABC/WB western, Maverick. He guest starred on other series, including the syndicated Gunsmoke, Cheyenne, Rescue 8, Bat Masterson, Whirlybirds, and The Everglades; NBC's The Restless Gun, Riverboat, Overland Trail, National Velvet, and Mr. Novak; ABC's The Real McCoys, The Rifleman, The Alaskans, Target: The Corruptors, The Asphalt Jungle, and Mr. Smith Goes to Washington; and CBS's General Electric Theater (hosted by Ronald W. Reagan), and The Texan, starring Rory Calhoun. Ferguson appeared twice in 1956 as Henry Murdock (a name similar to his character in The Pride of the Family) on the syndicated western-themed crime drama, Sheriff of Cochise.

Ferguson with James Garner and Jack Kelly in Maverick.

Ferguson in the pilot episode of the Andy Griffith Show titled: The New Housekeeper, 1960.

He guest starred in all three of Rod Cameron's crime series, City Detective (1955), State Trooper (in the 1957 episode "No Blaze of Glory", the story of a presumed arson case with a surprise ending, co-starring Vivi Janiss as his wife) and Coronado 9 (1960). He also guest starred, in the role of a hobo Beaver befriends, during the final season of ABC's Leave It to Beaver sitcom in 1963.

Ferguson played the role of Eli Carson in the primetime ABC serial Peyton Place and reprised the role in the later daytime version Return to Peyton Place. Ferguson also appeared in an episode of Green Acres in 1969.

Tim O'Connor, Mia Farrow, Frank Ferguson Appearing In 'Peyton Place'.

Death ~

Ferguson died in Los Angeles of cancer on September 12, 1978.

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Frank Ferguson as Eli Carson. Ferguson played this role in both Peyton Place and Return to Peyton Place.

The Thomas Ferguson family, Ferndale, circa 1920. Clockwise from top left: Tom Ferguson, children Harriet and Frank Ferguson, and Annie Boynton Ferguson. Photo courtesy Frank Jewett.

Dorothy, with husband Frank Ferguson (hiding his face), at The Cock 'n Bull, 6 Dec. 1974.

They Won’t Believe Me, 1947, RKO Radio Pictures. Frank is defense attorney for Robert Young, at left, who is charged with murder. Classic film noir also starring Susan Hayward. RKO publicity photo.

Defense Attorney Cahill (Frank Ferguson, 1906 - 1978, left) cross-examines Larry Ballentine (Robert Young, 1907 - 1998) during his trial for murder, in a publicity still for Irving Pichel's film noir, 'They Won't Believe Me', 1947. (Photo by Archive Photos/Getty Images).

(THE LIGHT IN THE FOREST) USA, 1958, Regie: Herschel Daugherty, FESS PARKER, FRANK FERGUSON, JAMES McARTHUR, JESSICA TANDY. (Photo by FilmPublicityArchive/United Archives via Getty Images).

HOW THE WEST WAS WON - "The Macahans" - Airdate: January 19, 1976. (Photo by ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images) L-R: FRANK FERGUSON;RICHARD KILEY;ANN DORAN;JAMES ARNESS;VICKI SCHRECK;BRUCE BOXLEITNER;EVA MARIE SAINT;WILLIAM KIRBY CULLEN;KATHRYN HOLCOMB.

Ferguson on the program: Perry Mason.

That Wonderful Urge (1948).

The Farmer's Daughter, 1947.

Ferguson with Joan Crawford.

Frank with Ronald Reagan.

Frank with Lou Costello in Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein, 1948.

Frank with James Garner and Jack Kelly in Maverick.

In the Maverick episode: Seed Of Deception, 1958.

Boss Of Big Town, 1942.

Black Tuesday, 1954.

Drum Beat.

City Of Shadows, 1955.

City Of Shadows, 1955.

City Of Shadows, 1955.

Ferguson with Charles Coburn.

Ferguson with Joel McCrea.

Ferguson with Robert Culp in Hero, 1960.

Frank Ferguson in Four Mothers (1941).

Frank Ferguson, Doris Day, Ronald Reagan.

Hugh Sanders, Ray Teal, William Bishop, Frank Ferguson.

Kathleen Crowley, William Bishop and Frank Ferguson.

John Wayne, Charles Coburn and Frank Ferguson in Trouble Along the Way, 1953.

Lawman, 1958.

Frank with William Holden.

Frank with Clint Walker in Cheyenne,

Pat O'Brien and Frank Ferguson.

Peter Gunn, 1958.

Sterling Hayden as Sheriff Sam Galt with Frank Ferguson as District Attorney Holloway in The Iron Sheriff.

Santa Fe, 1951.

Sunrise At Campobello, 1960.

Tales of Wells Fargo, 1957.

The Boss Of Big Town, 1942.

The Sky Is Falling, 1964.

Tim O'Connor, Mia Farrow, Frank Ferguson Appearing In 'Peyton Place'.

Ruth Maxine (Frank Ferguson's first wife) on the right and Dorothy Ann (Frank Ferguson's second wife) on the left with an unmarked grave between them.