Pat Buttram, singing cowboy Gene Autry's sidekick in the 1950s and the annoying Mr. Haney on the sitcom "Green Acres," died Saturday. He was 78.
He died of kidney failure at the University of California Los Angeles Medical Center, said radio executive Bill Ward, a longtime friend."He was just a natural comedian," said Autry.
From 1965 to 1971 Buttram played Mr. Haney on CBS' "Green Acres." Haney was the irritating country con man who sold a tumbledown farm to Oliver Wendell Douglas (Eddie Albert) and Lisa Douglas (Eva Gabor).
Playing under his own name on "The Gene Autry Show" from 1950 to 1956 on CBS-TV, Buttram helped Autry and his horse Champion keep peace out West. They also appeared in about 40 feature
movies as well as stage shows.
"He was great, off the film and on the film. If I was . . . doing a stage show he would be sitting back there. If I needed a good one-liner right quick, he would give me a good routine," said Autry.
Buttram met Autry on the WLS "National Barn Dance" radio program in Chicago before coming to Hollywood. Buttram's role as sidekick was "a natural character for Pat," said Autry.
Buttram appeared repeatedly on "The Ed Sullivan Show" and on programs such as "Alfred Hitchco*ck Presents."
He also was a comedy writer and had various radio shows. Most recently, he made appearances on Los Angeles radio station KMPC from 1990 to 1992.
