From Wikipedia the free encyclopedia Francis Healey Albertson February 2 1909 February 29 1964 was an American character actor who made his debut in a minor part in Hollywood at age thirteen He had supporting roles in films such as Its a Wonderful Life 1946 and Psycho 1960 Albertson made well over 100 appearances 19231964 in movies and television In his early career he often sang and danced in such films as Just Imagine 1930 and A Connecticut Yankee 1931 He was featured in Alice Adams 1935 as the title characters brother and in Room Service 1938 he played opposite the Marx Brothers He served in the US Army Air Forces First Motion Picture Unit making training films during World War II As he aged he moved from featured roles to supporting and character partsin his later career he can be seen as Sam Wainwright the businessman fond of saying HeeHaw in the movie Its a Wonderful Life 1946 Albertson portrayed future US President Theodore Roosevelt in the 1956 episode Rough Rider of the CBS western television series My Friend Flicka He guest starred in the early NBC western series The Californians and twice in the David Janssen crime drama Richard Diamond Private Detective He was cast in 1959 and 1962 in different roles on Walter Brennans sitcom The Real McCoys In 1960 he appeared as General Devery in the episode Strange Encounter of the ABCWarner Brothers western series Colt 45 In 1960 he played the wealthy rancher Tom Cassidy at the beginning of Psycho 1960 who provides the 40000 in cash that Janet Leighs character later steals In the 196061 television season he played the character Mr Cooper in five episodes of the CBS sitcom Bringing Up Buddy starring Frank Aletter In 1964 Albertson was cast as Jim ONeal in the episode The Death of a Teacher of the NBC education drama Mr Novak One of his final screen appearances was as Sam the bewildered mayor of Sweet Apple Ohio in the 1963 film musical Bye Bye Birdie His last appearance was on The Andy Griffith Show in which he played a Marine commander completing an inspection The episode aired on May 19 1964 three months after Albertson died
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