Character Actor Sam Edwards Dies at 89

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Sam Edwards, a character actor who made scores of appearances on such TV shows as "Gunsmoke,""Barnaby Jones,""McCloud" and "Happy Days," as well as portraying the town banker on "Little House on the Prairie," has died at age 89.

Edwards, who also appeared on radio and in films, died Wednesday after suffering a heart attack, said his stepson, William Edwards.

Born into a show business family in Macon, Ga., Edwards made his stage debut as a baby when his mother, actress Edna Park, held him in her arms during a scene for the play "Tess of the Storm Country."

He appeared on radio with his family in the 1930s in "The Adventures of Sonny and Buddy," in which he played a boy who runs away to join a traveling medicine show, and later as himself in "The Edwards Family," a program that also featured his brother, sister and parents.

After three years in the Army during World War II, he returned to radio in the mid-1940s, moving on to television in the 1950s.

He worked regularly in TV into the 1980s, appearing on such shows as "The Streets of San Francisco,""The Dukes of Hazzard,""Wonder Woman,""Cannon,""Mannix,""Dragnet" and "Adam-12." On "Little House on the Prairie," he portrayed Mr. Anderson the town banker from 1978 to 1983.

His film credits included "Twelve O'Clock,""Hello Dolly!" and "The Postman Always Rings Twice" and numerous TV movies.

He also supplied the voices for several children's productions and appeared on "Winnie the Pooh" records as Owl and Tigger.