Andy Clyde and William Boyd in the 1941 Hopalong Cassidy film, Outlaws of the Desert

Andy Clyde was born on March 25, 1892 in Scotland. Yes, Scotland! When I first read that he was born in Scotland, I have to admit I dug a little further in my research because I suddenly didn’t trust my source. In all the years I’ve listened to him on the radio, watched him in movies, and laughed at him in his television appearances (playing Frank Myers on the “Mayberry Goes Bankrupt” episode, for example) – I honestly assumed he was from Texas, Oklahoma, Arizona… one of the other beautiful states in the Midwest.

It just goes to show what a talented actor he was – he had me convinced he was a tried and true cowboy.

Andy Clyde in the 1940 “Short” A Bundle of Bliss

Below are more facts about this very talented and hilarious man.

1. He played California Carlson in the Hopalong Cassidy radio and film series. He was in 36 of the 66 Hopalong Cassidy films. If you have DirecTV, you should look for these films on channel 538 (SEWS). I have this channel on so often in my den that my cats are starting to walk like cowboys and cowgirls. The channel shows western movies as well as television shows.
2. As California (and many of his other roles), Andy Clyde can be seen grizzled, poorly-groomed, crusty, and wearing mismatched and crazy outfits. In real life, however, he was very clean-shaven and was known for being very well-dressed.
3. He became a naturalized citizen in 1943.
4. Clyde had regular roles in several tv series including No Time for Sergeants (1964), The Tall Man (1960-1962), The Real McCoys (1957), and Lassie (1964, 1966).
5. He was married to actress Elise Tarron from 1932 to his death in 1967. They had one child, a son, in 1935.
6. He played Frank Myers on the “Mayberry Goes Bankrupt” episode of The Andy Griffith Show in 1961. He was the older man (with a Civil War bond) the Mayor wanted to evict.
7. He played “Gimpy” in It’s a Wonderful World.
8. He enjoyed a film career that lasted over 40 years!
9. He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6758 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California on February 8, 1960.
10. Andy Clyde died at the age of 75 on May 18, 1967. Not surprisingly, he was still working at the time.

Andy Clyde as California Carlson

Watch the highly entertaining Outlaws of the Desert (1941) below. Andy Clyde was one of the best sidekicks of all time. In fact, if you watch closely, you can tell where many other sidekicks “borrowed” certain expressions and traits from this master of the craft.