Raymond Thomas Bailey (May 6, 1904 – April 15, 1980) was an American actor on theBroadway stage, films, and television. He is best known for his role as greedy bankerMilburn Drysdale in the television seriesThe Beverly Hillbillies.[1]
Bailey was born in San Francisco, California,[2] the son of William and Alice (née O'Brien) Bailey. When he was a teenager he went toHollywood to become a movie star. He found it was harder than he had thought, however, and took a variety of short-term jobs. He worked for a time as aday laborer at a movie studio in the days of silent pictures, but was fired for sneaking into a mob scene while it was being filmed. He also worked for a while as a stockbroker and a banker.
Having no success receiving movie roles of any kind, Bailey then went to New York City where he had no better success obtaining roles in theatre. Eventually, he began working as a merchant seaman and sailed to various parts of the world, including China, Japan, the Philippines and theMediterranean. While docked in Hawaii, he worked on apineapple plantation, acted at thecommunity theatre and sang on a local radio program.
In 1938, he decided to try Hollywood again. His luck changed for the better when he actually began getting some bit parts in movies. He appeared as the character of Mr. West in the action adventure serialThe Green Hornet (1940). After the United States entered World War II he again served in theUnited States Merchant Marine.[3][4] When the war was over he returned to Hollywood and eventually began getting bigger character roles.
Bailey made two guest appearances onPerry Mason, playing banker Mr. Hilliard in "The Case of the Caretaker's Cat," and Dr. Bell in "The Case of the Injured Innocent." During its 1960–1961 season, he had a regular role onMy Sister Eileen and guest-starred onPat O'Brien'sABC sitcomHarrigan and Son. He appeared in the 1962–1963 season as Dean McGruder onCBS'sThe Many Loves Of Dobie Gillis.
Bailey appeared in fourBroadway plays, as Howard Haines inLast Stop (1944), playing an unknown man inThe Bat (1953), A. J. Alexander inSing Till Tomorrow (1953), and Captain Randolph Southard inThe Caine Mutiny Court-Martial (1954–1955), which starredHenry Fonda.
InThe Beverly Hillbillies,Nancy Kulp portrayed Bailey's ever loyal and by-the-book secretary, Miss Jane Hathaway. Banker Drysdale managed the millions of dollars in oil money royalties in the bank account of country gentleman Jed Clampett (portrayed byBuddy Ebsen). He was so keen on keeping an eye on the Clampetts that he convinced them to buy themansion right next door to his own, in ritzyBeverly Hills. Often, Mr. Drysdale would be required to talk with Clampett about how strange "city life" and "city folk" are (when compared to Mr. Clampett's view of "normal" country folk). On occasions when Mr. Clampett was considering withdrawing all his funds and returning to the country (his home near Bug Tussle), the miserly Mr. Drysdale would often panic and desperately work to try keep the family (and their fortune) in Beverly Hills.
Bailey began feeling the symptoms ofAlzheimer's disease around the time of the final episodes ofThe Beverly Hillbillies. He made only two film appearances after the show's 1971 cancellation – the Disney featuresHerbie Rides Again (1974) andThe Strongest Man in the World (1975) — before retiring in 1975 due to the effects of the disease.
In his final years, Bailey divided his time between acondominium and ahouseboat inLaguna Niguel, California. He kept in touch with former co-star Nancy Kulp (whom he nicknamed "Slim") but was primarily a recluse.
