Rufe Davis (December 2, 1908 – December 13, 1974) was an American actor. He appeared in over 30 films between 1937 and 1969, including 14 of the Three Mesquiteers titles. Davis played railroad conductor Floyd Smoot on the CBS-TV series Petticoat Junction from 1963–1968 and in 1970.
Rufus Eldon Davidson's grandfather, Matthew "Tobe" Alonzo Davidson, was a private in Company B, 1st Alabama Cavalry (Confederate) during the War between the States. This unit saw action in Kentucky, Tennessee, and Georgia.
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Western character actor, born as one of twelve children to an impoverished Oklahoma farmer. In show business from the age of twenty, as a singer and imitator of sounds. Joined the Weaver Brothers & Elviry touring company for four years in 1929. Signed in 1932 as part of a radio quartet, 'Rufe Davis and the Radio Rubes'. In feature films from 1937, notably in the recurring role of 'Lullaby' Joslyn in the 'Three Mesquiteers' series at Republic, made between 1940 and 1942. Later popular as conductor/brakeman Floyd Smoot in TV's 'Green Acres' and 'Petticoat Junction'.
Actor
Title
Year
Status
Character
Petticoat Junction
1963-1970
TV Series
Floyd Smoot
Angel in My Pocket
1969
Old Man
Green Acres
1965-1967
TV Series
Floyd Smoot
Joe Palooka in Triple Cross
1951
Deputy Kenny
The Lone Ranger
1949
TV Series
Pete
Make Mine Laughs
1949
Performer Doing Animal-Sound Imitations On-Screen
The Strawberry Roan
1948
Chuck
George White's Scandals
1945
Impersonation Performer (uncredited)
Radio Stars on Parade
1945
Pinky
Jamboree
1944
Rufe Davis
The Phantom Plainsmen
1942
Lullaby Joslin
Westward Ho
1942
Lullaby Joslin
Raiders of the Range
1942
Lullaby Joslin
Code of the Outlaw
1942
Lullaby Joslin
West of Cimarron
1941
Lullaby Joslin
West of the Rockies
1941
Short
Gauchos of El Dorado
1941
Lullaby Joslin
Outlaws of Cherokee Trail
1941
Lullaby Joslin
Gangs of Sonora
1941
Lullaby Joslin
Saddlemates
1941
Lullaby Joslin
Pals of the Pecos
1941
Lullaby Joslin
Prairie Pioneers
1941
Lullaby Joslin
Lone Star Raiders
1940
Lullaby Joslin
The Trail Blazers
1940
Lullaby Joslin
Barnyard Follies
1940
Bucksaw Beechwood
Under Texas Skies
1940
Lullaby Joslin
Some Like It Hot
1939
Stoney
Ambush
1939
Centerville Sheriff
Cocoanut Grove
1938
Bibb Tucker
Dotor Rhythm
1938
Al (Zookeeper)
The Big Broadcast of 1938
1938
Turnkey
Blossoms on Broadway
1937
Sheriff Jeff Holloway
Toot Sweet
1937
Short
Rufe
This Way Please
1937
The Sound Effects Man
Mountain Music
1937
Ham Sheppard
Sound Defects
1937
Short
The Radio Ham
The City's Slicker
1936
Short
Rufe
Soundtrack
Title
Year
Status
Character
Petticoat Junction
1964-1970
TV Series performer - 11 episodes
Radio Stars on Parade
1945
performer: "I'm the Sound Effects Man"
Code of the Outlaw
1942
performer: "Rootin' Tootin' Terror of the West"
West of Cimarron
1941
performer: "Any Watermelons Today?"
Saddlemates
1941
performer: "The Army's Not the Place For Me" / writer: "The Army's Not the Place For Me"
$2 Million
