Will Hutchins, known for his role as Tom Brewster on ABC’s Western series “Sugarfoot” from 1957 to 1961, passed away on Monday, April 21, at North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset, New York. He was 94 years old.
The cause of death was respiratory failure, according to his wife, Barbara, who was present at the time. “He was hysterical, everyone loved him,” she stated. “He had a great sense of humor, and it never gave up on him.”
Marshall Lowell Hutchason was born on May 5, 1930, in Los Angeles, California. His entertainment career began when he appeared in a crowd scene in W.C. Fields’ “Never Give a Sucker an Even Break” (1941) after riding his bicycle to a film shoot.
Hutchins attended John Marshall High School and Pomona College before serving as a cryptographer for the U.S. Army Signal Corps during the Korean War. Utilizing the G.I. Bill, he later studied at UCLA film school, where he decided to pursue acting.
His career advanced when he performed in a play alongside fellow Pomona alum Richard Chamberlain at the Ivar Theater in Hollywood. This performance led to Hutchins being signed by Chamberlain’s agent, Dick Clayton. He made his television debut in 1956 on Warner Bros.’ anthology series “Conflict,” directed by Fred De Cordova.
Hutchins chose his stage name after auditioning for the lead role in “No Time for Sergeants” (1958), a part ultimately given to Andy Griffith, due to his resemblance to Will Rogers Jr. Although he did not secure the lead role, he appeared in the film as a hangover-stricken pilot.
Hutchins became widely recognized for his portrayal of Tom Brewster in “Sugarfoot,” where his character was introduced as a naïve sheriff labeled a “sugarfoot” in the first episode. The term referred to someone aspiring to reach the rank of tenderfoot.
Throughout the series, Brewster pursued a legal career by taking correspondence courses, with the theme song highlighting that he carried “a rifle and a volume of the law.” The show lasted for four seasons, totaling 69 episodes, and Hutchins also played Brewster’s villainous cousin, The Canary Kid, in three episodes.
In a 2021 interview with Rob Word, host of Word on Westerns, Hutchins expressed his enthusiasm for his dual role. He enjoyed playing both the gentle, sarsaparilla-drinking Sugarfoot and the whiskey-drinking Canary Kid, noting the thrill of wearing Humphrey Bogart’s pants from the wardrobe department.
After “Sugarfoot,” Hutchins expanded his career across television and film. He starred as Woody Banner in the NBC sitcom “Hey, Landlord” (1966-67), developed by Garry Marshall and Jerry Belson, following their work on “The Dick Van Dyke Show.”
He also portrayed Dagwood Bumstead in the CBS comedy “Blondie” (1968-69), opposite Patricia Harty. Based on the popular comic strip, the show aired for 16 episodes before its cancellation.
Hutchins’ film credits include roles alongside Elvis Presley in “Spinout” (1966) as gourmet cop Tracy Richards and in “Clambake” (1967) as Tom Wilson, where he performed a memorable lip-sync duet of “Who Needs Money?” with Presley.
His other film appearances included “Claudelle Inglish” (1961), “Merrill’s Marauders” (1962), directed by Sam Fuller, and “The Shooting” (1965), directed by Monte Hellman. He also appeared in “Magnum Force” (1973), “The Happy Hooker Goes to Washington” (1977), and “Roar” (1981).
In June 1964, Hutchins took over Orson Bean’s role on Broadway in the comedy “Never Too Late,” directed by George Abbott, performing the role for nearly ten months.
As his Hollywood career slowed, Hutchins transitioned to the circus, working as a ringmaster and clown in Los Angeles before spending three years traveling with the Ashton Family Circus in Australia as Patches the Clown.
Hutchins was married twice. His first marriage to Chrissie Burnett lasted from 1965 to 1969, and they had one daughter, Jennifer. He married his second wife, Barbara, in April 1988, and they remained together until his passing.
Despite moving away from Hollywood, Hutchins maintained connections with fans at conventions and events. In 2004, he was honored with the Stone-Waterman Award at the Cincinnati Old Time Radio Convention for his contributions to entertainment.
Will Hutchins is survived by his wife Barbara and daughter Jennifer.
