Will Hutchins, known for his role as Tom Brewster on the ABC Western series “Sugarfoot” from 1957 to 1961, passed away on Monday, April 21, 2025, 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 with him at the time. “He was hysterical, everyone loved him,” she said. “He had a great sense of humor, and it never gave up on him.”
Born Marshall Lowell Hutchason on May 5, 1930, in Los Angeles, California, Hutchins began his career in entertainment as a child. He rode his bicycle to a film set and appeared in a crowd scene in W.C. Fields’ film “Never Give a Sucker an Even Break” (1941).
Hutchins attended John Marshall High School and Pomona College before serving two years as a cryptographer with the U.S. Army Signal Corps during the Korean War. He later attended UCLA’s film school under the G.I. Bill, marking his initial steps toward acting.
His significant break in acting came from a performance with fellow Pomona alumnus Richard Chamberlain at the Ivar Theater in Hollywood. This led to Hutchins being signed by Chamberlain’s agent, Dick Clayton. In 1956, he made his screen debut on an episode of the Warner Bros. anthology series “Conflict,” directed by Fred De Cordova and starring Jim Backus.
Hutchins adopted his stage name after auditioning for the lead role in “No Time for Sergeants” (1958) – a role given to Andy Griffith – due to a resemblance to Will Rogers Jr. He did appear in the film as a pilot with a hangover.
His notable role as Tom Brewster in “Sugarfoot” introduced him as a new sheriff in Bluerock, initially mocked as a “sugarfoot.” The character studied law via correspondence while carrying “a rifle and a volume of the law,” as noted in the series’ theme song. The show ran for four seasons and 69 episodes, with Hutchins also portraying Brewster’s cousin, The Canary Kid, in three episodes.
In a 2021 interview with Word on Westerns host Rob Word, Hutchins expressed enjoyment in playing both Brewster and the Canary Kid, noting the excitement of wearing Humphrey Bogart’s pants from the wardrobe department.
Post “Sugarfoot,” Hutchins took diverse roles in television and film. He appeared as Woody Banner in the NBC sitcom “Hey, Landlord” from 1966 to 1967, created by Garry Marshall and Jerry Belson. He later portrayed Dagwood Bumstead in the CBS comedy “Blondie” from 1968 to 1969.
Hutchins appeared in films alongside Elvis Presley, including “Spinout” (1966) and “Clambake” (1967), where he notably lip-synced “Who Needs Money?” His film credits also include “Claudelle Inglish” (1961), “Merrill’s Marauders” (1962), and “The Shooting” (1965).
In June 1964, Hutchins took over Orson Bean’s role in the Broadway comedy “Never Too Late,” directed by George Abbott, and performed for approximately ten months.
As his Hollywood career waned, Hutchins transitioned to the circus, working as a ringmaster and clown in Los Angeles and traveling around Australia with the Ashton Family Circus as Patches the Clown.
Hutchins was married twice, first to Chrissie Burnett, with whom he had a daughter, Jennifer, and later to Barbara in 1988. They remained married until his death.
In his later years, Hutchins engaged with fans at conventions. In 2004, he received the Stone-Waterman Award at the Cincinnati Old-Time Radio Convention for his contributions to the entertainment industry.
Will Hutchins is survived by his wife, Barbara, and daughter, Jennifer.
