<Tr> <Th> Years active </Th> <Td> 1938--1975 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Spouse (s) </Th> <Td> Gaby Aida George </Td> </Tr> <P> Raymond Thomas Bailey (May 6, 1904--April 15, 1980) was an American actor on the Broadway stage, films, and television . He is best known for his role as wealthy banker, Milburn Drysdale, in the television series The Beverly Hillbillies . </P> <P> He was born in San Francisco, California, the son of William and Alice (née O'Brien) Bailey . When he was a teenager he went to Hollywood 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 a day 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 . </P>

Who played milburn drysdale on the beverly hillbillies