Will Hutchins, the mild-mannered Western hero who charmed 1950s audiences as Tom Brewster in the hit TV series Sugarfoot and later acted alongside Elvis Presley, has died. He passed away on April 21 from respiratory failure at the age of 94.
Will Hutchins, the affable actor who brought a soft-spoken charm to the Old West as the star of the 1950s TV series Sugarfoot, died on April 21 of respiratory failure. He was 94.
A beloved figure from the golden age of television Westerns, Hutchins was a Warner Bros. contract player whose everyman demeanor made him a natural fit for the screen. His breakout role as Tom Brewster, a peace-loving law student turned reluctant cowboy in Sugarfoot (1957–1961), won over audiences with a gentler alternative to the era’s more rugged frontier heroes. In a fun twist of duality, he also portrayed Tom’s mustachioed and mischievous cousin, the Canary Kid, in several episodes—showing off his comic timing and versatility.
Hutchins’ career extended well beyond the dusty trails. In the late 1960s, he teamed up with Elvis Presley in two films—Spinout (1966) and Clambake (1967)—appearing alongside the King during one of Presley’s most prolific periods in Hollywood.
He also starred as the bumbling but lovable Dagwood Bumstead in the 1968-1969 television adaptation of Blondie, bringing a cartoon favorite to life with warmth and slapstick energy.
Hutchins gradually stepped away from the spotlight in the 1980s, embarking on a colorful new chapter as a circus ringmaster and clown—a move that underscored his lifelong passion for entertaining people in all forms.
Though his final screen credit came in 2010 with a small role in The Romantics, starring Katie Holmes, his legacy lives on in reruns, fan conventions, and the hearts of classic TV fans.
Will Hutchins is remembered not just for his roles, but for a spirit that never seemed to age—a performer who wore humility like a second skin and never took himself too seriously. In the words of those who knew and watched him: he was a real sugarfoot—light on his feet, kind in his heart.