From Wikipedia the free encyclopedia Clem Bevans October 16 1879 August 11 1963 was an American character actor best remembered for playing eccentric grumpy old men Bevans had a very long career starting in vaudeville in 1900 in an act with Grace Emmett He progressed to burlesque Broadway and even light opera before making his film debut at the age of 55 in Way Down East 1935 His portrayal was so good he became stereotyped and played mostly likable old codgers for the rest of his life Bevans played the neighbour of Gregory Peck in The Yearling and the gatekeeper in Harvey 1950 However he did occasionally play against type for example as a Nazi spy in Alfred Hitchcocks Saboteur 1942 He also made some television appearances including the role of murderer Captain Hugo in the 1958 Perry Mason episode The Case of the Demure Defendant and as Pete in The Twilight Zone episode HocusPocus and Frisby 1962 He played Captain Cobb in Disneys TV miniseries Davy Crockett His first cousin was actress Merie Earle best known as Maude Gormley on The Waltons