Joe Conley


Joe Conley was an American actor who played many small roles on television and is most remembered for his role as the storekeeper Ike Godsey in The Waltons.

Personal and career

Joe Conley was born in Buffalo, New York. He started acting after returning from military service in Korea, and was running three real-estate agencies in the San Fernando Valley area of Los Angeles by the early 1970s after beginning this second career in 1961. While acting, he continued to work in real estate and, as a result, became wealthy.
By the early 1970s, his career as an actor was in limbo. After twenty years of small parts in mainly television shows, he had only been in two bit parts in as many years before he was cast as storekeeper Ike Godsey in The Waltons. Conley was paired with Ronnie Claire Edwards, who portrayed his bossy wife Corabeth Walton Godsey; their characters married in the show during 1975. In 2009, Conley published his autobiography, Ike Godsey of Walton's Mountain.
He was married and divorced to Jacqueline Stakes, with whom he had two children. He married
Louise Teecher in 1969 and had two children with her.

Death

Conley died on July 7, 2013, at a care facility in Newbury Park, California of complications from dementia. He was 85 and is survived by his wife, three daughters and son.

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNotes
1950The Sound of FuryMan in CrowdUncredited
1955Big TownAlbert HayesEpisode: "Honest Cop"
1955The People's ChoiceErnieEpisode: "Socks new Secretary"
1956The Scarlet HourCar SalesmanUncredited
1956The Adventures of Jim BowieRaino TanteEpisode: "The Ghost of Jean Battoo"
1957Crime of PassionDeliveryman
1957LassieDeliverymanEpisode: "Lassie's Day"
1957The Silent ServiceBakerEpisode: "The Seahorse Story"
1957House of NumbersConvictUncredited
1957Casey JonesConductor AddrelEpisode: "The Old Timer"
1957The Danny Thomas Show,
also known as Make Room For Daddy		Earl the Elevator OperatorEpisode: "Honesty is the Best Policy"
1957-1959Dragnet2 episodes
1958Alfred Hitchcock PresentsInsurance AgentEpisode: "Disappearing Trick"
1958Juvenile JungleDuke
1958Boots and SaddlesPrivate SpannerEpisode: "The Superstition"
1958A Nice Little Bank That Should Be RobbedBenjyUncredited
1958When Hell Broke LooseRookieUncredited
1959The D.A.'s ManSmileyEpisode: "The Pushter's"
1959Henry JacksonEpisode: "The Hostage"
1959M SquadJack MorenoEpisode: "Mama's Boy"
1959FlightSgt. PachekEpisode: "Chopper Four"
1959Richard Diamond, Private DetectiveJoe / Bartender3 episodes
1960Stagecoach WestHenryEpisode: "The Saga of Jeremy Boone"
1960The Best of the PostElevator boyEpisode: "The Little Terror"
1960Death Valley DaysAlfEpisode: Devil's Bar
1960-1962Dennis the MenaceNelson / Open House Looker2 episodes
1961Blueprint for RobberyJock Mcgee
1961All Hands on DeckSailorUncredited
1962PattyJohnny
1962The Dick Powell TheaterTomEpisode: "Special Assignment"
1963-1965Mister EdTV Man / Sam Easterbrook / Joe / Frank / Photographer / Charley Grant6 episodes
1964Kraft Suspense TheaterDomEpisode: "Charlie, he couldn't kill a fly"
1964GunsmokeCarlEpisode: "Help me Kitty"
1966Green AcresHeston HaneyEpisode: "The Deputy"
1967The Beverly HillbilliesSergeantEpisode: "The Army Game"
1967Felony SquadCabbieEpisode: "Time of Trial"
196980 Steps to JonahJenkins
1969-1970Bracken's WorldAlvin Sloane / Art Director2 episodes
1970The Brady BunchDelivery manEpisode: "The Hero"
1972-1981The WaltonsIke Godsey172 episodes
1972The Longest NightSalesmanTV movie
1982A Day for Thanks on Walton's MountainIke GodseyTV movie
1982Mother's Day on Walton's MountainIke GodseyTV movie
1982A Wedding on Walton's MountainIke GodseyTV movie
1983Knight RiderManagerEpisode: "Short Notice"
1986Impure ThoughtsFather Minnelli
1993A Walton Thanksgiving ReunionIke GodseyTV movie
1995A Walton WeddingIke GodseyTV movie
1996Night Stand with Dick DietrickClaudeEpisode: "Dick Goes Home"
1999Whatever it TakesFrank
2000Cast AwayJoe Wally
2001Blind Obsession