Cal Pettie

Cal Pettie was a friend of Lamont's who worked with him on the Alaska Pipeline who was dispatched by Lamont, who was still working in Alaska, to visit and look after Fred on the NBC spinoff series Sanford. At the time of their meeting, Cal was a truck driver who was looking for better work who then buys into the Sanford and Son business after lodging at the Sanford Arms for a few days. Cal, an obese, burly man, who hails originally from Texas, is portrayed as having a generally optimistic outlook on life, a really upbeat attitude and jovial demeanor, with a witty sense of humor, not to mention a hearty appetite, which Fred always chides Cal about. Cal was played by character actor Dennis Burkley, also a native Texan, like Cal. By the second season, the two become good friends on the series.