Sommers created the 1965 sitcom Green Acres, adapted from his 1950 radio program Granby's Green Acres that had starred Benaderet, thus making it a spinoff of her own television show. He was entombed beside her. Roughly a quarter million of these unlucky souls sustain injuries so severe that they end up dying. Benaderet guest-starred on the January 21, 1952, first-season episode "Lucy Plays Cupid" as the character of Miss Lewis, a love-starved spinster neighbor. Betty Rubble VOICE. During a routine medical checkup in the early 1960s, it was discovered that Bea had a spot on one of her lungs. 1950s-1967 Gerry Johnson (April 4, 1918 - January 24, 1990) was an American radio, film and television actress best known for the second voice of Betty Rubble in the fifth and sixth seasons of the original series, The Flintstones after she took over Bea Benaderet 's role in the first through fourth seasons. Beatrice "Bea" Benaderet was an American actress born in New York City and raised in San Francisco, California. Her occupation is listed as such in the 1940 U.S. census. 13 of 22. She also provided the voice for several Warner Brothers cartoons, usually for females (those Mel Blanc could not do), like Tweety's owner, "Granny". In 1961, while The Andy Griffith Show was in its second season, she told The Charlotte News of living in California, "Whenever I feel lonely out here, I . They just never use it. So, Henning went right back to the Rural Gold Mine and out popped Green Acres. Hassan [60] She became one of his regular players in the first two seasons of Burns & Allen, a two-episode guest appearance on The Bob Cummings Show in 195657, and her involvement in three of the most successful sitcoms of the 1960s. Beatrice "Bea" Benaderet (April 4, 1906 - October 13, 1968) was an American actress born in New York City and reared in San Francisco, California. Select from premium Bea Benaderet of the highest quality. The following year, she managed to land a small acting role on a radio play and was paid for it! The show had been created with her in mind as the lead, by longtime friend Paul Henning. When Bea Benaderet became ill with cancer and was forced to leave the series, her absence was explained by having Kate go away to visit her sister. She is best remembered for starring in the 1960s television series Petticoat Junction as Shady Rest Hotel owner Kate Bradley and The Beverly Hillbillies as Jed Clampett's cousin Pearl Bodine, and as the original voice of Granny of Warner Brothers' Looney Tunes media . S.Z., Kissimmee. Look at that, youre just in time for our special giveaway: a once-in-a-lifetime trip down memory lane, and a round-trip ticket on the Hooterville Cannonball. She later cast as Cousin Pearl Bodine in The Beverly Hillbillies after initially being considered for the role as Granny. [91] The fourth show of the sixth season, "The Valley Has a Baby," marked Benaderet's last episode and featured only her voice with her stand-in filmed from the rear.[71]. Joe Barbera thought about calling the show The Gladstones, then decided on The Flagstones until he realized there was a comic strip with the same name. [61][62] After reading the 1961 first script for The Beverly Hillbillies, Benaderet wanted to audition for the role of Granny. Beatrice "Bea" Benaderet (4 April 1906 - 12 October 1968) was an American actress who did work on 44 theatrical cartoons in twelve years. Henning once said the Shady Rest was based on a real hotel in Eldon, Missouri run by Ruths grandmother. Her son Jack became an actor, making his television debut in bit parts on Petticoat Junction (and working on the show as a dialogue coach), later appearing in Lou Grant. On October 13, 1968, Benaderet died due to lung cancer and pneumonia in Los Angeles, California at the age of 62 at the Good Samaritan Hospital. "[50][note 3], Henning had long admired Benaderet's talents and strove to create a starring vehicle for her, as he felt she was worthy of headlining her own series after years of supporting parts. At first, this looks like a reference to the man vs dog rivalry they had going on. [65] Henning created for Benaderet the supporting character of Cousin Pearl Bodine, the middle-aged widowed mother of Jethro Bodine (Max Baer Jr.) and cousin of main character Jed Clampett (Buddy Ebsen), whom she convinces to move from his humble home in the Ozarks after he strikes oil on his property and becomes a millionaire. She headlined the sitcom Petticoat Junction, which ran for seven seasons from 1963-69, though she passed away three episodes into the sixth season. Ruth had loads of fond memories from visiting her grandmother. [51] Following Allen's retirement in 1958 at the end of the eighth season, the program continued as The George Burns Show in 195859 with Blanche repackaged as George's secretary, but it was canceled after one season due to low ratings. Staff (September 1, 1965). He would end up having to fight an even tougher battle [] More, What could be more mysterious than an island filled with buried treasure? Bea died on October 13, 1968, at Good Samaritan Hospital in Los Angeles, where she was undergoing further treatment for lung cancer, as reported by Newspapers.com. They can be enjoyed on their own of course, but fans enjoy the crossover episodes, too. Sometimes, it really was a family! | Photo: Wikimedia Commons. But the shows [] More, You might remember her as Mindy in the off-beat yet endearing 70s and 80s sitcom Mork and Mindy. Born in New York City and raised in San Francisco, she began performing in Bay Area theatre and radio before embarking on a Hollywood career that spanned over three decades. [29] Her characterizations included an obnoxious teenaged bobbysox version of Little Red Riding Hood in Little Red Riding Rabbit (1944);[38] Witch Hazel in Bewitched Bunny (1954);[39] the spinster hen Miss Prissy in several Foghorn Leghorn cartoons;[40] Tweety's owner "Granny" including the Academy Award-winning Tweetie Pie (1947);[16] and Mama Bear in a series of Three Bears shorts, which animator Chuck Jones called one of his favorite portrayals. Four days after her demise and the day after her burial service, Bea's husband, Eugene Twombly, passed away from a massive heart attack. 'Whos the Boss? It was a fun reference to Beatlemania that was in full swing, Sure, the band was fictional, but that didnt stop them from releasing singles. Bea Benaderet has amassed a sizable fortune through her many endeavors, but her exact net worth has yet to be published. When she left Petticoat Junction the first time, she underwent treatment for the condition, and a recurrence of the illness in February 1968 sent her back to the hospital. She especially showed aptitude in performing a variety of characters and speaking with different dialects and accents. Sometimes life is more remarkable than fiction. Comment. Click the bell icon to get notifications from FactsVerse and watch more pop culture videos and interesting stories. September 14, 2021, 5:02 am, by Other than being the original voice of Betty Rubble in The Flintstones other than the pilot, The Flagstones in which June Foray voiced, she is also the original voice of Granny from Looney Tunes. 1966. Oddly enough, she didnt get credit for her work with Warner Bros. as she was a freelance artist rather than under a fixed contract. [29] On February 5, 1964, she was named an honorary sheriff of Calabasas, California, with her daughter Maggie accepting a badge on her behalf that was presented by her Petticoat Junction co-star Edgar Buchanan in a public ceremony. Born in New York City and raised in San Francisco, she began performing in Bay Area theatre and radio before embarking on a Hollywood career that spanned over three decades. "On October 13, 1968, at the age of sixty-two, Bea lost her battle with cancer at the Good Samaritan Hospital in Los Angeles. [42] In 1955, she was succeeded by June Foray as Warner's premier female voice artist. Apparently, they arent subscribers to the old adage that too much of a good thing can actually be a bad thing. And is. Benaderet died on October 13, 1968, of lung cancer and pneumonia. '"[64] He additionally took Benaderet's suggestion of casting Harriet MacGibbon as Granny's rival Margaret Drysdale. In fact, Bea Benaderets last episode of Petticoat Junction is hard to watch knowing that she suffered from lung cancer. In the new millennium, Jan has turned her interests [] More, Each year over 1.5 million patients become victims of medical malpractice in the US alone. Karol (2006), p. 15-16 ("One of the most prolific actresses ever, she appeared in more than 600 series episodes all sitcoms, one [. After that, June Lockhart stepped in as Dr. Janet Craig, but viewers really felt the void in Kates absence and sometimes attribute that to the shows ending two seasons later. Throughout Monroe and Kennedys alleged affair, Lawford supposedly acted as a liaison for the President. But if you look closely, you can see the toll the treatment took, as shes noticeably thinner and weaker. Four days after her death--the day of her funeral, her husband died of a heart attack. [76], In 1945, Benaderet and fellow voice actresses Janet Waldo and Cathy Lewis were to appear on a televised fashion show on her former KFRC employer Don Lee's W6XAO network before the project fell through. Benaderet became sick with cancer in 1967, which led to her leaving Petticoat Junction (1963) in what it was hoped would be a temporary retirement. The dentistry practice responsibilities fell to his wife when Buchanan decided to give acting a go, but he was still known to tend to cast and crews teeth on-set as needed, and even pulled a tooth from his stand-in Jack Henderson! She initiated her acting journey after performing in Bay Area theatre and various radio shows before she embarked on the Hollywood. And thats exactly how we got the plot for Petticoat Junction. | Photo: YouTube/CLASSIC COMEDY CHANNEL. She opposed quick exploratory medical procedure as she was filming the fifth season of "Petticoat Junction" at the time. She was actually the first choice to play Ethel in I Love Lucy. Maybe this was a preview of things to come, because they split up five years later. She is the voice of Betty Rubble on The Flintstones that's handily the first place I ever encountered her. Nevertheless, her voice had made her famous in the industry and the work offers continued to come in. She reprised her role as the secretary Blanche in the TV show. Bea was part of the The Players Guild run by Reginald Travers. Roseanne was certifiably insane. Thats right, he was the titular Benji, still ready to help out anyone in need. Benaderet missed a total of 10 episodes during season five (159, 160, 162-169) and only managed a few episodes of season six before illness struck again. Her expertise in dialect and characterization led to her becoming Warner Bros.' leading voice of female characters in their animated cartoons of the early 1940s through the mid-1950s. Oddly enough, the switch might have been unnecessary, since years later their major spokes model Marilyn Chambers ended up doing a very similar shoot. [45] She was the only secondary cast member who appeared in every episode[16] and the first six shows were shot live in New York, resulting in Benaderet commuting to Los Angeles, where she was working several radio assignments at the time. [13][75][103][117][118] The Pantagraph columnist Ernie Kreiling remarked in 1965 that "probably no Hollywood personality has spent as many hours in our homes". Bea Benaderet. Bea Benaderet is a voice actor known for voicing Betty Rubble, Granny, and Witch Hazel. This made her one of the most popular actresses on TV. Bea Benaderet was born on the fourth of April, 1906, in New York City. If the character of Sam Drucker looks familiar, thats because he and his actor Frank Cady have been in ALL 3 Paul Henning creations. [75] She told Radio Life magazine that year that after having struggled to remember her lines, "Mr. Hitchcock looked me right in the eye and asked 'You want to go back to radio?' Despite considering her to be too buxom for his vision of the character as a small and wiry woman, Henning allowed her to test anyway. Hootervilles Druckers General Store has one dedicated shopkeeper! "[68] Benaderet and director Richard Whorf auditioned the young actresses who would play Kate's three teenaged daughters;[70] she persuaded Henning to let his 18-year-old daughter Linda read (successfully) for the role of Betty Jo Bradley. Did you watch any of the other rural henning creations? [16] Benaderet worked sparsely in 1959,[52] filming one-time appearances on General Electric Theater and The Restless Gun. And I asked her to read the script and she . Publicity photo of Bea Benadaret, circa 1966. . Why did Bea Benaderet leave Petticoat Junction? Listen to the first episode starring Gale Gordon & Bea Benaderet in the lead roles, you'll hear some of same jokes and setups in the pilots of both shows. June 20, 2021, 9:06 am, by However, many audience members didnt realize that. [16] Bluegrass duo Flatt & Scruggs, who performed the show's opening theme, recorded a comedic serenade in 1963 titled "Pearl Pearl Pearl" and Benaderet was pictured on the single's cover. The segment then resumed and Benaderet struck Keating with the book. Instead, they brought in Rosemary DeCamp to play Aunt Helen. 1950)Eugene Twombly(m. 1957; her death 1968) Bea Benaderet was a voice and television actress of the post-war era, best remembered for the CBS TV comedies, 'The Burns and Allen Show', 'The Beverly Hillbillies' and 'Petticoat Junction'. Vander Pyl recalled in 1994: "I said, 'Oh, I want to be Wilma!' Sadly, we didnt see Kate after the fifth season as Bea Benaderet passed away from lung cancer. Bea Benaderet's Volunteering [7] In 1958, Benaderet married Eugene Twombly,[81] a sound-effects technician for movies and television who had worked on The Jack Benny Program, and they remained together until her death in 1968. Paul Henning loved writing parts for Bea Benaderet and wanted to create a great character for her to star in. Collections; Project #ShowUs; Creative Insights; EDITORIAL; . PETTICOAT JUNCTION premiered in the 1963 - 1964 season, but that year's FLINTSTONES voiceover tracks were done before she reported for her new fulltime job on PJ. After that, June Lockhart stepped in as Dr. Janet Craig, but viewers really felt the void in Kates absence and sometimes attribute that to the shows ending two seasons later. Bea was famous for her sound long before most people knew what she looked like. Thats right, he was the titular Benji, still ready to help out anyone in need. [77] On Irving Taylor's novelty album Drink Along with Irving (1960), she duetted with Elvia Allman and Mel Blanc, respectively, on tracks titled "Sub-Bourbon Living" and "Separate Bar Stools". Popular, by She remained the professional shed always been, and her co-stars loved working with her. Facts Verse [75] Her first onscreen appearance, also uncredited, was in the film On the Town (1949), as one of two women whom the main characters (played by Gene Kelly and Frank Sinatra) encounter while riding the subway. The actress, whose career spanned four decades, was 62, according to the Los Angeles Times. [6][22] She additionally hosted the musical variety show Salon Moderne and gained attention for her work as a female announcer,[23][26] a rarity in 1930s radio. . But actually, Buchanan was the only cast member that Higgins behaved for. After graduating from high school, she decided to join an acting troupe to gain more experience working in theater. In the 15th episode of the first season, "Jed Rescues Pearl" (aired January 2, 1963), Pearl plays the piano during a screening of the 1925. Its the Ladybugs, led by Billie, Bobbie, and Betty Jo themselves! They can be enjoyed on their own of course, but fans enjoy the crossover episodes, too. [41] Benaderet did not receive onscreen credit for her work because she was employed by Warner Bros. as a freelance actor[note 2] who voiced peripheral characters, and unlike Mel Blanc, was not under contract with the studio. She had a powerful voice and had the ability to bring characters to life solely through audio performances. Lucy had burdens and had her heart broken. Her treatment was effective and finished up in January 1968. [6][24][25] Benaderet honed a variety of dialects such as French, Spanish, New York City English, and Yiddish, the latter from voicing a character named "Rheba Haufawitz". Elizabeth Jean "Betty" Rubble (ne McBricker/O'Shale) is a fictional character in the television animated series The Flintstones and its spin-offs and live-action motion pictures. [68] Cousin Pearl was consequently written out of the Beverly Hillbillies storyline as having moved back home. Then they ended up marrying in September 1968. There was no planned big grand finale to begin with. RELATED: Petticoat Junction Cast Then And Now 2021. Morton in The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show and as the voice of Betty Rubble during the first four seasons of The Flintstones, and in The Beverly Hillbillies as Pearl Bodine. Edgar Buchanan and Linda Henning were in all 222 episodes. She performed in a variety of radio plays and involved in acting, singing, writing, and even producing. So, lets dive into Petticoat Junction: How did a dog become the most famous cast member? In his own mind he believed he was the reason for the success of the show. [80] However, Bannon's heavy filming and touring schedule required for his portrayal of fictional cowboy hero Red Ryder took a toll on their marriage and she filed for divorce in September 1950. Her final 4 episodes aired in 1968. Busch, Noel F. (February 3, 1947). From expensive cars to enormous mansions to copious quantities [] More, While Peter Lawford might the least well-known member of the Rat Pack, he is sometimes referred to as the Man Who Kept The Secrets due to his secretive efforts to connect Marilyn Monroe and his brother-in-law JFK. Having starred in such television programs as VEGA$ and Spenser: For Hire. '"[57] Benaderet voiced guest spots on the side for fellow Hanna-Barbera productions Top Cat and The Yogi Bear Show during 1961 and 1962. She appeared in a wide variety of television work, which included a starring role in the 1960s television series Petticoat Junction and Green Acres as Shady Rest Hotel owner Kate Bradley, supporting roles as Blanche Morton in The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show and as the voice of . [19][20][21], In 1926, Benaderet joined the staff of San Francisco radio station KFRC, which was under the new ownership of Don Lee and where her duties included acting, singing, writing, and producing. | Photo: Wikimedia Commons. [13] Benaderet made her professional theatre debut at 16 in a production of The Prince of Pilsen,[15] and, after graduating from the Academy of St. Rose, a private, all-girls' high school,[16][17] she attended the Reginald Travers School of Acting and joined his stock company The Players' Guild,[18] appearing in stage productions of works such as Polly, Lysistrata, and Uncle Tom's Cabin. [citation needed], Henning was again given free rein for a new show with no pilot needed, which he bestowed to colleague Jay Sommers due to his busy schedule. Bea Benaderet made money by Actors niche. [43] Television [ edit] The show was a success due to its excellent writing and directing. Before joining the Shady Rest Hotel, Bea Benaderet was a cartoon regular, specifically for Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies. [38][109][110][111] MeTV considered her an "icon" of 1960s television. The couple had no children together, but Bea had two children, Margaret, and Jack from her first marriage to Jim Bannon, whom she divorced in 1950. Did you grow up watching the show Petticoat Junction? 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When a sitcom universe spans three shows, everyone can feel like family. She appeared in several short films for Warner Bros. often voicing female supporting characters in the Looney Tunes shorts. Ironically I only came to Bea Benaderet's (1906-1968) biggest, best and best-known role only recently. This was relatively rare for the time. One of the busiest voice actors of the post-war era, radio star Bea Benaderet then became a fixture of CBS TV comedy with roles in "The Burns and Allen Show . The wedding episode between Betty Jo and Steve aired in November 1967. [54], In the late 1940s, Benaderet befriended Paul Henning, a scriptwriter on the radio production of Burns & Allen. The Flintstones, and her best known role . ", "The Way We Rural: 'Hillbillies' Creator Paul Henning, to Be Honored in Santa Ana, Looks Back", "Jack Bannon, Actor on 'Lou Grant,' Dies at 77", "Benadaret Licks Tumor, Looks Forward To Petticoat Junction", "Last Rites Set Tomorrow for Bea Benaderet", "Pneumonia, Cancer Kills 'Petticoat Junction' Star", "Bea Benaderet's Own Star Shines Brightly As Any", "A Long-Term Next-Door Neighbor Gets Own Show", "Bea Benaderet's Dialect Returns Her to TV Work", "June Foray: From Rocky the flying squirrel to Cindy Lou Who, she was a master", "Bea Benaderet was both the best and the worst guest ever on, "Somebody Built a Hotel around Bea Benaderet", "Robert McKimson's "The Hole Idea" (1955)", TV Sidekicks: Bea Benaderet's Blanche to Gracie Allen's Gracie, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bea_Benaderet&oldid=1140604081, This page was last edited on 20 February 2023, at 21:39. Lung cancer By the mid-1950s, she also began looking for on-screen work. Flippo asked Parton about what the most outrageous thing shed [] More, Robert Urich was known throughout the world as a tough guy. Bea Benaderet was born on April 4, 1906 in New York City, NY. Children Pennicoat Junction became a beloved and successful series and remained a favorite long after the last episode aired in 1969. Her career in radio began in 1936 when she became part of the Orson Welles performing company on The Campbell Playhouse., In 1939, Bea got her break into comedy on the Jack Bennys show and only broke into television eleven years later when she got cast in the 1950 series, Burns and Allen.. Married to her second husband, Gene Twombly at the time, he passed four days after her death from a heart attack. Throughout its 7 season run, Petticoat Junction had a few noteworthy cast changes. It was because of her role as Blanche that she could not accept the part of Ethel Mertz in I Love Lucy (1951), which was offered to her by Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz. Producers of the show eased concerns and said that she was out of town.. February 19, 2023, 6:22 am, by In the early 1940s, Bea Benaderet began the next phase of her career as a voice actress. Whats a great episode that you remember? In the show's final two seasons, Gerry Johnson was the voice of Betty Rubble. "Bea Benaderet Remembered". Season 4 also saw the addition of Steve Elliott, the handsome crop duster and love interest for two of the Bradley girls. She had been a longtime smoker and it was discovered that she had lung cancer. At first, this looks like a reference to the man vs dog rivalry they had going on. Beatrice Benaderet was an American actress and comedienne. "I tell you the people who watched it really identified with it because they lived those lives," she told the LA Times in 2008. In fact, Bea Benaderet's last episode of Petticoat Junction is hard to watch - knowing that she suffered from lung cancer. ANSWER: Actress Benaderet grew ill in early 1968, and she was temporarily replaced by several actresses while Kate was "away." Benaderet returned briefly, but then succumbed to lung cancer. Beatrice Benaderet (/bndrt/ BEN--DERR-t; April 4, 1906 - October 13, 1968) was an American radio and television actress and voice actress. Trending: 1,920th This Week. Popular Pages Check out the New Peacemaker Community Sponsored by [84] On November 26, she underwent the surgery at Good Samaritan Hospital in Los Angeles, when it was discovered the tumor could not be removed. We believe that every person's story is important as it provides our community with an opportunity to feel a sense of belonging, share their hopes and dreams. Theres a popular myth going around that the wedding between Betty Jo and Steve ended up coinciding perfectly with the marriage between their actors, Linda Henning and Mike Minor. He was always a contributor for the Hillbillies but reportedly wrote a larger share of Petticoat episodes. They were, Birthplace of a Future President, The Singing Sweethearts, Only a Husband and The Valley Has a Baby. She works at the Los Angeles Zoo as a docent. 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Let's look back at Bea Benaderet's incredible life and career and her final episodes of . When she left Petticoat Junction the first time, she underwent treatment for the condition, and a recurrence of the illness in February 1968 sent her back to the hospital. [and] Bea said, 'That's fine with me. In the 1960s, she had regular roles in four series up until her death from lung cancer in 1968, including the commercial successes The Beverly Hillbillies, The Flintstones . "[98] Benaderet often discussed facets of the acting profession in promotional interviews for the show,[95][99][100][101] and believed that leading a series required a "feeling of responsibility", including her being more observant of on-set activity and her costars' performances, while continuously evolving her character. While the show featured a great ensemble cast, Bea really stood out with her performances. [79], In 1961, Benaderet dressed in a Flintstones-inspired leopard-print costume to collect donations for City of Hope and March of Dimes[82] and worked with Welcome Wagon in the San Fernando Valley. The Flintstones is a FANDOM TV Community. Previous Next. Sadly, the cancer returned, and her condition declined. Even next to the beautiful girls. | Photo: Wikimedia Commons Advertisement Lets hear your thoughts in the comments. The other women I've played were strictly for laughs. June Foray, Bea Benaderet, Gerry Johnson are the voices of Betty Rubble in The Flintstones, and Mariko Mukai is the Japanese voice. She also garnered a reputation as being a great professional. What was going on with Bea Benaderet while she was away? [13] She studied voice and the piano;[14] her first acting performance came at 11 when she portrayed a bearded old man in a school play. Cause of death Vernon was pressured to leave the series after her friend, writer Danny Arnold (who, in many estimations, made the series what it was), left on acrimonious terms after year one. Fred, a big fan of golf and bowling, also enjoyed bullying neighbor Barney Rubble, while Barney's saucy wife Betty was best friends . Get the best viral stories straight into your inbox!