Bea Benaderet 1906 - 1968 . That's when June Lockhart was added to the show as Dr. Janet Craig, presumably. And is. In fact, that hotel had everything the train, even the setting details came from that real location. [12], Benaderet was raised Catholic and attended grade school at a Dominican convent. Bea Benaderet . "[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. Barney (Mel Blanc), wife Betty (Bea Benaderet, later Gerry Johnson), and their super-strong adopted . Bea was part of the The Players Guild run by Reginald Travers. And while Williams sadly is no longer with us, Pam Dawber is still alive and well. Before joining the Shady Rest Hotel, Bea Benaderet was a cartoon regular, specifically for. March 28, 2021, 6:21 am, by As Bea Benaderet came of age, radio was becoming increasingly popular throughout the United States. Facts Verse click the Leave a Flower button. 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 (Jethro's mother), and as the original voice of Granny of Warner . The Flintstones is a FANDOM TV Community. She also garnered a reputation as being a great professional. Bea Benaderet (April 4, 1906 - October 13, 1968) was an American actress, born in New York City and raised in San Francisco, California. : "[We] spent so much time together in studios that I used to refer jokingly to her as the 'other woman' in my life. She made her radio debut when she was 12 years young. And so [] More, Sex, Drugs, and Rock n Roll. The other women I've played were strictly for laughs. Benaderet made one final appearance as Pearl in the October 11, 1967 fifth-season episode "Greetings From the President". Last edited on 20 February 2023, at 21:39, List of stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series, Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series, "Stars of the Radio Theatre: Beatrice Benaderet, Comedienne", "Robert McKimson's "Lovelorn Leghorn" (1951)", "Mel Blanc: From Anonymity To Offscreen Superstar (The advent of on-screen voice credits)", "Remembering Animation Legend June Foray (19172017)", "Dean Martin, 'Hangover III,' 'Beverly Hillbillies,' 'Petticoat Junction' on DVD", "Paul Henning, 93; Created 'Beverly Hillbillies,' Other Comedies for TV", "Bea Benaderet Worked to Perfect Cousin Pearl Role", "We couldn't do #MemberMonday on Flatt & Scruggs without the Beverly Hillbillies! [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. Benaderet was then a prominent figure on television in situation comedies, first with The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show from 1950 to 1958, for which she earned two Emmy Award nominations for Best Supporting Actress. She is the beautiful and very attractive wife of caveman Barney Rubble, the adoptive mother of Bamm-Bamm Rubble, and the grandmother of Chip and Roxy. '"[49][50] Benaderet garnered two Primetime Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series in 1954 and 1955. Whats a great episode that you remember? They were, Birthplace of a Future President, The Singing Sweethearts, Only a Husband and The Valley Has a Baby. Did you know about Bea Benaderet and Petticoat Junction? During a routine checkup, a spot was found on one of her lungs. So, it shouldnt really be that big of a surprise that, with numbers like those, celebrities would face the same risk of dying [] More, Bea Benaderets Last Episode of Petticoat Junction is Hard to Watch, How Each Blazing Saddles Cast Member Died, Scientists Discovered Evidence That Exposes An Ancient Lie About Woolly Mammoths, Handlers Thought This Owl Was Male For 23 Years Then He Laid An Egg, This Baby Elephant Decided To Spend His Last Days Alongside This Creature, Woman Adpots Tiny, Adorable Puppy. Bea Benaderet (1906-1968) was originally considered for the role of Granny. When she was cast in "Petticoat Junction" as Kate Bradley in 1963, Bea was recognized as having "finally" become a star. 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. Being a "voice" was nothing new for Bea Benederet, who was the vocal part of cavewoman Betty Rubble in ABC-TV's series "The Fllntstones," television's first fully animated cartoon tailored for adult tastes and slotted in prime time Friday nights. The world had been unaware that Bea got diagnosed with lung cancer in 1967. Mork, of course, played by the late Robin Williams. "She was, in my opinion, a fine judge of material. '"[64] He additionally took Benaderet's suggestion of casting Harriet MacGibbon as Granny's rival Margaret Drysdale. [and] Bea said, 'That's fine with me. Why did she leave the show? [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. ': What Happened to the Stars of the Iconic Series through the Years, Csar Domboy's Girlfriend: All We Know about the 'Outlander' Star's Dating History, Eva Perez Suarez - Eva Mendes' Mother the Star Calls 'Coolest of the Cools', Lucille Ball & Desi Arnaz's Kids Lived Different Lives after Parents Thrust Them into the Spotlight, Annette Funicello Was Unable to Eat, Drink & Talk during Her Last Years Her Husband Never Gave up Hope, Jaclyn Smith Was Married to Bigamist & Shared 2 Kids with Him Meet Her Grown-up Children & Granddaughters. Then, in 1968, it was announced her treatment was finished and a complete success, just in time for her to come back for the season finale! "I think it is the most wonderful profession in the world. Years active Bea Benaderet's Volunteering Bea Benaderet was born on April 4, 1906 in New York City, NY. 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. Beverly Hillbillies was such an immediate hit, it spawned the creation of Petticoat Junction. [38][109][110][111] MeTV considered her an "icon" of 1960s television. With her radio performances, her voice became well-known throughout the country. The actress was previously married to actor Jim Bannon. 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. [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?' Ironically, if you look at Petticoat Junction promotional material, you usually see Higgins sitting on Edgar Buchanan. [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. Bea Benaderet passed away due to complications of lung cancer and pneumonia on October 13, 1968, in Los Angeles. However, in November 1967, it had returned and grown in size. So audiences may remember Benaderet for her role as Cousin Pearl Bodine in the show. Bea's big break as a comedian came three years later on Jack Benny's show. While the show featured a great ensemble cast, Bea really stood out with her performances. Uncle Joe himself, Edgar Buchanan, came into the show with a very unique skill set already. After becoming the beautiful redhead Betty Jo, Linda Henning totally switched fields. Click on archived link for complete listing. Maybe this was a preview of things to come, because they split up five years later. She could read and write, and the curled hair seemed to Pearl the height of smartness. Bea had worked with George Burns and Gracie Allen on the radio version of the show. They can be enjoyed on their own of course, but fans enjoy the crossover episodes, too. Before going into acting, hed actually been a very successful dentist! Benaderet voiced various one-time parts before joining the main cast as Iris, neighbor and friend of Ball's character Liz Cooper. They share two children Jack and Maggie. In the 1960s, she became well known for playing Wilma in the sitcom Peter Loves Mary. Background information [68][96] For her contributions to television, Benaderet received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1960, on 1611 Vine Street,[114] and she was the recipient of a Genii Award in 1966. Bea Benaderet, who played matriarch Kate Bradley, passed away in 1968 at age 62 from lung cancer. Edgar Buchanan and Linda Henning were in all 222 episodes. Please fill in your e-mail so we can share with you our top stories! Its the Ladybugs, led by Billie, Bobbie, and Betty Jo themselves! [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. She appeared in plays such as Uncle Toms Cabin and Polly Lysistrata. [37], Beginning in 1943, Benaderet became Warner Bros.' primary voice of adult female supporting characters for their Merrie Melodies and Looney Tunes animated shorts, initially sharing duties with Sara Berner. Four days after her death--the day of her funeral, her husband died of a heart attack. The Flintstones, and her best known role . So, if you feel like you missed the finale, youre not alone. Rosemary DeCamp was brought in to play the Bradley girls' Aunt Helen in the scripts that were obviously written for Benaderet's character, Kate Bradley. Family members linked to this person will appear here. 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'. 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. She was replaced by Gerry Johnson. 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. He wrote several episodes for the radio show and impressed by Beas talent. Benaderet died on October 13, 1968, of lung cancer and pneumonia. "[98] Benaderet credited George Burns with mentoring her in comedy acting,[113] but claimed that television scriptwriters focused more on her voice and delivery than her characters, which she believed stunted opportunities for her to play more dramatic roles. In fact, that hotel had everything the train, even the setting details came from that real location. Or has the show become dated and wont resonate with a newer generation? Why, hello there, and welcome to the Shady Rest Hoteland, of course, Petticoat Junction! When a sitcom universe spans three shows, everyone can feel like family. Birth Place: New York, New York, USA. Find Bea Benaderet stock photos and editorial news pictures from Getty Images. In the years before her death, Bea had a remarkable career in radio and television. Betty Rubble VOICE. While shes voiced some of our favorite animated characters, we remember her most for her on-screen TV roles. [27], Benaderet relocated to Hollywood in 1936 and joined radio station KHJ,[28] making her network radio debut with Orson Welles for his Mercury Theatre repertory company heard on The Campbell Playhouse. | Photo: YouTube/CLASSIC COMEDY CHANNEL. Rosemary DeCamp was brought in as a temporary replacement, to play the Bradley girls' Aunt Helen. Oddly enough, the switch might have been unnecessary, since years later their major spokes model Marilyn Chambers ended up doing a very similar shoot. [53], Benaderet became a fixture on television in the 1960s, which included working on two shows simultaneously from 1960 to 1964. Ironically, if you look at Petticoat Junction promotional material, you usually see Higgins sitting on Edgar Buchanan. Benaderet first specialized in voiceover work in the golden age . Her occupation is listed as such in the 1940 U.S. census. The show had been created with her in mind as the lead, by longtime friend Paul Henning. Family Members. Instead, fans consider the 4th-to-last episode when the show spiritually ended, it had all the loose ends tied up and ended on a strong note. When the shows ran at the same time, Cady maintained the role across them all. Instead, they brought in Rosemary DeCamp to play Aunt Helen. But it didnt stop there. Bea was born on April 4, 1906, in New York. [59] She appeared on the 19 episodes of the show he had written between 1947 and 1951. 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. At first, this looks like a reference to the man vs dog rivalry they had going on. 1950)Eugene Twombly(m. 1957; her death 1968) Rock stars are infamous for their insatiable appetites for all things in excess. 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. Paul Henning was best known for his role in creating The Beverly Hillbillies and Petticoat Junction. On the latter show, Bea Benaderet was cast as Kate Bradley and this remains one of the best roles that defined her career. Who was 'Pearl Pearl Pearl' used as a love song for? October 13, 1968 (aged 62)Los Angeles, California, U.S. She attended the Reginald Travis School of Acting in the same city. He wanted to continue working with her as the two of them eventually transitioned to the television industry. [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. Hootervilles Druckers General Store has one dedicated shopkeeper! 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. Facts Verse She wanted to focus on The Flintstones. Get the best viral stories straight into your inbox! In his own mind he believed he was the reason for the success of the show. February 19, 2023, 6:22 am, by "She had an infallible eye for a script and for a character. Benaderet returned for the March 30 fifth-season finale "Kate's Homecoming," but five months later, after shooting the first three episodes of the sixth season, she took leave from the series due to being too ill to continue. Yeah, Id say the resemblance is pretty strong! Facts Verse [3], Benaderet continued her Burns & Allen radio role of the Burns' neighbor Blanche Morton, Gracie's friend and staunchest supporter in her escapades. [63] Irene Ryan ultimately won the role; according to Henning, "Bea took one look at the way Irene did the part and said to me, 'There's your Granny! Bea Benaderet became best known for her comedic performances in The Flintstones, The Beverly Hillbillies, and Petticoat Junction., Fans of the country hotel keeper at Petticoat Junction, which began its run in 1963, will know that Bea suddenly became absent on the show in 1967. show revolved around Kate Bradleys family, Alison Pearce from Bewitched had an impressive career. Her treatment was effective and finished up in January 1968. [58] While filming the debut season of her show Petticoat Junction the next year, she continued voicing Betty by recording her part alone or with her Flintstones castmates during evening hours[29] until scheduling conflicts forced her to drop the role at the end of the fourth season in 1964. Share your thoughts in the comments, we read every one! Her voice had become famous on the radio, and it was now time for her to give a shot at animated films.