[55] Benaderet considered herself "lucky" to be cast in another series out of fear that she had become too closely associated with Burns & Allen. Why Was Irene Ryan Hated By The Beverly Hillbillies Cast '"[96] When she was introduced to Orson Welles in 1936, he remarked that her name "sounded like something you ad lib in a mob scene. [30] She performed in as many as five shows daily,[33] causing her rehearsal dates to conflict with those of The Jack Benny Program and resulting in her reading live as Gertrude from a marked script she was handed upon entering the studio. '"[64] He additionally took Benaderet's suggestion of casting Harriet MacGibbon as Granny's rival Margaret Drysdale. RELATED: Petticoat Junction Cast Then And Now 2021. If you liked this story, hit the like button and be sure to Subscribe to FactsVerse for more great stories! I said yes". Nevertheless, her voice had made her famous in the industry and the work offers continued to come in. Much as I love Bea, I think Viv was the most perfect Ethel Mertz that could be and I don't think the chemistry would have been as strong between Lucy . Only . She missed 10 episodes, but they yearned to keep Bea on, so they didnt write the character out. While Bea was becoming more popular among radio fans, she was eager to expand her horizons. The Flintstones were the modern Stone Age family. 1961 . Or has the show become dated and wont resonate with a newer generation? If the character of Sam Drucker looks familiar, thats because he and his actor Frank Cady have been in ALL 3 Paul Henning creations. by 1966. [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. Find where to watch Bea Benaderet's latest movies and tv shows . She missed 10 episodes of the show as she recuperated, during which her character of Kate Bradley was vaguely described in the storyline as being out of town, as expectations were that Benaderet would eventually recover and be able to resume filming. However, in November 1967, it had returned and grown in size. [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. Children Daws. [46], Blanche Morton's long-suffering husband, Harry, was played by four actors over the show's eight-year run; the last, Larry Keating, was introduced on the October 5, 1953 fourth-season premiere when George Burns entered the set and halted a scene of an angered Blanche preparing to hit Harry with a book. The audience loved her and couldnt imagine the show without her! Bea Benaderet - Biography - IMDb 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. [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?' Who was 'Pearl Pearl Pearl' used as a love song for? [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. 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. Was Frances Bavier TVs Biggest Bitch??? - the DataLounge Incarnations View all 36 versions of Betty Rubble on BTVA. Oddly enough, the switch might have been unnecessary, since years later their major spokes model Marilyn Chambers ended up doing a very similar shoot. During a routine medical checkup in the early 1960s, it was discovered that Bea had a spot on one of her lungs. Bea Benaderet When the shows ran at the same time, Cady maintained the role across them all. [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. Her occupation is listed as such in the 1940 U.S. census. Bea had worked with George Burns and Gracie Allen on the radio version of the show. 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. 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. Please fill in your e-mail so we can share with you our top stories! [68] Cousin Pearl was consequently written out of the Beverly Hillbillies storyline as having moved back home. [It] just never occurred to me that it mightgolly, my own show! The show followed widowed aeronautical engineer named Steven Douglas and his three sons. But she ended up spilling the beans on one of the most embarrassing chapters of her life instead. [86] Rosemary DeCamp (Kate's sister Helen) and Shirley Mitchell (Kate's cousin Mae Jennings) filled in as temporary mother figures during her absence; Mitchell had previously worked with Benaderet on The Jack Benny Program in 195455 as Mabel Flapsaddle. Previous Next. Why did Bea Benaderet leave the bachelorette? 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. But then its ending wasnt exactly planned, either. Bea was better than her medium and her material. 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. [70] CBS promoted the show's September 22, 1963, premiere with a print ad featuring an Al Hirschfeld caricature of Benaderet as Cousin Pearl. She had become successful through her voice now she wanted to become a familiar face in TV and film. 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Was Higgins the pup your favorite character, too? Years active : "[We] spent so much time together in studios that I used to refer jokingly to her as the 'other woman' in my life. [59] She appeared on the 19 episodes of the show he had written between 1947 and 1951. 'The Beverly Hillbillies': Bea Benaderet Wanted to Play Granny So Why And shed be the only of the three young gals to stay the entire length of the show. 47 Bea Benaderet Premium High Res Photos - Getty Images Bea Benaderet | Beverly Hillbillies Wiki | Fandom Bea Benaderet (April 4, 1906 - October 13, 1968) was an American actress, born in New York City and raised in San Francisco, California. [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. Probably the most harrowing was Bea Benaderet's. Near the end of season 5, the plot had Kate away visiting a sick relative when in actuality, Bea was very sick, recovering from lung cancer. Throughout most of her television career, she continued to voice roles in animated shows and short films. | Photo: Wikimedia Commons. [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. At the time of her follow-up visit, the spot was no longer apparent, Newspapers.com reported. Casting for the Bradley trio wasnt easy, and show creator Paul Henning auditioned no less than 1,500 women. In the 1960s, she became well known for playing Wilma in the sitcom Peter Loves Mary. ", Benaderet in 1965 on her love of acting. [85], Benaderet's treatment was successful and concluded in January 1968. And thats exactly how we got the plot for. Benaderet died on 10/13/68. [55][82] However, in January 1963, following CBS' acquisition of Petticoat Junction, she enthused to columnist Eve Starr of The Mercury: "Isn't it nice? She later cast as Cousin Pearl Bodine in The Beverly Hillbillies after initially being considered for the role as Granny. Died Popular, by She reprised her role as the secretary Blanche in the TV show. They even performed on The Ed Sullivan Show with a cover of I Saw Her Standing There, but changed the title just for Ed to be I Saw Him Standing There. How Clever! Bea Benaderet Biography - Facts, Childhood, Family Life & Achievements As Bea Benaderet came of age, radio was becoming increasingly popular throughout the United States. Bea Benaderet. Whats a great episode that you remember? 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 . Maybe this was a preview of things to come, because they split up five years later. She began her career in radio on The Jack Benny Program and as a member of Orson Welles's Mercury Theatre repertory company. She also wanted to try her luck in cinema and was eager to see where else her voice acting talents could take her. "She had an infallible eye for a script and for a character. She especially showed aptitude in performing a variety of characters and speaking with different dialects and accents. 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. Her major breaks in radio came on The Jack Benny Program and as a member of Orson Welles's Mercury Theatre repertory company. [11][84][121] She first resisted requests to change it early in her radio career: "[T]hey'd say, 'Anything's better than BenaderetHow about Smith? Sometimes life is more remarkable than fiction. [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. While shes voiced some of our favorite animated characters, we remember her most for her on-screen TV roles. 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. Hassan Bea graduated from St. Rose Academy High School in San Francisco. During a routine checkup, a spot was found on one of her lungs. She later co-starred with fellow Looney Tunes voice actor Mel Blanc as the voices of Betty and Barney Rubble in The Flintstones. Born Bea Benaderet 1906 - 1968 . Linda and Mikes wedding was supposed to line up with that date, too, but they had a falling out, Linda called it off, and Mike spent the next year winning her back. Bea was on THE FLINTSONES only thru season 4 (1963 - 1964). [4][6][7] Her mother, Margaret (ne O'Keefe), was Irish American,[8][9] and her father, Samuel David Benaderet,[10] a Turkish Sephardic emigrant,[11] was a tobacconist who relocated the family from New York City to San Francisco in 1915 after his participation in the PanamaPacific International Exposition. She was actually the first choice to play Ethel in I Love Lucy. Bea Benaderet Bio, wiki, Age, Career, Height, Weight, Family She is the black-haired wife of caveman Barney Rubble and the adoptive mother of Bamm-Bamm Rubble. Benaderet first specialized in voice-over work in the golden age of radio, appearing on numerous programs while working with comedians of the era such as Jack . Bea Benaderet - IMDb 7 things you might not know about Bea Benaderet: She was beloved from Oddly enough, the switch might have been unnecessary, since years later their major spokes model Marilyn Chambers ended up doing a very similar shoot. Uncle Joe himself, Edgar Buchanan, came into the show with a very unique skill set already. The Flintstones. 1 Year-Later She Realizes Her Huge Mistake, Bebe Buell Reveals Everything About Her Rock Star Romances, The Real Reason Peter Lawford Got Kicked Out of the Rat Pack, Pam Dawber is Unrecognizable Today (Try Not to Gasp), Why Jan Smithers DISAPPEARED After WKRP in Cincinnati, Celebrities Who Died Due to Medical Malpractice, The ONE Time Dolly Parton Got Naked in Public, Rare Photos of Lynda Carter Not Suitable for All Ages, The Tragic Death of Robert Urich & His Wife, The Tragic Life and Demise of Angie Dickinson, How Each Gilligans Island Cast Member Died. Bea Benaderet Biography | Fandango Unfortunately, Bea contracted to work on The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show and had to turn down the role which eventually went to Vivian Vance. 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'. From this young age, she decided that she wanted to pursue acting as a full-time career. Her acting job was her main source of income. January 27, 2023, 6:25 pm, Trending [16] Benaderet worked sparsely in 1959,[52] filming one-time appearances on General Electric Theater and The Restless Gun. She broke into TV with the role of Blanche Morton in "The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show" (1950). 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 launched her network radio career in 1936, appearing as a regular on The Campbell Playhouse, The Jack Benny Show, The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet, The Great Gildersleeve, and Fibber McGee. And is. When Bea saw Irene Ryan at the audition, she told producer/creator Paul Henning, " There's your Granny! Apparently, they arent subscribers to the old adage that too much of a good thing can actually be a bad thing. [47] Benaderet and Gracie Allen regularly shopped for their own on-set wardrobe[48] and she developed a high-pitched laugh for Blanche that became a staple of the character and was used for comic effect: "When we had a scene with some silent spots in it, George would say to me, 'Laugh there, Bea. If you need a good, strong role model, look no further than Dog, the precious cocker spaniel, schnauzer, poodle mix who could steal the show with those adorable eyes of his. But the shows [] More, You might remember her as Mindy in the off-beat yet endearing 70s and 80s sitcom Mork and Mindy. 1947). Let's look back at Bea Benaderet's incredible life and career and her final episodes of . And I asked her to read the script and she . She performed in a variety of radio plays and involved in acting, singing, writing, and even producing. She appeared in 2 episodes of The Bob Cummings Show which written by Paul Henning. Yeah, Id say the resemblance is pretty strong! [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". The Flintstones (TV Show) - Behind The Voice Actors In 1959, they filmed a 90-second pilot. 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. 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. Kate Bradely stopped appearing in some episodes of Petticoat Junction so that Bea could look after her health. Knowing how she suffered with lung cancer and still managed to work, its challenging to watch The Valley Has a Baby knowing that she died before the episode aired. June Foray, Bea Benaderet, Gerry Johnson are the voices of Betty Rubble in The Flintstones, and Mariko Mukai is the Japanese voice. '"[57] Benaderet voiced guest spots on the side for fellow Hanna-Barbera productions Top Cat and The Yogi Bear Show during 1961 and 1962. Bea Family Members. She actually completed some promotional shots for the show, but never filmed because it came out that she had done nude photos for Playboy. ANSWER: Actress Bea Benaderet (Kate) died of lung cancer in 1968 while Petticoat Junction was still in production. It meant a lot to them.. Its because of this that Bea Benaderets last episode of Petticoat Junction is hard to watch. Beatrice Benaderet (/bndrt/ BEN--DERR-t; April 4, 1906 - October 13, 1968) was an American radio and television actress and voice actress. Youd be forgiven for not knowing his actual name, since they only ever call him the dog or good boy, but an episode card once revealed his name was actually Higgins. February 19, 2023, 6:17 am, by | Source: Wikimedia Commons. Theres nothing like a wholesome holiday-themed episodeWait anyone else getting deja vu? "I think it is the most wonderful profession in the world. 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. He wanted to continue working with her as the two of them eventually transitioned to the television industry. 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. Beatrice "Bea" Benaderet was an American actress born in New York City and raised in San Francisco, California. How well do you know the women of Hooterville? - Me-TV Network Bea Benaderet as Kate Bradley on the hit sitcom "Petticoat Junction," circa 1960s. "[122] Early in the first season of The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show, her full name appeared as "Bee Benadaret" in the closing credits.[11]. Heisner, John (October 15, 1968). Ruth had loads of fond memories from visiting her grandmother. In the 1960s, she had regular roles in four series until her death from lung cancer in 1968, including the commercial successes The Beverly Hillbillies, The Flintstones, and her best-known role as Kate Bradley in Petticoat Junction. She appeared in plays such as Uncle Toms Cabin and Polly Lysistrata. 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. She was one of the few female voice artists associated with Warner Bros studio in its early days. [119] Benaderet was good friends and a frequent collaborator with Mel Blanc, who wrote in his 1988 biography That's Not All Folks! Please fill in your e-mail so we can share with you our top stories!