Name . Bea Benaderet was born on the fourth of April, 1906, in New York City. [and] Bea said, 'That's fine with me. [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. When Bea saw Irene Ryan at the audition, she told producer/creator Paul Henning, " There's your Granny! [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. 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. Her final 4 episodes aired in 1968. Bea graduated from St. Rose Academy High School in San Francisco. The Flintstones are a typical suburban family that just happens to live in the stone-age. Bea was famous for her sound long before most people knew what she looked like. She especially showed aptitude in performing a variety of characters and speaking with different dialects and accents. Then, terribly, her illness struck again, and Bea Benaderet passed away on October 13, 1968, at the age of 62. "Bea Benaderet Remembered". Beatrice Benaderet was born on April 4, 1906,[1][2][3][note 1] in New York City. At the time of her follow-up visit, the spot was no longer apparent, Newspapers.com reported. The show was a success due to its excellent writing and directing. This was relatively rare for the time. Beatrice BenaderetApril 4, 1906New York City, New York, U.S. And thats exactly how we got the plot for. [54], In the late 1940s, Benaderet befriended Paul Henning, a scriptwriter on the radio production of Burns & Allen. Bea was also excellent on THE GEORGE BURNS AND GRACIE ALLEN SHOW (her only Emmy nominations and the reason she couldn't do ILL)and of course is was the voice of Betty Rubble on THE FLINTSTONES. It meant a lot to them.. [42] In 1955, she was succeeded by June Foray as Warner's premier female voice artist. [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. 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. The Flintstones is a FANDOM TV Community. 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. [72] Petticoat Junction was an immediate hit, peaking at fourth in the Nielsen ratings, and remained in the top 30 during Benaderet's four full seasons on the show from 1963 to 1967. For all time, at the moment, 2023 year, Bea Benaderet earned $18 Million. 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. Before long, Bea Benaderet had become a household name both in theater and radio. Bea Benaderet is a voice actor known for voicing Betty Rubble, Granny, and Witch Hazel. Alternate names After becoming the beautiful redhead Betty Jo, Linda Henning totally switched fields. For Betty Jo, Bea Benaderet stepped in and finally suggested Hennings own daughter, Linda. Bea was part of the The Players Guild run by Reginald Travers. [85] Initial plans were for her to record her voice to be inserted into future episodes. Bea was diagnosed with lung cancer and underwent weeks of laser radiation treatment at Stanford University Medical Center. 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. Throughout its 7 season run, Petticoat Junction had a few noteworthy cast changes. But its a name worth remembering because little Higgins would go on to be his own star as the leading man well, dog in Benji. [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. Popular Pages Check out the New Peacemaker Community Sponsored by 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. Boy, was Petticoat terrific wholesome fun. [112] Donna Douglas said, "Watching her timing is like watching a ballerina. Jeannine Riley originated the role of Billie Jo Bradley, followed by Gunilla Hutton for one season and then Meredith MacRae for Seasons 4 through 7. Bea Benaderet's first major starring role on television was sadly her last. Daws. 1.6k Views. She was just wonderful," Henning said. A success one of Beas co-stars, Linda Henning, who played Betty Jo, attributed to the content of the show. 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. Even before Cheers and its own spinoffs like Frasier and The Tortellis, Petticoat Junction ignited an ambitious trend to form its own sitcom world with friendly callbacks from previously known characters. Fred, a big fan of golf and bowling, also enjoyed bullying neighbor Barney Rubble, while Barney's saucy wife Betty was best friends . Maybe this was a preview of things to come, because they split up five years later. 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. Her acting job was her main source of income. [16] Benaderet filmed six appearances as Kate in the first season as both shows' casts intermingled on several episodes in a process dubbed "cross-pollination". They can be enjoyed on their own of course, but fans enjoy the crossover episodes, too. [7] They married in August 1938 and had two children: Jack (19402017),[79] and Maggie (b. Left to right: Alan Reed as Fred Flintstone, Jean Vander Pyl . Was Higgins the pup your favorite character, too? She remained the professional shed always been, and her co-stars loved working with her. They share two children Jack and Maggie. 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. 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'. AmoMama creates engaging, meaningful content for women. 19261968 Now 76, visitors still recognize her to this day. You come to life right away. [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. 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. Why did she leave the show? She attended the Reginald Travis School of Acting in the same city. 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. 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 loved writing parts for Bea Benaderet and wanted to create a great character for her to star in. Leave a Comment Cancel reply. She had a supporting role as Ella Heather in the Western film Plunderers of Painted Flats. Facts Verse 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. Date Of Death: Oct 13, 1968. Producers didnt want to risk losing their biggest sponsor, Ivory Soap, if and when word got out. Roughly a quarter million of these unlucky souls sustain injuries so severe that they end up dying. She was actually the first choice to play Ethel in I Love Lucy. 'Whos the Boss? In fact, Bea Benaderets last episode of Petticoat Junction is hard to watch knowing that she suffered from lung cancer. June 20, 2021, 9:06 am, by [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. With her radio performances, her voice became well-known throughout the country. However, in November 1967, it had returned and grown in size. According to IMDB, It was because of her role as Blanche that she couldn't accept the part of Ethel Mertz in "I Love Lucy" (1951), which was offered to her by Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz. Its the Ladybugs, led by Billie, Bobbie, and Betty Jo themselves! The show had been created with her in mind as the lead, by longtime friend Paul Henning. In fact, it was Lucille Ball who originally wanted Bea Benaderet to take on the role. She made her radio debut when she was 12 years young. Please fill in your e-mail so we can share with you our top stories! Then they ended up marrying in September 1968. [3], Benaderet continued her Burns & Allen radio role of the Burns' neighbor Blanche Morton, Gracie's friend and staunchest supporter in her escapades. 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. [84] She resisted immediate exploratory surgery as she was filming the fifth season of Petticoat Junction and feared the show would be affected by her absence. Bea Benaderet passed away due to complications of lung cancer and pneumonia on October 13, 1968, in Los Angeles. Throughout Monroe and Kennedys alleged affair, Lawford supposedly acted as a liaison for the President. After she graduated from St. Rose Academy in San Francisco, Bea attended the Reginald Travis School of Acting. '"[49][50] Benaderet garnered two Primetime Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series in 1954 and 1955. Did you grow up watching the show Petticoat Junction? The actress appeared in 179 episodes of Pennicoat Junction wherein she as hotelkeeper of the Shady Rest Hotel, also had three daughters to manage. During her career, Bea received 125 acting credits, mostly in television series and includes voice-over work. [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. While the show featured a great ensemble cast, Bea really stood out with her performances. Lets hear your thoughts in the comments. And I asked her to read the script and she . [44] However, Benaderet had to turn down the offer since she was contracted to the television adaptation of The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show, so Vivian Vance was eventually cast. February 19, 2023, 6:17 am, by While Bea was becoming more popular among radio fans, she was eager to expand her horizons. Bea Benaderet has amassed a sizable fortune through her many endeavors, but her exact net worth has yet to be published. [22][23], Initially seeking work as a dramatic actress, she switched to comedy and performed on multiple programs, in particular the Blue Monday Jamboree variety show,[22] where her castmates included Meredith Willson, Elvia Allman, and future I Love Lucy producer Jess Oppenheimer. Benaderet was cast in the spy film Notorious in 1946, which generated a stunning $24.5 million at the box office against a $1 million budget. [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. Before joining the Shady Rest Hotel, Bea Benaderet was a cartoon regular, specifically for. Facts Verse That's when June Lockhart was added to the show as Dr. Janet Craig, presumably. 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. Actress. I would die if I didn't work. . In 1926, she landed a job with the radio station KFRC based in San Francisco. 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. She landed her first professional role when she was 16 in a play called The Prince of Pilsen. 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. But if you look closely, you can see the toll the treatment took, as shes noticeably thinner and weaker. During a routine checkup, a spot was found on one of her lungs. '"[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. The wedding episode between Betty Jo and Steve aired in November 1967. He was entombed beside her. But it didnt stop there. 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. Born in New York City and raised in San Francisco, California, she had a remarkable career in radio and television. 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. 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. Four days after her death--the day of her funeral, her husband died of a heart attack. She reprised her role as the secretary Blanche in the TV show. Trending: 1,920th This Week. Bea "Today's Channel Check". 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. [78], Benaderet and her first husband, actor Jim Bannon, met while employed at KHJ in Los Angeles. [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. Busch, Noel F. (February 3, 1947). "[120], Keeping the spelling of her surname, which has been misspelled as Benederet or Benadaret,[96] was a choice she had to make. She could read and write, and the curled hair seemed to Pearl the height of smartness. Petticoat Junction didnt play up its connection to Beverly Hillbillies as much until season 6. T therealjm12 Leading Participant Feb 4, 2013 #7 I think that Bea Benaderet was one of the most talented character actress in the early days of television. What was her character's name? Birth Place: New York, New York, USA. by See Bea Benaderet full list of movies and tv shows from their career. 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! Barney (Mel Blanc), wife Betty (Bea Benaderet, later Gerry Johnson), and their super-strong adopted . The character and Beas performance was so popular among audiences that the shows creators didnt wish to replace the character in the later seasons. Nevertheless, her voice had made her famous in the industry and the work offers continued to come in. At first, this looks like a reference to the man vs dog rivalry they had going on. After her role on that classic sitcom ended, Jan became more interested in being a mother than being an actress. Even next to the beautiful girls. 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. [43] Television [ edit] She was also the original voice of Granny in the Looney Tunes/Merrie Melodies franchise. If the character of Sam Drucker looks familiar, thats because he and his actor Frank Cady have been in ALL 3 Paul Henning creations. The show followed widowed aeronautical engineer named Steven Douglas and his three sons. [64] When CBS granted him an open time slot after the massive success of Beverly Hillbillies, he crafted the 1963 rural sitcom Petticoat Junction around Benaderet, starring as Kate Bradley, the widowed proprietor of the Shady Rest Hotel. [71] Linda Henning and Benaderet's son, Jack Bannon, were members of a young actors' theater group at the time. Season 4 also saw the addition of Steve Elliott, the handsome crop duster and love interest for two of the Bradley girls. Producers of the show eased concerns and said that she was out of town.. She appeared in a wide variety of television work, which included a starring role in the 1960s television series . She also provided the voice for several Warner Brothers cartoons, usually for females (those Mel Blanc could not do), like Tweety's owner, "Granny". "Hiss and Make Up" (1943) "Puss n' Booty . They just never use it. Beatrice "Bea" Benaderet (April 4, 1906 - October 13, 1968) was an American actress born in New York City and reared in San Francisco, California. . 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. Nationality The other women I've played were strictly for laughs. The actress, whose career spanned four decades, was 62, according to the Los Angeles Times. This made her realize that she had a gift for entertaining others. . When a sitcom universe spans three shows, everyone can feel like family. Beatrice Benaderet (/bndrt/ BEN--DERR-t; April 4, 1906 - October 13, 1968) was an American radio and television actress and voice actress. Bea Benaderet was born on April 4, 1906 in New York City, NY. 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 . Find Bea Benaderet stock photos and editorial news pictures from Getty Images. Her other film credits include roles in Tender Is the Night and the TV movie OConners Ocean. Just as she had gotten into the medium of radio as it becoming more popular, she now eager to try her luck with the medium of television. Uncle Joe himself, Edgar Buchanan, came into the show with a very unique skill set already. Heisner, John (October 15, 1968). January 27, 2023, 7:28 pm, by Following the success of The Beverly Hillbillies, he wanted to create another rural sitcom and use this sitcom as a starring vehicle for Bea Benaderet. 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. Benaderet died on October 13, 1968, of lung cancer and pneumonia. 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. Ironically, if you look at Petticoat Junction promotional material, you usually see Higgins sitting on Edgar Buchanan. 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. Lucy had burdens and had her heart broken. 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 Benny, Burns and Allen, and Lucille Ball. 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! Ruth had loads of fond memories from visiting her grandmother. Did you know about Bea Benaderet and Petticoat Junction? Click the bell icon to get notifications from FactsVerse and watch more pop culture videos and interesting stories. [61][62] After reading the 1961 first script for The Beverly Hillbillies, Benaderet wanted to audition for the role of Granny. Kate Bradely stopped appearing in some episodes of Petticoat Junction so that Bea could look after her health. 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. Casting for the Bradley trio wasnt easy, and show creator Paul Henning auditioned no less than 1,500 women. 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. Legendary actress Bea Benaderet began her starring role as Kate Bradley on the hit sitcom "Petticoat Junction" in 1963 and proceeded with the part until the time of her death. She also wanted to try her luck in cinema and was eager to see where else her voice acting talents could take her. [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". Some theorists even [] More, Are you a fan of sitcom My Three Sons? Find where to watch Bea Benaderet's latest movies and tv shows . CREATIVE. [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. Let's look back at Bea Benaderet's incredible life and career and her final episodes of . June Lockhart joined Petticoat Junction after Benaderet's departure. Bea Benaderet's Volunteering This reputation would help her land more work in the future and made her a joy to work with. Bea Benaderet (born Beatrice Benaderet; April 4, 1906 October 13, 1968) was an American actress who was the original voice of Betty Rubbleduring the first four seasons of the original series,The Flintstones. | Photo: YouTube/CLASSIC COMEDY CHANNEL. So, Henning went right back to the Rural Gold Mine and out popped Green Acres. She missed 10 episodes, but they yearned to keep Bea on, so they didn't write the character out. 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. The voice actors for the US animated sitcom 'The Flintstones', circa 1962. Did you watch any of the other rural henning creations? [87][88] Benaderet returned for the March 30 fifth-season finale "Kate's Homecoming",[89] 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. He wanted to continue working with her as the two of them eventually transitioned to the television industry. The Flintstones, and her best known role .