After she completed filming the fifth season, Bea underwent the operation at Good Samaritan Hospital in Los Angeles, and a tumor was discovered that couldn't be removed. 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. Heisner, John (October 15, 1968). 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. [3][29] The following year she received her first big break in the industry on The Jack Benny Program, where she played Gertrude Gearshift, a wisecracking telephone operator who gossiped about Jack Benny with her cohort Mabel Flapsaddle (Sara Berner). . Bea Benaderet. With her radio performances, her voice became well-known throughout the country. [59] She appeared on the 19 episodes of the show he had written between 1947 and 1951. Now, back to the video, _______________________________________________________________________. [30][31][32] Intended as a one-time appearance, the pair became a recurring role starting in the 194546 season, and in early 1947, Benaderet and Berner momentarily took over the NBC switchboards in Hollywood for publicity photos. Bea Benaderet and the Path to Petticoat Junction - (Travalanche) She initiated her acting journey after performing in Bay Area theatre and various radio shows before she embarked on the Hollywood. [85] Initial plans were for her to record her voice to be inserted into future episodes. [119] Benaderet was good friends and a frequent collaborator with Mel Blanc, who wrote in his 1988 biography That's Not All Folks! Bea Benaderet they ended up marrying in September 1968. [68][94][95][96][13] She had previously played supporting roles throughout her career, usually as a next-door neighbor,[55][94][97] and had been openly averse to leading roles. Born I can walk on the set in the morning not thinking I can put one foot in front of the other, and then on stage, something happens. Kate Bradely stopped appearing in some episodes of Petticoat Junction so that Bea could look after her health. Benaderet first specialized in voiceover work in the golden age of radio . Incarnations View all 36 versions of Betty Rubble on BTVA. Bea was diagnosed with lung cancer and underwent weeks of laser radiation treatment at Stanford University Medical Center. Instead, its the nickname for a water stop near the hotel, and the nickname came together because the girls would leave their petticoats on the railway when they swam in the water tower. 7 things you might not know about Bea Benaderet: She was beloved from [84] Diagnosed with lung cancer, Benaderet underwent six weeks of laser radiation treatment via a linear particle accelerator at Stanford University Medical Center. But if you look closely, you can see the toll the treatment took, as shes noticeably thinner and weaker. Bea Benaderet - Wikipedia Share your thoughts in the comments, we read every one! [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. She is the black-haired wife of caveman Barney Rubble and the adoptive mother of Bamm-Bamm Rubble. Rosemary DeCamp was brought in as a temporary replacement, to play the Bradley girls' Aunt Helen. She's Gracie's next door neighbor and best friend Blanche Morton on The George Burns and . Bea Benaderet was born on April 4, 1906 in New York City, NY. 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. Was Higgins the pup your favorite character, too? [78], Benaderet and her first husband, actor Jim Bannon, met while employed at KHJ in Los Angeles. She performed in a variety of radio plays and involved in acting, singing, writing, and even producing. She was born in New York City but raised in San Francisco. . Before even seeing her face, we knew her voice from radio programs with Jack Benny and Mel Blanc. She wanted to focus on The Flintstones. [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. If the character of Sam Drucker looks familiar, thats because he and his actor Frank Cady have been in ALL 3 Paul Henning creations. Background information Married to her second husband, Gene Twombly at the time, he passed four days after her death from a heart attack. Date Of Birth: Apr 4, 1906. During a routine checkup, a spot was found on one of her lungs. At the time of her death, the Indianapolis Star reported Benaderet had completed filming for. 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. 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. [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. Bea Benaderet - timenote.info But actually, Buchanan was the only cast member that Higgins behaved for. Bea Benaderet | Looney Tunes Wiki | Fandom [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]. Bea Benaderet - Wikiwand Benaderet received her big break when she was cast as a regular on "The Jack Benny Program" (CBS 1932-1955) in 1939 and subsequently became a ubiquitous radio presence with high society matron Mrs Carstairs in "Fibber McGee and Molly" (NBC 1935-1959), nasal-voiced maid Gloria in "The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet" (CBS Radio 1944-1954) and Bea Benaderet | Ultimate Pop Culture Wiki | Fandom [61][62] After reading the 1961 first script for The Beverly Hillbillies, Benaderet wanted to audition for the role of Granny. As for the title, its not about an actual junction. Bea Benaderet - IMDb That's when June Lockhart was added to the show as Dr. Janet Craig, presumably. Roughly a quarter million of these unlucky souls sustain injuries so severe that they end up dying. Bea Benaderet in 1966. 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. From this young age, she decided that she wanted to pursue acting as a full-time career. Bea Benaderet look | RadioDiscussions In fact, it was Lucille Ball who originally wanted Bea Benaderet to take on the role. [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. She had become successful through her voice now she wanted to become a familiar face in TV and film. Facts Verse She also provided the voice for several Warner Brothers cartoons, usually for females (those Mel Blanc could not do), like Tweety's owner, "Granny". For Betty Jo, Bea Benaderet stepped in and finally suggested Hennings own daughter, Linda. [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. But we almost had actress and model Sharon Tate, who had been very quickly hailed as the most promising newcomer of her era, and later the tragic victim of the horrifying Manson cult murder spree. But her best work was arguably in a show created by Paul Henning. '"[49][50] Benaderet garnered two Primetime Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series in 1954 and 1955. 2, including Jack Bannon. The actress was previously married to actor Jim Bannon. RELATED: Petticoat Junction Cast Then And Now 2021. Bea Benaderet is a voice actor known for voicing Betty Rubble, Granny, and Witch Hazel. 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. Bea was buried in Valhalla Memorial Park Cemetery in North Hollywood. The character and Beas performance was so popular among audiences that the shows creators didnt wish to replace the character in the later seasons. 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! [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". Chest pains related to her sickness required her to come back to the hospital for the last time. "[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. Bea Benaderet (1906-1968) was originally considered for the role of Granny. | Source: Wikimedia Commons. Producers didnt want to risk losing their biggest sponsor, Ivory Soap, if and when word got out. Four days after her demise and the day after her burial service, Bea's husband, Eugene Twombly, passed away from a massive heart attack at 54 years of age. Bea Benaderet | The Flintstones | Fandom "I think it is the most wonderful profession in the world. Oak Island is a privately owned island that sits off the coast of Nova Scotia in Canada. 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. 'The Beverly Hillbillies': Bea Benaderet Wanted to Play Granny So Why So audiences may remember Benaderet for her role as Cousin Pearl Bodine in the show. Petticoat Junction Cast Then And Now 2021, Gregg Allmans Son Is Paying Tribute To His Dad With An Allman Family Revival Tour, Betty Whites Top 3 Secrets To Living To 99 Years Old. Why, hello there, and welcome to the Shady Rest Hoteland, of course, Petticoat Junction! "Jack Benny, Inc.: Comedian mixes a fiddle, a feud and stock characters in formula which has paid off for 15 years". But actually, Buchanan was the only cast member that Higgins behaved for. During her career, Bea received 125 acting credits, mostly in television series and includes voice-over work. I also wonder what happened to the original Billie Jo. ", "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. 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. February 19, 2023, 6:17 am, by Some theorists even [] More, Are you a fan of sitcom My Three Sons? She was one of the few female voice artists associated with Warner Bros studio in its early days. 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. Bea Benaderet's Volunteering Bea Benaderet made money by Actors niche. 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. Click the bell icon to get notifications from FactsVerse and watch more pop culture videos and interesting stories. Her major breaks in radio came on The Jack Benny Program and as a member of Orson Welles's Mercury Theatre repertory company. 'Petticoat Junction' cast mates say show's popularity was due to no We collect and tell stories of people from all around the world. 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. Jim Bannon(m. 1938; div. "Bea Benaderet she was more than just a good actress," The Beverly Hillbillies creator shared. Oddly enough, the switch might have been unnecessary, since years later their major spokes model Marilyn Chambers ended up doing a very similar shoot. [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? 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. click the Leave a Flower button. 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. She appeared in 2 episodes of The Bob Cummings Show which written by Paul Henning. 146 (Segment by. The wedding episode between Betty Jo and Steve aired in November 1967. [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. Beatrice Benaderet (BEN--DERR-t; April 4, 1906- October 13, 1968) was an American actress and comedienne. Died October 13, 1968 Biography Read More 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" (CBS 1950-1958), "The Beverly Hillbillies" (CBS 1962-1971) and "Petticoat Junction" (CBS 1963-1970). After her role on that classic sitcom ended, Jan became more interested in being a mother than being an actress. Margaret O'Keefe Benaderet (1888-1936) - Find a Grave Memorial The Flintstones Throughout Monroe and Kennedys alleged affair, Lawford supposedly acted as a liaison for the President. [12], Benaderet was raised Catholic and attended grade school at a Dominican convent. Her final 4 episodes aired in 1968. In the years before her death, Bea had a remarkable career in radio and television. Lucy had burdens and had her heart broken. 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. [42] In 1955, she was succeeded by June Foray as Warner's premier female voice artist. And is. The character of Kate Bradley and Beas performance were so great, that it was decided not to cast another actress to play the role. Did you grow up watching the show Petticoat Junction? June 20, 2021, 9:06 am, by Robin Williams Wanted His Children to Be Proud of Him Meet His 3 Kids Who He Cherished, Kate Spade Fell for Husband in University - She Referred to Him in Her Death Note to Her Daughter, 'M*A*S*H's Sally Kellerman Lost Husband & Daughter in 3 Months & Still 'Put on a Brave Front' Amid Grief, Ricky Nelsons Will Left 4 Kids Almost Nothing & They Became Successful Following in His Footsteps, Charlotte Rae's Husband Cheated on Her with Other Men He Could Not Marry His Love after Their Divorce, Susan Sullivan 'Forgot to Have Children' while Still Unmarried to Boyfriend of 34 Years, Woman Makes a Promise to Her Dying Husband, Gives Birth to His Twins 3 Years after His Death, Dennis Farina Never Revealed His Diagnosis In His Last Days, He Could Not Breathe, Zsa Zsa Gabor Was Buried Five Years after Her Death Inside Her Tragic Final Years, Ron Howard Was Most Concerned about His Kids' Values Inside His Decision to Protect Them, Mindy Cohns World Now after She Suddenly Felt Exhausted & Had to Fight for Her Life for 5 Years against Cancer, I Love Lucys Vivian Vance Was Afraid of Men & Rumored to Be a Lesbian - Meet Her 4 Spouses, Joan Rivers Spoke With Her Husband the Day Before He Was Found Lifeless With Tapes for Wife & Daughter, Kate Winslets 1st Husband Isolated Her from Family - She Divorced Him Shortly After Welcoming Their Baby. [43] Television [ edit] And even though Cady was in every season, he comes in third with 168. 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. She appeared in a wide variety of television work, which included a starring role in the 1960s television series . Thats right, he was the titular Benji, still ready to help out anyone in need. After graduating from high school, she decided to join an acting troupe to gain more experience working in theater. But she ended up spilling the beans on one of the most embarrassing chapters of her life instead. 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. Bea resumed her role as Kate Bradley in 1968, but after filming five episodes for the 1968-69 season, she left again, and this time, she didnt return. [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. Bea Benaderet is a late radio and TV actress and voice actress. Was Frances Bavier TVs Biggest Bitch??? - the DataLounge Years active June Foray . Hot Then they ended up marrying in September 1968. American In fact, that hotel had everything the train, even the setting details came from that real location. 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. show revolved around Kate Bradleys family, Alison Pearce from Bewitched had an impressive career. 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. [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. He would end up having to fight an even tougher battle [] More, What could be more mysterious than an island filled with buried treasure? [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! Residing in Bedrock, Fred Flintstone worked an unsatisfying quarry job, but returned home to lovely wife Wilma and eventually daughter Pebbles. In fact, that hotel had everything the train, even the setting details came from that real location. Bea Benaderet Nude Scenes - IFAPDB [12] The same year, he opened a smoke shop that operated for 65 years, making it the oldest such retailer in California at the time of its closure in 1980. [84] It was no longer visible at the time of her follow-up visit, but by November 1967, it had returned and grown in size. Popular Pages Check out the New Peacemaker Community Sponsored by This reputation would help her land more work in the future and made her a joy to work with. Family Members. Nevertheless, she worked hard till the very end and is remembered as a brilliant actress and a consummate professional. . Before going into acting, hed actually been a very successful dentist! [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. ': 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. She died. For all time, at the moment, 2023 year, Bea Benaderet earned $18 Million. Married to her second husband, Gene Twombly at the time, he passed four days after her death from a heart attack. | Photo: Wikimedia Commons. However, many audience members didnt realize that. So, lets dive into Petticoat Junction: How did a dog become the most famous cast member? By the mid-1950s, she also began looking for on-screen work. Her most famous roles included Granny in the film Tweetie Pie and Mama Bear in several of the Three Bears short films. January 28, 2023, 4:29 pm, by Before joining the Shady Rest Hotel, Bea Benaderet was a cartoon regular, specifically for Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies. Mrs. Whitney Dr. Ruth Martin . And thats exactly how we got the plot for Petticoat Junction. [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. At the age of 9, she moved with her family to San Francisco where she would grow up. 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! 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. So, Henning went right back to the Rural Gold Mine and out popped Green Acres. '"[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. CREATIVE. [13], The following year, her participation in a children's production of The Beggar's Opera resulted in a local radio station manager inviting her to a one-time performance on one of his programs, for which she was paid $10. Leave a Comment Cancel reply. [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. BEA BENADERET OF 'PETTICOAT' - Orlando Sentinel because the scripts for the season 1 and season 4 Christmas specials were exactly the same. 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. January 27, 2023, 7:28 pm, by Benaderet died on October 13, 1968, of lung cancer and pneumonia. 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. He wrote several episodes for the radio show and impressed by Beas talent. Its the Ladybugs, led by Billie, Bobbie, and Betty Jo themselves! [115], She is credited with over 1000 combined radio and television episode appearances,[107][116] which earned her the nickname of "Busy Bea" from members of the press.