During a routine medical checkup in the early 1960s, it was discovered that Bea had a spot on one of her lungs. 'Whos the Boss? Bea was on THE FLINTSONES only thru season 4 (1963 - 1964). Bea Benaderet made money by Actors niche. They can be enjoyed on their own of course, but fans enjoy the crossover episodes, too. She has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame honoring her work in television. [78], Benaderet and her first husband, actor Jim Bannon, met while employed at KHJ in Los Angeles. Left to right: Alan Reed as Fred Flintstone, Jean Vander Pyl . [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. In the years before her death, Bea had a remarkable career in radio and television. 2022524 He has also accomplished a ton in his career, including NBA Titles and individual records. 1950)Eugene Twombly(m. 1957; her death 1968) 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. Why did Bea Benaderet leave Petticoat Junction? However, in November 1967, it had returned and grown in size. 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. Its the Ladybugs, led by Billie, Bobbie, and Betty Jo themselves! Bea Benaderet was born on the fourth of April, 1906, in New York City. Facts Verse [43], Benaderet was Lucille Ball's first choice as Ethel Mertz for the sitcom I Love Lucy; Ball said in a 1984 interview that she had "no other picture of anyone" for the role. Henning once said the Shady Rest was based on a real hotel in Eldon, Missouri run by Ruths grandmother. Oddly enough, the switch might have been unnecessary, since years later their major spokes model Marilyn Chambers ended up doing a very similar shoot. The actress, whose career spanned four decades, was 62, according to the Los Angeles Times. Pearl played the piano for the silent movies and she saw such high fashion and ridiculous hairdos. . [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. Before going into acting, hed actually been a very successful dentist! February 19, 2023, 6:17 am, by Her best friend is her next-door neighbor Wilma Flintstone . Producers of the show eased concerns and said that she was out of town.. 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. 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. 2, including Jack Bannon. [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. Mork, of course, played by the late Robin Williams. As for just Petticoat Junction, with all its cast changes, only three actors were in all 7 seasons. [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. [102][103], Benaderet garnered praise for her mastery of dialects[92][104][105][106] and her work as a comedienne and character actress,[107][103][108] while she is recognized for her voice characterizations in animation. Publicity photo of Bea Benadaret, circa 1966. 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. She cut down on smoking and started to improve her health. And the jobs these cast members had to also have may surprise you Find out all this and more in our Nostalgia Suite, platinum bundle. Facts Verse Mrs. Whitney Dr. Ruth Martin In fact, Bea Benaderets last episode of Petticoat Junction is hard to watch knowing that she suffered from lung cancer. . She opposed quick exploratory medical procedure as she was filming the fifth season of "Petticoat Junction" at the time. "[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]. 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. Did you grow up watching the show Petticoat Junction? June Foray, Bea Benaderet, Gerry Johnson are the voices of Betty Rubble in The Flintstones, and Mariko Mukai is the Japanese voice. She appeared in a wide variety of television work, which included a starring role in the 1960s television series . Trending: 1,920th This Week. Get the best viral stories straight into your inbox! Incarnations View all 36 versions of Betty Rubble on BTVA. | Photo: Wikimedia Commons. "[120], Keeping the spelling of her surname, which has been misspelled as Benederet or Benadaret,[96] was a choice she had to make. [54], In the late 1940s, Benaderet befriended Paul Henning, a scriptwriter on the radio production of Burns & Allen. Date Of Death: Oct 13, 1968. 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. June Foray . Benaderet voiced various one-time parts before joining the main cast as Iris, neighbor and friend of Ball's character Liz Cooper. And even though Cady was in every season, he comes in third with 168. 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. Bea Benaderet was born on April 4, 1906 in New York City, NY. She performed in a variety of radio plays and involved in acting, singing, writing, and even producing. She actually completed some promotional shots for the show, but never filmed because it came out that she had done nude photos for Playboy. At first, this looks like a reference to the man vs dog rivalry they had going on. [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? 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. She had become successful through her voice now she wanted to become a familiar face in TV and film. Leave a Comment Cancel reply. Once her TV career began, she was on her way to becoming one of Americas biggest stars, Before we tell you more about Bea Benaderets life and career, please like this video and hit the subscribe button. In fact, that hotel had everything the train, even the setting details came from that real location. She reprised her role as the secretary Blanche in the TV show. Now, back to the video, _______________________________________________________________________. She had a powerful voice and had the ability to bring characters to life solely through audio performances. [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. "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. The show had been created with her in mind as the lead, by longtime friend Paul Henning. [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. Bea Benaderet (April 4, 1906 - October 13, 1968) was an American actress, born in New York City and raised in San Francisco, California. Beatrice Benaderet (/bndrt/ BEN--DERR-t; April 4, 1906 - October 13, 1968) was an American radio and television actress and voice actress. I also wonder what happened to the original Billie Jo. Previous Next. Facts Verse S.Z., Kissimmee. ANSWER: Actress Bea Benaderet (Kate) died of lung cancer in 1968 while Petticoat Junction.. . Nationality Some theorists even [] More, Are you a fan of sitcom My Three Sons? She was actually the first choice to play Ethel in I Love Lucy. 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. 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. Maybe this was a preview of things to come, because they split up five years later. "[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. Thats almost true. 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. Pennicoat Junction became a beloved and successful series and remained a favorite long after the last episode aired in 1969. [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. Share your thoughts in the comments, we read every one! From this young age, she decided that she wanted to pursue acting as a full-time career. She missed 10 episodes, but they yearned to keep Bea on, so they didn't write the character out. 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). 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. 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. Alison Pearce from Bewitched had an impressive career until her life got cut short, but not before she met the love of her life. She works at the Los Angeles Zoo as a docent. One of the most popular characters from the show was Kate Bradley played by Bea Benaderet. Cause of death [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". [84] Diagnosed with lung cancer, Benaderet underwent six weeks of laser radiation treatment via a linear particle accelerator at Stanford University Medical Center. September 14, 2021, 5:02 am, by But if you look closely, you can see the toll the treatment took, as shes noticeably thinner and weaker. because the scripts for the season 1 and season 4 Christmas specials were exactly the same. By the mid-1950s, she also began looking for on-screen work. 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Instead, they brought in Rosemary DeCamp to play Aunt Helen. [3], Benaderet continued her Burns & Allen radio role of the Burns' neighbor Blanche Morton, Gracie's friend and staunchest supporter in her escapades. 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. In the early 1940s, Bea Benaderet began the next phase of her career as a voice actress. [52], When Benaderet was cast in Petticoat Junction, she was hailed as having "finally" become a star. From a money pit 100 feet deep to Shakespearean manuscripts, the legendary finds on Oak Island have kept it in the news for centuries. Daws. 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 . 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. Vander Pyl recalled in 1994: "I said, 'Oh, I want to be Wilma!' Beatrice Benaderet was born on April 4, 1906,[1][2][3][note 1] in New York City. Do you think that Petticoat Junction still holds up today? 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. Of course, Benaderet was no newcomer. Ironically, if you look at Petticoat Junction promotional material, you usually see Higgins sitting on Edgar Buchanan. . 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. Career On October 13, 1968, at the age of sixty-two, Bea lost her battle with cancer at the Good Samaritan Hospital in Los Angeles. And I asked her to read the script and she . [2] On October 17, four days after her death and the day after her funeral, her husband Eugene Twombly died at the age of 54 from a massive heart attack[93] and was interred beside her. But the shows [] More, You might remember her as Mindy in the off-beat yet endearing 70s and 80s sitcom Mork and Mindy. [7] They married in August 1938 and had two children: Jack (19402017),[79] and Maggie (b. Bea was famous for her sound long before most people knew what she looked like. After graduating from high school, she decided to join an acting troupe to gain more experience working in theater. Her occupation is listed as such in the 1940 U.S. census. After her role on that classic sitcom ended, Jan became more interested in being a mother than being an actress. "Today's Channel Check". '"[64] He additionally took Benaderet's suggestion of casting Harriet MacGibbon as Granny's rival Margaret Drysdale. Beatrice Benaderet (/bndrt/ ben--DERR-t; April 4, 1906 - October 13, 1968) was an American actress and comedienne. March 28, 2021, 6:21 am, by What more could you ask for? 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! When Bea saw Irene Ryan at the audition, she told producer/creator Paul Henning, " There's your Granny! While Bea was becoming more popular among radio fans, she was eager to expand her horizons. Animator Chuck Jones praised Bea Benaderet for her portrayal as Mama Bear and her incredible range as a voice actress. The wedding episode between Betty Jo and Steve aired in November 1967. [55] Benaderet considered herself "lucky" to be cast in another series out of fear that she had become too closely associated with Burns & Allen. CBS Television Distribution. The character of Kate Bradley and Beas performance were so great, that it was decided not to cast another actress to play the role. "[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. | Photo: Wikimedia Commons Advertisement Instead, I discovered her in a series of satisfying revelations over the years. June 24, 2022, 6:34 am Died Oct. 13, 1968 of lung cancer in Good Samaritan Hospital, Calif. B ea Benaderet was an actress whose career spanned four decades but was probably best known for her comedic performances in. Prior to shooting the pilot, Benaderet enlisted a dialect coach to help her learn a hillbilly accent. While Robert Urich was famous for doing battle with tough foes on the screen. 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 . She had been a longtime smoker and it was discovered that she had lung cancer. In fact, Bea Benaderet's last episode of Petticoat Junction is hard to watch - knowing that she suffered from lung cancer. Bea Benaderet. Or has the show become dated and wont resonate with a newer generation? Find where to watch Bea Benaderet's latest movies and tv shows . Why did Bea benaderet leave the Flintstones? You come to life right away. 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. Bea Benaderet. Edgar Buchanan and Linda Henning were in all 222 episodes. They can be enjoyed on their own of course, but fans enjoy the crossover episodes, too. Having starred in such television programs as VEGA$ and Spenser: For Hire. In his own mind he believed he was the reason for the success of the show. Hit the bell icon to receive regular notifications! Uncle Joe himself, Edgar Buchanan, came into the show with a very unique skill set already. 19261968 [85] Initial plans were for her to record her voice to be inserted into future episodes. 1947). [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! [25] The 1950 CBS program Granby's Green Acres, a perceived spinoff of My Favorite Husband,[36] was her one radio lead role and reunited her with Gordon as a husband and wife who abandon city life to become farmers, but it lasted only eight episodes. Thats right, he was the titular Benji, still ready to help out anyone in need. 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. ANSWER: Actress Bea Benaderet (Kate) died of lung cancer in 1968 while Petticoat Junction was still in production. 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. January 28, 2023, 4:29 pm, by 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. "Bea Benaderet she was more than just a good actress," The Beverly Hillbillies creator shared. Ironically I only came to Bea Benaderet's (1906-1968) biggest, best and best-known role only recently. What was her character's 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. Throughout Monroe and Kennedys alleged affair, Lawford supposedly acted as a liaison for the President. In 1936, she started her profession in network radio, becoming a regular member of Orson Welles' performing company on "The Campbell Playhouse. [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. Bea's big break as a comedian came three years later on Jack Benny's show. A success one of Beas co-stars, Linda Henning, who played Betty Jo, attributed to the content of the show. 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. . Roughly a quarter million of these unlucky souls sustain injuries so severe that they end up dying. Facts Verse "Bea Benaderet Remembered". The actress was previously married to actor Jim Bannon. During her career, Bea received 125 acting credits, mostly in television series and includes voice-over work. She could read and write, and the curled hair seemed to Pearl the height of smartness. 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. But her best work was arguably in a show created by Paul Henning. Benaderet auditioned with past radio coworker Jean Vander Pyl for Betty and Wilma Flintstone by exchanging dialogue before the show's co-creator Joseph Barbera, who asked afterward what part they preferred. The segment then resumed and Benaderet struck Keating with the book. 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. January 27, 2023, 7:28 pm, by He was entombed beside her. Beatrice "Bea" Benaderet was an American actress born in New York City and raised in San Francisco, California. 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. Click the bell icon to get notifications from FactsVerse and watch more pop culture videos and interesting stories. She's Gracie's next door neighbor and best friend Blanche Morton on The George Burns and . [56] The same year, she was then cast as the voice of Betty Rubble in the Hanna-Barbera primetime animated series The Flintstones. 1960s sitcom fans owe a lot to one man: Paul Henning, the man behind. "The world had been unaware that [Benederet was] diagnosed with lung cancer in 1967. That's when June Lockhart was added to the show as Dr. Janet Craig, presumably. 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. Bea Benaderet passed away due to complications of lung cancer and pneumonia on October 13, 1968, in Los Angeles. [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. Throughout its 7 season run, Petticoat Junction had a few noteworthy cast changes. . So, lets dive into Petticoat Junction: How did a dog become the most famous cast member? '"[57] Benaderet voiced guest spots on the side for fellow Hanna-Barbera productions Top Cat and The Yogi Bear Show during 1961 and 1962. 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. In the 1960s, she became well known for playing Wilma in the sitcom Peter Loves Mary. She made her radio debut when she was 12 years young. Lets look back at Bea Benaderets incredible life and career and her final episodes of Petticoat Junction. 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. Petticoat Junction didnt play up its connection to Beverly Hillbillies as much until season 6. Nevertheless, she worked hard till the very end and is remembered as a brilliant actress and a consummate professional. Sadly, the cancer returned, and her condition declined. Kate Bradley was one of her most serious characters, but it was perhaps the role that helped Bea Benaderet showcase her talents best! She appeared in 2 episodes of The Bob Cummings Show which written by Paul Henning. 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. Birth Place: New York, New York, USA. 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. Hootervilles Druckers General Store has one dedicated shopkeeper! After she graduated from St. Rose Academy in San Francisco, Bea attended the Reginald Travis School of Acting. Probably the most harrowing was Bea Benaderets. by . I said yes". Facts Verse Benaderet first specialized in voiceover work in the golden age . This made her one of the most popular actresses on TV. . 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. RELATED: Petticoat Junction Cast Then And Now 2021. She landed her first professional role when she was 16 in a play called The Prince of Pilsen. Bea Benaderet is a late radio and TV actress and voice actress. Why did she leave the show? 1961 . 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.