Bea Benaderet (April 4, 1906 - October 13, 1968)

Bea Benaderet had one of the most amazing voices for radio that I have ever heard. She began in 1936 on Orson Welles' program "The Campbell Playhouse." From there she became a staple on all the hit programs including "Fibber McGee & Molly", "The Jack Benny Program", "Suspense", "Amos 'N Andy", "The Great Gildersleeve", and "The Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet." Benaderet also became extremely well known when she lent her voice to the "Looney Tunes" and "Merrie Melodies" productions as Granny in the Sylvester and Tweety Bird adventures among other roles. Her two largest regular roles on radio were as Blanche Baker Morton on "The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show" and as Iris Atterbury on "My Favorite Husband." In addition to Iris Atterbury she could also sometimes be heard as Sally, Liz's beautician, Leticia Cooper, Liz's mother-in-law and other small roles such as sales clerks and librarians. At one point she appeared with co-star Gale Gordon in the program "Canby's Green Acres" but it was cancelled after only a few shows. The premise would later be retooled and become television's "Green Acres" in 1965. In 1950, George Burns moved his program to television and Benaderet joined the cast. A year later Lucille Ball's creative team put together "I Love Lucy" for television and Ball wanted Benaderet to play the role of Ethel Mertz. Because of her obligation to Burns and Allen she turned the part down. It of course later went to Vivian Vance. Benaderet did make one guest appearance during the show's first season however. She played Miss Lewis, a neighbor of the Ricardos who had a crush on the grocer Mr. Ritter (Edward Everett Horton). Television guest appearances are also on Benaderet's resume. She appeared on "Password", "The Jack Benny Program", "The Life of Riley", "General Electric Theater", "77 Sunset Strip", "The Dinah Shore Chevy Show", "The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis"and "The Danny Kaye Show." In 1957 She made television history by becoming one of the first people to cross her character over onto another program. In an episode of "The Bob Cummings Show" Bob meets Blanche and Harry Morton (Larry Keating) from "The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show." For a long time I thought that Ann Sothern's appearance as Susie MacNamara on "The Ford Lucille Ball-Desi Arnaz Show" was the first cross over but these facts prove otherwise. Also in 1957 Benaderet did double duty in an episode of "Burns and Allen"by playing both Blanche and her mother Natalie Baker. Gracie Allen retired in 1958 due to poor health and the show was retitled "The George Burns Show." Without Gracie however ratings dropped and the series ended in 1959. As the 1960's rolled around she began providing the voice of Betty Rubble on the cartoon "The Flintstones." She voiced Betty from 1960 to 1964. Other animated appearances included "The Jetsons", "Top Cat" and "The Famous Adventures of Mr. Magoo." In 1962 former "Burns and Allen" writer Paul Henning developed a sitcom for CBS entitled "The Beverly Hillbillies." Actor Buddy Ebsen was cast in the lead role of Jed Clampett. Henning wanted Benaderet to play Jed's fiesty mother-in-law Daisy "Granny" Moses but Benaderet recommend the frail but firery Irene Ryan for the job. In the end Ryan played Granny and Benaderet was given the role of Cousin Pearl Bodine. If anyone can figure out the family blood line please let me know. Sometimes Jed referred to her as his sister other times as his cousin??? Benaderet played Pearl for the 1962-1963 season before she was given the role of Kate Bradley on the spin-off series "Petticoat Junction." It was the first time Benaderet was given "star" billing and it was long over due. In 1965, the spin-off "Green Acres" began featuring Eddie Albert and Eva Gabor in the lead roles. During the 1965-1966 season Benaderet appeared on both programs regularly. In 1967 the actress became ill with lung cancer and needed time off. Actress Rosemary DeCamp was brought in to play Aunt Helen, Kate's sister during her absence. Also, actress Shirley Mitchell appeared in a few episodes as Cousin Mae Belle Jennings to try and fill the void. Benaderet also returned to "The Beverly Hillbilles" for one last time in October 1967 making a single guest appearance as Cousin Pearl." Benaderet was able to return for a few episodes of "Petticoat Junction" in mid-1968 but eventually passed away in October of that year. In the final episode in which "Kate Bradley" appears a different actress is used who is seen only from behind and has no dialogue. Actress June Lockhart entered the scene in late fall of 1968 to step in as the "mother figure." The show lasted two more season and was cancelled in the spring of 1970. Ironically the final episode aired on April 4, 1970...which would have been Benaderet's 64th birthday. I've said it before and I'll say it again, God Bless character actors. They are what made all these productions the treasures that they became. The stars shine bright always...but the supporting players always made sure that the lights never dimmed.