In the show's final two seasons, Gerry Johnson was the voice of Betty Rubble. Of course, Benaderet was no newcomer. Some theorists even [] More, Are you a fan of sitcom My Three Sons? Get the best viral stories straight into your inbox! [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. He wanted to continue working with her as the two of them eventually transitioned to the television industry. But her best work was arguably in a show created by Paul Henning. Oddly enough, the switch might have been unnecessary, since years later their major spokes model Marilyn Chambers ended up doing a very similar shoot. 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. Did you know about Bea Benaderet and Petticoat Junction? [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. [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. Born 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. Why did she leave the show? Facts Verse February 19, 2023, 6:17 am, by [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. June 20, 2021, 9:06 am, by Publicity photo of Bea Benadaret, circa 1966. "I think it is the most wonderful profession in the world. [70] CBS promoted the show's September 22, 1963, premiere with a print ad featuring an Al Hirschfeld caricature of Benaderet as Cousin Pearl. [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). [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. She appeared in plays such as Uncle Toms Cabin and Polly Lysistrata. Married to her second husband, Gene Twombly at the time, he passed four days after her death from a heart attack. She cut down on smoking and started to improve her health. 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. . Sadly, we didnt see Kate after the fifth season as Bea Benaderet passed away from lung cancer. 1960s sitcom fans owe a lot to one man: Paul Henning, the man behind The Beverly Hillbillies. She remained the professional shed always been, and her co-stars loved working with her. Lucy had burdens and had her heart broken. In fact, that hotel had everything the train, even the setting details came from that real location. March 28, 2021, 6:21 am, by [90] However, her condition dramatically declined; on September 26, chest pains related to her illness forced her to return to the hospital for the final time. '"[49][50] Benaderet garnered two Primetime Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series in 1954 and 1955. [68] Cousin Pearl was consequently written out of the Beverly Hillbillies storyline as having moved back home. She also studied acting at his school. 2, including Jack Bannon. 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. The show revolved around Kate Bradleys family where they lived in the fictional town of Hooterville, with the only transportation in or out town being an old steam engine. [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? Bea's big break as a comedian came three years later on Jack Benny's show. Goldmark & Granata (2002), pg. 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. Benaderet voiced various one-time parts before joining the main cast as Iris, neighbor and friend of Ball's character Liz Cooper. And while Williams sadly is no longer with us, Pam Dawber is still alive and well. And all that reminiscing beautifully rounded out the Shady Rest. [61][62] After reading the 1961 first script for The Beverly Hillbillies, Benaderet wanted to audition for the role of Granny. Casting for the Bradley trio wasnt easy, and show creator Paul Henning auditioned no less than 1,500 women. Bea Benaderet was an American actress, born in New York City and raised in San Francisco, California. Benaderet was diagnosed with cancer in 1967, which led to her departure from Petticoat Junction in what was hoped would be a temporary absence, during which time Rosemary DeCamp was brought in to play "Aunt Helen" in scripts obviously written for Benaderet's character Kate. 1966. In the early 1940s, Bea Benaderet began the next phase of her career as a voice actress. This reputation would help her land more work in the future and made her a joy to work with. Bea Benaderet was born on the fourth of April, 1906, in New York City. Bea was famous for her sound long before most people knew what she looked like. Background information In fact, Bea Benaderets last episode of Petticoat Junction is hard to watch knowing that she suffered from lung cancer. She appeared in several short films for Warner Bros. often voicing female supporting characters in the Looney Tunes shorts. ANSWER: Actress Bea Benaderet (Kate) died of lung cancer in 1968 while Petticoat Junction was still in production. She works at the Los Angeles Zoo as a docent. 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. 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. "I tell you the people who watched it really identified with it because they lived those lives," she told the LA Times in 2008. Why did Bea Benaderet leave Petticoat Junction? | Photo: YouTube/CLASSIC COMEDY CHANNEL. Jim Bannon(m. 1938; div. January 19, 2022, 6:17 pm, by 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 . Career Yeah, Id say the resemblance is pretty strong! 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. When a sitcom universe spans three shows, everyone can feel like family. [84] Diagnosed with lung cancer, Benaderet underwent six weeks of laser radiation treatment via a linear particle accelerator at Stanford University Medical Center. Petticoat Junction took a lot of people by surprise with how long it lasted. Her major breaks in radio came on The Jack Benny Program and as a member of Orson Welles's Mercury Theatre repertory company. But actually, Buchanan was the only cast member that Higgins behaved for. Why did Bea Benaderet leave the bachelorette? The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis. Facts Verse There was no planned big grand finale to begin with. 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. 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. But if you look closely, you can see the toll the treatment took, as shes noticeably thinner and weaker. 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. She missed 10 episodes, but they yearned to keep Bea on, so they didn't write the character out. Pronunciation of Bea benaderet with 3 audio pronunciations, 1 meaning, 1 translation, 2 sentences and more for Bea benaderet. . " She was one of the actresses to lend her voice to Betty Rubble on The Flintstones. [71] Linda Henning and Benaderet's son, Jack Bannon, were members of a young actors' theater group at the time. Died Animator Chuck Jones praised Bea Benaderet for her portrayal as Mama Bear and her incredible range as a voice actress. [78], Benaderet and her first husband, actor Jim Bannon, met while employed at KHJ in Los Angeles. The voice actors for the US animated sitcom 'The Flintstones', circa 1962. January 27, 2023, 7:28 pm, by Henning once said the Shady Rest was based on a real hotel in Eldon, Missouri run by Ruths grandmother. "That was what they wanted to see. [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. Beatrice BenaderetApril 4, 1906New York City, New York, U.S. Her father Samuel was a Turkish Jewish emigrant and her mother Margaret was Irish-American. Rosemary DeCamp was brought in as a temporary replacement, to play the Bradley girls' Aunt Helen. Edgar Buchanan and Linda Henning were in all 222 episodes. AmoMama creates engaging, meaningful content for women. [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. And thats exactly how we got the plot for. From this young age, she decided that she wanted to pursue acting as a full-time career. Benaderet first specialized in voiceover work in the golden age of radio . 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. ': 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 was, in my opinion, a fine judge of material. Chest pains related to her sickness required her to come back to the hospital for the last time. At the age of 9, she moved with her family to San Francisco where she would grow up. 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 . [45] She was the only secondary cast member who appeared in every episode[16] and the first six shows were shot live in New York, resulting in Benaderet commuting to Los Angeles, where she was working several radio assignments at the time. Before long, Bea Benaderet had become a household name both in theater and radio. Or has the show become dated and wont resonate with a newer generation? Facts Verse [3], Benaderet continued her Burns & Allen radio role of the Burns' neighbor Blanche Morton, Gracie's friend and staunchest supporter in her escapades. She has to walk a fine line between being humorous and tender. [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. 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. Benaderet first specialized in voiceover work in the golden age . If the character of Sam Drucker looks familiar, thats because he and his actor Frank Cady have been in ALL 3 Paul Henning creations. 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. 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. [41] 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. The Flintstones are a typical suburban family that just happens to live in the stone-age. Bea was buried in Valhalla Memorial Park Cemetery in North Hollywood. She initiated her acting journey after performing in Bay Area theatre and various radio shows before she embarked on the Hollywood. Before going into acting, hed actually been a very successful dentist! Bea Benaderet. After her role on that classic sitcom ended, Jan became more interested in being a mother than being an actress. Bea Benaderet. 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. [42] In 1955, she was succeeded by June Foray as Warner's premier female voice artist. She later co-starred with fellow Looney Tunes voice actor Mel Blanc as the voices of Betty and Barney Rubble in The Flintstones. 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. In the 1960s, she became well known for playing Wilma in the sitcom Peter Loves Mary. Select from premium Bea Benaderet of the highest quality. The show was a success due to its excellent writing and directing. Unfortunately, the cancer continued to grow and took its toll on her. Fred, a big fan of golf and bowling, also enjoyed bullying neighbor Barney Rubble, while Barney's saucy wife Betty was best friends . And shed be the only of the three young gals to stay the entire length of the show. Married to her second husband, Gene Twombly at the time, he passed four days after her death from a heart attack. "[120], Keeping the spelling of her surname, which has been misspelled as Benederet or Benadaret,[96] was a choice she had to make. [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. 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. At first, this looks like a reference to the man vs dog rivalry they had going on. [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. Please fill in your e-mail so we can share with you our top stories! Who was 'Pearl Pearl Pearl' used as a love song for? 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. Facts Verse [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. 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. June Foray, Bea Benaderet, Gerry Johnson are the voices of Betty Rubble in The Flintstones, and Mariko Mukai is the Japanese voice. [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. Filmography The Flintstones - Betty Rubble (Seasons 1-4) Categories Community content is available under CC-BY-SA unless otherwise noted. 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. Hootervilles Druckers General Store has one dedicated shopkeeper! Beverly Hillbillies was such an immediate hit, it spawned the creation of Petticoat Junction. Busch, Noel F. (February 3, 1947). 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. "[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. Benaderet made one final appearance as Pearl in the October 11, 1967 fifth-season episode "Greetings From the President". Popular, by Bea Benaderet as Kate Bradley on the hit sitcom "Petticoat Junction," circa 1960s. See Bea Benaderet full list of movies and tv shows from their career. She began her career in radio on The Jack Benny Program and as a member of Orson Welles's Mercury Theatre repertory company. She was chosen from 200 actresses for the part of a government file clerk in Alfred Hitchcock's Notorious (1946) and completed filming in half an hour, but her scenes were cut from the final print. She opposed quick exploratory medical procedure as she was filming the fifth season of "Petticoat Junction" at the time. Her other film credits include roles in Tender Is the Night and the TV movie OConners Ocean. [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. [7] They married in August 1938 and had two children: Jack (19402017),[79] and Maggie (b. [77] On Irving Taylor's novelty album Drink Along with Irving (1960), she duetted with Elvia Allman and Mel Blanc, respectively, on tracks titled "Sub-Bourbon Living" and "Separate Bar Stools". . 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). However, in November 1967, it had returned and grown in size. Betty Rubble VOICE. She had a brief role as a File Clerk in Alfred Hitchcocks Notorious. She was one of the few female voice artists associated with Warner Bros studio in its early days. Its the Ladybugs, led by Billie, Bobbie, and Betty Jo themselves! The Flintstones. . On October 13, 1968, at the age of sixty-two, Bea lost her battle with cancer at the Good Samaritan Hospital in Los Angeles. They just never use it. Her occupation is listed as such in the 1940 U.S. census. Bea was part of the The Players Guild run by Reginald Travers. Bea Benaderet . 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. But if you look closely, you can see the toll the treatment took, as shes noticeably thinner and weaker. This made her realize that she had a gift for entertaining others. Her treatment was effective and finished up in January 1968. American Oddly enough, the switch might have been unnecessary, since years later their major spokes model Marilyn Chambers ended up doing a very similar shoot. Did you watch any of the other rural henning creations? ", Gale Gordon and Bea Benaderet performing in Granby's Green Acres in 1950. 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. 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. Now 76, visitors still recognize her to this day. So, why didnt she join the Shady Rest Hotel? While the show went on, it wasnt the same without Bea Benaderet. She is the black-haired wife of caveman Barney Rubble and the adoptive mother of Bamm-Bamm Rubble. "She had an infallible eye for a script and for a character. "[29] It was misspelled in a 1946 press release created specifically about its proper spelling,[122] and Radio Life wrote in 1947: "If someone were to conduct a survey to decide the radio personality with the most frequently misspelled name, Bea Benaderet would probably win hands down. If you liked this story, hit the like button and be sure to Subscribe to FactsVerse for more great stories! Paul Henning had dreams of a sequel, and his wife Ruth gave him the ammunition. And I asked her to read the script and she . [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. Date Of Birth: Apr 4, 1906. In 1936, she started her profession in network radio, becoming a regular member of Orson Welles' performing company on "The Campbell Playhouse. [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. Alternate names Lung cancer But she ended up spilling the beans on one of the most embarrassing chapters of her life instead. Throughout its 7 season run, Petticoat Junction had a few noteworthy cast changes. 146 (Segment by. She attended the Reginald Travis School of Acting in the same city. Nevertheless, she worked hard till the very end and is remembered as a brilliant actress and a consummate professional. S.Z., Kissimmee. In fact, that hotel had everything the train, even the setting details came from that real location. [55] Benaderet considered herself "lucky" to be cast in another series out of fear that she had become too closely associated with Burns & Allen. Beatrice "Bea" Benaderet was an American actress born in New York City and raised in San Francisco, California.