Max Baer Jr: The Man Behind Jethro Bodine

Names like Max Baer Jr. may not have the popularity they once did in the 60s and 70s, but there’s a lot to learn from his success and tenacity. Although he strongly disagrees, Baer Jr. is a classic example of Hollywood typecasting. Anyone who remembers the actor would almost certainly know him for playing Jethro Bodine on the CBS sitcom The Beverly Hillbillies.

However, unlike the fate of most typecast actors in Hollywood, Baer Jr. was able to turn his fortune around. He’s also one of the few surviving television actors from the golden age of Hollywood. Baer Jr. has long proven he’s more than just the face behind Jethro Bodine. Here’s a look at the life and career of Max Baer Jr.

Max Baer Jr’s Early Years
The actor was born Maximilian Adelbert Baer Jr. to Max Baer and Mary Ellen Sullivan in Oakland, California, on December 4, 1937. He grew up with his two siblings, James Manny Baer and Maude Baer. Baer Jr. came from a family with Jewish and European ancestry. He had German Jewish roots from his father’s side, with his mother being of Irish descent.

Growing up, Baer Jr. was exceptionally gifted in sports. In High School, he twice won junior titles at the Sacramento Open golf tournament and earned letters in four sports. To put things in perspective, Baer Jr. participated Sacramento’s Christian Brothers High School. The school is known for having several famous sports alumni like Jim Cox, Gary Hoffman, John McNamara, Andy Fox, and Asante Cleveland. So, having letters in four sports in a school with high sports talents is no easy feat. He participated and graduated from Santa Clara University with a degree in Business Administration and a minor in Philosophy.

Max Baer Jr. Began His Acting Career In Theater
Although starting a career in theater is a common career path for many European actors, American actors often begin their careers in television or film. Committed to pursuing a career as an actor, Baer Jr. had his first acting role in a stage play in England in 1949. He had traveled to England and was cast in the Goldilocks and the Three Bears play at the Blackpool Pavilion.

He Guest-Starred On Several Warner Bros. TV Programs
Like many before actors and after him, Max Baer Jr. didn’t become famous and successful immediately after his career kicked off. Besides his stage performance in 1949, Baer Jr.’s professional acting credits began in 1960. Desperate to succeed in a career away from his father’s spotlight, Baer Jr. participated in several auditions before landing his first role.

In 1960, he landed several roles in a few Warner Bros. programs. programs. These include Maverick, Surfside 6, Cheyenne, Hawaiian Eye, and 77 Sunset Strip. He guest-starred on the programs the following year and also landed a few new guest star roles. However, Baer Jr.’s perseverance and dedication to his career eventually paid off in 1962.

Max Baer Jr In The Beverly Hillbillies
Max Baer Jr. landed his career-changing role by sheer luck. He offered to drive his roommate to an audition for the role of Jethro Bodine. While at the audition, when the opportunity came to try out for the role, he also auditioned. However, he wasn’t given lines to read. He was told to chase a bird around the set, but his mannerisms, facial expressions, and gestures caught the attention of the producers. Before the audition, Baer Jr. never spoke in a hillbilly accent. Between the time he was offered the role and the first day of filming, the actor spent millions of hours brushing up his hillbilly accent.

It was at the show he met actor Buddy Ebsen, who became his acting mentor and friend. Ebsen played Baer Jr.’s character’s uncle, Jed Clampett. Arguably, Baer Jr’s character, Jethro Bodine, was the glue that held The Beverly Hillbillies show together for 9 seasons. The dimwitted character left the audiences glued to their seats with laughter. Baer Jr. appeared in 273 of 274 episodes of the show from 1962 to 1971. With the death of Donna Douglas (who played Elly May Clampett) on January 1, 2015, at 82, Max Baer Jr is the only surviving main cast member of The Beverly Hillbillies TV shows.

His Work As A Director And Producer
The Beverly Hillbillies may have brought Max Baer Jr fame and riches, but it left him typecast in Hollywood. After the show ended in 1971, Baer Jr. Struggling to land a major role in television or film. With no decent role forthcoming, Baer Jr. chose to write, produce, and direct his own film. He made the independent film, Macon County Line (1974) on a $110,000 budget. According to Baer Jr., he put all he had into the movie and would have had to begin selling door-to-door if the movie had failed.