In the pilot episode of this beloved rags-to-riches sitcom, hayseed mountaineer Jed Clampett becomes an overnight multimillionaire when an oil-rich swamp is discovered on his property. With his newfound fortune, he uproots his family from their cabin in the Ozarks to a Beverly Hills mansion, and fish-out-of-water hijinks ensue — and thus The Beverly Hillbillies and their memorable cast or characters were born. (Fun Fact: Adjusting for inflation, the $25 million minimum payment the Clampetts were offered for their land would be equivalent to around $254 million today.)
When the show premiered in 1962, it was slammed by critics. But viewers disagreed, and the Clampetts quickly rose to the top of the Nielsen ratings. At the peak of its nine-season run, around 60 million viewers were tuning in each week — nearly one-third of the US population at that time. Even the theme song, “The Ballad of Jed Clampett,” was a hit, reaching the #1 spot on the Billboard Hot Country charts.
More than 60 years later, the show continues to reach new audiences through streaming services. So come and listen to a story… about the actors who made this show a beloved classic.
The Beverly Hillbillies cast and surprising facts
Here, catch up with the The Beverly Hillbillies cast, find out what they’re doing now and learn some fun trivia along the way.
Buddy Ebsen as Jed Clampett
After rising to fame as part of a vaudeville act with his sister, Buddy Ebsen carved out a career in film and television, including roles in Davy Crockett, Rawhide, The Twilight Zone, and Breakfast at Tiffany’s. He was known for his eccentric, loose-limbed style of dancing, which Walt Disney used as inspiration for animating Mickey Mouse in Disney’s Silly Symphonies and creating an early prototype of Disney ride animatronics.
After playing the family patriarch in The Beverly Hillbillies, Ebsen spent eight seasons as the titular detective on Barnaby Jones — a role he later revised as a cameo in the 1993 movie adaptation of The Beverly Hillbillies. Ebsen passed away from pneumonia on July 6, 2003, at the age of 95.
Did you know?
Ebsen was the original Tin Man in The Wizard of Oz. But a few days into filming, Ebsen had a severe reaction to the aluminum powder makeup and was rushed to the ER in respiratory distress. He recovered after a two-week hospitalization — but by then, the studio had replaced him with actor Jack Haley.
Irene Ryan as Daisy May “Granny” Moses
As a 14-year-old aspiring actress, Irene Ryan left high school and lied about her age to join a stock company in California. She went on to perform in musical comedy, variety, and vaudeville shows before starting a popular radio program, “Tim and Irene,” with then-husband Tim Ryan.
Only 60 years old when she landed the role of Granny Moses, Ryan had to wear makeup to appear older. She says she was rarely recognized on the street — until people heard her talk and recognized Granny’s unmistakable voice.
After falling ill during a performance of Pippin on Broadway in 1973 — a role that earned her a Tony nomination — Ryan flew home to California where she was diagnosed with a brain tumor. She passed away the following months at age 70.
Did you know?
With no surviving heirs, Ryan left her fortune to the Irene Ryan Foundation, which has been awarding scholarships to student actors since 1972. To this day, the foundation awards sixteen regional and two national scholarships each year.
Donna Douglas as Elly May Clampett
A former pageant queen from Louisiana — where she was crowned “Miss Baton Rouge” and “Miss New Orleans” — Donna Douglas was a relative newcomer in Hollywood when she was chosen to play the role of Jed Clampett’s daughter. Douglas credits her upbringing as a Southern tomboy with helping her to land the role — especially when she was asked to milk a goat at her audition!
After The Beverly Hillbillies ended, Douglas felt she was being typecast in provocative roles that didn’t align with her personal beliefs. She took a step back from acting, earned her real estate license, and recorded a few gospel albums. Douglas passed away on January 1, 2015 from pancreatic cancer.
Did you know?
In 2010, Mattel released the Classic TV Collection of Barbie dolls based on Samantha from Bewitched, Jeannie from I Dream of Jeannie, and Elly May Clampett. But Douglas wasn’t thrilled with her Barbie moment — she sued Mattel for unauthorized use of her likeness.
Max Baer Jr. as Jethro Bodine
The son of a heavyweight boxing champion Max Baer Jr. played the simpleton son of Jed Clampett’s cousin Pearl. But in real life, he bears little resemblance to his dimwitted character — he served as a medical technician in the US Air Force, and later earned a degree in business administration from Santa Clara University.
