Irene Ryan was told she was ''too young'' to play Granny in The Beverly Hillbillies

[TMC]

https://www.metv.com/stories/at-firs...ly-hillbillies

The actress had to convince Paul Henning to give her an opportunity to audition.

[Duster76]

Another gem of an article from METV. That had to be something made up by a PR person for a press release to give the show some publicity. Ryan was 60 years old when the series began, there's nothing young about that. Wasn't Henning considering Bea Benaderet for the part, she was four years younger than Ryan!

[TheLittleFaerie]

Originally Posted by Duster76

Another gem of an article from METV. That had to be something made up by a PR person for a press release to give the show some publicity. Ryan was 60 years old when the series began, there's nothing young about that. Wasn't Henning considering Bea Benaderet for the part, she was four years younger than Ryan!

Granny's age on the show was mentioned as being 77 once, so maybe they were wanting someone more that age.... I think we often class anyone over 60 as virtually the same, but I think there is usually a big difference between a 60 year old and a 77 year old

[forn]

Well, whether or not there were reservations, she was very convincing in the role. The article mentioned she was nominated for two Emmys for playing Granny. For some reason that strikes me as funny, though I agree it is well deserved. Maybe because the material is so lightweight?

[Duster76]

Originally Posted by TheLittleFaerie

Granny's age on the show was mentioned as being 77 once, so maybe they were wanting someone more that age.... I think we often class anyone over 60 as virtually the same, but I think there is usually a big difference between a 60 year old and a 77 year old

Well, actually early in the show's run there was an episode where Granny had a line that went something like this, in all my 71 years..... . So when the show started she was 71. But to be honest that doesn't matter, casting older people to play younger people, or younger people to play older people was done all he time. It happened on two of Henning's shows. Elly May was somewhere in her late teens, Donna Douglas was 30 years old when the series started. Eleanor Audley played Eunice Douglas, Oliver's mother on Green Acres, she was 5 months older than Eddie Albert in real life. Lorne Greene was 44 when Bonanza started, he was 13 years older than the actors who played his sons Adam and Hoss. Based on what the expectations for the Granny character, there is no way anyone would be looking for an actress in their 70's to play the part. Bea Benaderet who was considered the favorite to get the role was 4 years younger than Ryan.

[TMC]

Originally Posted by forn

Well, whether or not there were reservations, she was very convincing in the role. The article mentioned she was nominated for two Emmys for playing Granny. For some reason that strikes me as funny, though I agree it is well deserved. Maybe because the material is so lightweight?

Irene Ryan would walk like Granny of ''The Beverly Hillbillies'' when she was tired

Ryan took a bit of Granny home with her.