You may not know the name, but I guarantee you know the face and have heard the voice MANY times!
As I said in the last post, Bea was Lucille Ball’s first choice for Ethel Mertz, but couldn’t get free to accept the role. She did appear on an episode of I Love Lucy, however, as shy Miss Lewis. At the time, Bea was nowhere near as old as the character Miss Lewis – (it was pretty obvious when you looked at her lovely face). The episode was titled “Lucy plays Cupid.”
She went on to play Pearl Bodine in “The Beverly Hillbillies”, as well as Kate Bradley on “Green Acres” and “Petticoat Junction.”
She also was the voice of Betty Rubble (and additional voices) on “The Flintstones”, and was Witch Hazel and Tweety Bird’s Granny until 1955! She apparently did most of the female voices on the early cartoons.
I had enjoyed this lady’s talent my whole life without ever knowing her real name. Now that I realize just how talented she was and how many different hats she actually wore, I’m even more of a fan!
When Bea died in 1968 of lung cancer, she was replaced on Petticoat Junction by former Lassie and Lost in Space co-star, June Lockhart.
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