Irene Ryan
| Irene Ryan | |
|---|---|
Irene Ryan and Edgar Buchanan in 1968 in The Beverly Hillbillies
|
|
| Born |
Jessie Irene Noblett October 17, 1902 El Paso, Texas, United States |
| Died | April 26, 1973 (aged 70) Santa Monica, California, United States |
| Cause of death | Glioblastoma, heart attack |
| Resting place | Woodlawn Memorial Cemetery, Santa Monica |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1913–1973 |
| Spouse(s) |
Tim Ryan (m. 1922–42); divorced Harold E. Knox (m. 1946–61); divorced |
Irene Ryan (born Jessie Irene Noblitt; October 17, 1902 – April 26, 1973) was an American actress who found success in vaudeville, radio, film, television, and Broadway.
Ryan is most widely known for her portrayal of Granny, the mother-in-law of Buddy Ebsen's character, on the long-running TV series The Beverly Hillbillies (1962–1971), for which she was nominated for Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series in 1963 and 1964.
Ryan was born Jessie Irene Noblitt on October 17, 1902, in El Paso, Texas. She was the second and last daughter born to Catherine "Katie" J. (née McSharry) and James Merritt Noblitt. Her father was an Army sergeant from North Carolina, and her mother had immigrated from her native Ireland. Her only sister Anna was older by 17 years.
Ryan began her career at the age of 11, after winning $3 for singing "Pretty Baby" in an amateur contest at the Valencia Theater in San Francisco.
At 20, she married writer-comedian Tim Ryan. They performed in vaudeville as a double act, known in show business as a "Dumb Dora" routine and epitomized by George Burns and Gracie Allen. (According to Jim Jordan Jr., while playing the same circuit as Marian and Jim Jordan, Ryan suggested they include more comedy and patter in their show, which led to the creation of Fibber McGee and Molly.)
Billed as "Tim and Irene", they had their own series of short subjects in the 1930s for Educational Pictures, and later worked in feature films for Monogram Pictures. Substituting for Jack Benny in 1936, they starred in The Jello Summer Show on NBC's Red Network. Recordings (made on 78 rpm 12-in lacquer disks) of the shows of September 20 and September 27 (the latter the last of the series) exist. Don Wilson was the announcer.
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