 |
Irene Ryan
Age: 70 (passed away Apr. 26th, 1973)
Height: 5' 2"
Birth Place: San Francisco, California, USA
Born: Oct. 17th, 1902
+ Add to My Celebs
|
Irene Ryan's Main TV Roles
NOTE: Complete List of Works can be found at
IMDB
BIOGRAPHY: Before being known to millions as "Granny" on The Beverly Hillbillies, Irene Ryan was an established vaudeville, radio and movie actress, though not as famous prior to her television stint. She was a part of Bob Hope's famous military tours and she was known as "the gal who makes Bob Hope laugh." After getting her role as "Granny", she became famous overnight. When the Hillbillies ended, she co-starred in the Broadway musical "Pippin" with Ben Vereen. Unfortunately, despite wonderful reviews from critics, Ryan took ill and died soon after at the age of 70.
TRIVIA:
- Interred at Woodlawn Cemetery, Santa Monica, California, USA.
- Commonly thought to have been born in El Paso, Texas, Irene was actually born in San Francisco, California. This is proven by personal records closer to the family, and census records. Though she may never have known it, Irene was a 3rd cousin once removed to another actress, Mary Castle, (born Mary Ann Noblett). Both had common ancestral roots in the Noblet - Noblitt - Noblett family of Appalachian Georgia and North Carolina, reaching back to Quaker immigrants from Ireland to Pennsylvania, and from Ireland to a centuries-long line of French lords named Noblet and Noblette.
- Co-starred on NBC Radio's "The Bob Hope Show" (1948-1950).
- After the cancellation of "The Beverly Hillbillies", she was offered a starring role in a proposed TV series in which she would have played a character similar to that of her Hillbillies character Granny. However, despite her interest in the idea of doing a new series, she decided to put the project on hold so that she could fulfill her dream of performing on Broadway. Ultimately, the proposed TV series never came into fruition, since her death in 1973 ended any chances of it being produced.
- Was appearing in her first Broadway musical, "Pippin", when she died from a stroke.
- Was posthumously nominated for Broadway's 1973 Tony Award as Best Supporting or Featured Actress (Musical) for "Pippin."
- Since 1972, College actors and actresses from all over America compete yearly for the prestigious "Irene Ryan Scholarships" (started by the Irene Ryan Foundation) at the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival
- When she didn't have her Granny make-up on, Irene Ryan often went unrecognized on the streets. Toured with Bob Hope's troupe during World War II.
Irene Ryan Photos | powered by  |
Previous |
Next (1)
Irene Ryan Fans [10]
Page created in 0.0721 seconds
Facebook
Twitter
