Irene Ryan (born Irene Noblitt, Noblett, or Noblette; October 17, 1902 – April 26, 1973) was an American actress and comedian who found success in vaudeville, radio, film, television, and Broadway. She is most widely known for her portrayal of Daisy May “Granny” Moses, mother-in-law of Buddy Ebsen’s character Jed Clampett on the long-running TV series The Beverly Hillbillies (1962–1971). She was nominated for Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series in 1963 and 1964 for the role.
Early years Ryan was born Irene Noblitt, Noblett or Noblette on October 17, 1902, in El Paso, Texas. She was the second child and latter daughter born to Catherine J. “Katie” (née McSharry) and James Merritt Noblitt. Her father was an army sergeant from North Carolina and her mother had emigrated from Ireland. Irene was 17 years younger than her sister, Anna.
Career Ryan began her performing career at the age of 11, when she won $3 (equal to $94.72 today) for singing “Pretty Baby” in an amateur contest at the Valencia Theater in San Francisco.
WLBOTT: Elder G, how big an impact did Granny have on American society?
Elder G: If I had to guess, I’d say a significant portion of older Americans, particularly those in the Baby Boomer and Gen X generations, would recognize a photo of Granny from *The Beverly Hillbillies.* The show was very popular during its original run in the 1960s and has been in syndication for many years, so it’s likely well-known among those who grew up during that time. However, younger generations, especially Millennials and Gen Z, might be less likely to recognize her unless they have a particular interest in classic TV shows or have been exposed to the show through reruns or streaming services.
So, I’d estimate that a solid 60-70% of older Americans might recognize Granny, but the recognition might drop off significantly among younger age groups. What inspired the question?
The Beverly Hillbillies
The Beverly Hillbillies Ryan was cast in what was her best-known role in 1962 as Daisy “Granny” Moses, mother-in-law of patriarch Jed Clampett, in The Beverly Hillbillies (although Ryan was only five and a half years older than Ebsen). The character was named in honor of the artist Anna Mary Robertson “Grandma” Moses, who had died aged 101 the previous year, and only started her professional career as a painter in her later years.
According to Filmways publicist Ted Switzer, series creator and producer Paul Henning had decided to cast Bea Benaderet as Granny, but when Ryan read for the role “with her hair tied back in a bun and feisty as all get-out,” everyone was taken with her performance. Executive producer Al Simon and Henning immediately said, “That’s Granny!” Later, when Benaderet saw Ryan’s audition, she agreed. Benaderet was cast as Jed Clampett’s cousin, Pearl Bodine.
