11 Surprising Facts About Jethro Bodine from ‘The Beverly Hillbillies’

Television audiences adored every member of “The Beverly Hillbillies” cast, from Buddy Ebsen portraying Jed Clampett and Irene Ryan playing Granny, to Donna Douglas as Elly May Clampett and Max Baer Jr. as the lovable Jethro Bodine. Of them all, only Max Baer Jr. is still with us today.

In 1963, a year after “The Beverly Hillbillies” debuted, Max Baer Jr. spoke to the media with optimism about his future. He noted, “We Baers never wound up exactly the way we hoped we would. My grandfather wanted to be a prizefighter but became a butcher. My dad aimed for an acting career but became a boxer. I wanted to be a lawyer, yet here I am acting.” He appreciated the exposure the show brought, hoping it would secure future roles eventually allowing him to prove his range beyond the hillbilly character.

Though he didn’t get many chances to break away from his iconic role, Baer Jr. successfully transitioned to behind-the-scenes work, finding substantial success.

Born on December 4, 1937, in Oakland, California, Max Baer Jr. was the son of boxing heavyweight champion Max Baer and Mary Ellen Sullivan. During high school at Christian Brothers in Sacramento, he excelled in four sports. He later served as a medical technician in the United States Air Force at Gunter Air Force Base in Alabama, eventually earning a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a minor in philosophy from Santa Clara University—quite a stretch from Jethro Bodine’s persona.

His full name is Maximillian Adalbert Baer Jr., and while he briefly tried to follow his father’s footsteps in boxing, he quickly moved away from the ring.

Baer Jr. excelled in golf during high school, winning the junior title at the Sacramento Open golf tournament twice. Although talented, he chose not to pursue golf professionally, even after winning the pro-am tournament at the Andy Williams–San Diego Open in 1968.

His acting career began with a contract at Warner Bros in 1960, leading to roles in numerous TV series such as “Hawaiian Eye,” “Cheyenne,” “77 Sunset Strip,” and “Maverick.”

Landing the role of Jethro Bodine on “The Beverly Hillbillies” dramatically changed his life. The “St. Louis Post-Dispatch” reported in 1963 that six months prior, Baer Jr. was struggling financially, surviving on a quart of milk for four days and wearing a single threadbare suit. He was two months behind on rent and had lost a significant amount of weight.

Despite the critics’ negativity towards “The Beverly Hillbillies,” Baer attributed the show’s success to its creator, Paul Henning. Baer mimicked the comedic styles of Jonathan Winters and Andy Griffith to define Jethro’s character, adopting a general Southern accent rather than representing a specific region.

Despite the show’s success, typecasting made it difficult for Baer to find acting work after it ended in 1971. Appearing on “The Jerry Springer Show,” he explained the challenges of being pigeonholed as Jethro, noting that offers he received post-show were primarily for similar roles, which he wanted to avoid.

Shifting gears, Baer explored writing, producing, and directing. His first significant behind-the-camera success was the 1974 film “Macon County Line,” in which he also starred as a vengeful sheriff. The movie, produced on a modest budget of under $200,000, grossed about $30 million.

In 1976, Baer produced and directed “Ode to Billy Joe,” based on Bobbie Gentry’s song. The film, starring Robby Benson and Glynnis O’Connor, was another success, made for $1.1 million but grossing $27 million. Baer credited its success to its title’s familiarity.

In the 1980s, Baer pursued the idea of licensing “The Beverly Hillbillies” elements and the character of Jethro for restaurants and casinos, aiming to leverage the show’s nostalgic popularity, although the plan didn’t take off.

Regarding his personal life, Baer was married to Joanne Kathleen Hill from 1966 to 1971. He later lived with “Penthouse” model Chere Rhodes, who tragically committed suicide in their shared Lake Tahoe home in 2008. This December, Baer will celebrate his 87th birthday.

Source: particlesnews.com, CBS, MovieStillsDB.com, Earl Leaf/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images, Austrian Archives/Imagno/Getty Images