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Irene Ryan

Irene Ryan

Born: 1902-10-17 • El Paso, Texas, USA

Before becoming known to millions as Granny on The Beverly Hillbillies (1962), Irene Ryan was already an established vaudeville, radio and movie actress, though not as famous prior to her television stint. She accompanied Bob Hope on his famous military tours and she was known as "the gal who makes Bob Hope laugh." After being cast 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, was discovered to have an inoperable brain tumor and died soon after at the age of 70.

Filmography
Don't Worry, We'll Think of a Title poster
Don't Worry, We'll Think of a Title
1966 • Granny (uncredited)
Desire in the Dust poster
Desire in the Dust
1960 • Nora Finney
Rockabilly Baby poster
Rockabilly Baby
1957 • Eunice Johnson
Spring Reunion poster
Spring Reunion
1957 • Miss Stapleton
Ricochet Romance poster
Ricochet Romance
1954 • Miss Clay
Blackbeard, the Pirate poster
Blackbeard, the Pirate
1952 • Alvina, a lady in waiting
The WAC from Walla Walla poster
The WAC from Walla Walla
1952 • WAC Sgt. Kearns
Bonzo Goes to College poster
Bonzo Goes to College
1952 • Nancy
Meet Me After the Show poster
Meet Me After the Show
1951 • Tillie
Half Angel poster
Half Angel
1951 • Nurse Kay
The Skipper Surprised His Wife poster
The Skipper Surprised His Wife
1950 • Mrs. O'Rourke (uncredited)
There's a Girl in My Heart poster
There's a Girl in My Heart
1949 • Mrs. Mullin
Mighty Joe Young poster
Mighty Joe Young
1949 • Southern Belle at the Bar (uncredited)
An Old-Fashioned Girl poster
An Old-Fashioned Girl
1949 • Mrs. Shaw
My Dear Secretary poster
My Dear Secretary
1948 • Mary
Texas, Brooklyn & Heaven poster
Texas, Brooklyn & Heaven
1948 • Opal Cheever
Arch of Triumph poster
Arch of Triumph
1948 • Irate Wife (uncredited)
Heading for Heaven poster
Heading for Heaven
1947 • Molly
The Woman on the Beach poster
The Woman on the Beach
1947 • Mrs. Mary Wernecke
Little Iodine poster
Little Iodine
1946 • Mrs. Tremble
The Diary of a Chambermaid poster
The Diary of a Chambermaid
1946 • Louise
That Night with You poster
That Night with You
1945 • Prudence
The Beautiful Cheat poster
The Beautiful Cheat
1945 • Miss Beatrice Kent
That's the Spirit poster
That's the Spirit
1945 • Bilson
San Diego I Love You poster
San Diego I Love You
1944 • Sheila Jones
Hot Rhythm poster
Hot Rhythm
1944 • Polly Kane (as Irene)
O, My Darling Clementine poster
O, My Darling Clementine
1943 • Irene (Princess Sheba)
The Sultan's Daughter poster
The Sultan's Daughter
1943 • Irene
Melody Parade poster
Melody Parade
1943 • Gloria Brewster
Sarong Girl poster
Sarong Girl
1943 • Irene Raynor
No Image
Hold Your Temper
1943 • Edgar's Wife
Reveille with Beverly poster
Reveille with Beverly
1943 • Elsie (uncredited)
Melody for Three poster
Melody for Three
1941 • Mrs. Veronica Higby (uncredited)
Will You Stop? poster
Will You Stop?
1937 • Irene / Cleopatra
No Image
His Pest Girl
1937 • Irene
No Image
The Big Courtship
1937 • Irene Ryan
No Image
The Wacky Family
1936
No Image
Peaceful Relations
1936 • Irene
No Image
Just Plain Folks
1936
No Image
One Big Happy Family
1935 • Irene