Bea Benaderet
Biography
An American actress and comedienne, Bea Benaderet started in Bay Area theater and radio and went on to a Hollywood career that lasted more than three decades. She was born in New York City and grew up in San Francisco, then joined radio station KFRC in 1926, where she acted, sang, wrote, and produced, before moving to Hollywood in 1936. She specialized in voice work during radio's golden age and became the primary female voice for Warner Bros. in Merrie Melodies and Looney Tunes, including Little Red Riding Rabbit (1944). On television, she played Blanche Morton from 1950 to 1958 on The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show, earning two Emmy nominations for Best Supporting Actress. She later voiced Betty Rubble on The Flintstones, played Cousin Pearl on The Beverly Hillbillies, and starred as Kate Bradley on Petticoat Junction. In 1960 she received a Hollywood Walk of Fame star. She died in 1968.
62years old at death
- Born New York City
- Died Los Angeles
- Star sign: AriesThe sign runs March 21 to April 19
- Also credited as Beatrice Benaderet
Movie Career
- Films
- 9
- Career span
- 38 years1944 to 1982
Share
Did you know?!
A role that slipped away
Benaderet was Lucille Ball's first choice to play Ethel Mertz on I Love Lucy, but she had to turn the part down because she was under contract to The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show, so Vivian Vance was cast instead.
A role that slipped away
For Alfred Hitchcock's Notorious, released in 1946, Benaderet beat out 200 actresses to play a government file clerk. She shot her part in just half an hour, yet the final print left her scenes out.
A first
Benaderet became Warner Bros.' leading voice for adult female supporting characters in its Merrie Melodies and Looney Tunes shorts starting in 1943, voicing parts like Witch Hazel and Granny, but she got no onscreen credit because she was a freelance actor rather than a contract player.
Big break
Benaderet landed her first major industry break on The Jack Benny Program, playing Gertrude Gearshift, a gossipy telephone operator. What began as a single appearance turned into a recurring role in the 1945-46 season.
First role
Benaderet's professional theater debut came at 16 in The Prince of Pilsen. She later studied at the Reginald Travers School of Acting and became part of his stock company, The Players' Guild.
A change of course
Benaderet also hosted Salon Moderne, a musical variety show, and her work as a female announcer brought her notice, which was unusual for radio in the 1930s.
Bea Benaderet movies on Netflix
Best known for
The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.
- Bugs Bunny's 3rd Movie: 1001 Rabbit Tales1982 Adventure, Animation, Comedyas Witch Hazelvoice
IMDb rating 7.02.5K votes
- Little Red Riding Rabbit1944 Animation, Familyas Little Red Riding Hoodvoice
IMDb rating 7.52.3K votes
- The Looney, Looney, Looney Bugs Bunny Movie1981as Granny (archive sound)voice
IMDb rating 7.12.9K votes
Most often with
Friz Freleng directed four of these films, Chuck Jones two. Mel Blanc appears in five of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.
Films together
Mel Blanc's page
June Foray's page
Skip Homeier's page
All films by Friz Freleng
All films by Chuck Jones
Awards
One award and honor.
| Year | Award | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other honors | |||
| 1960 | Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame | Honored | |
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.