As Irene Ryan or Irene Dunne - She was all business in a long career

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.

When she didn't have her Granny make-up on, she often went unrecognized on the streets.

Interred at Woodlawn Cemetery, Santa Monica, California, USA.

Since 1972, college thespians have competed annually for the prestigious Irene Ryan Scholarships (started by the Irene Ryan Foundation) at the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival.

Her gravestone has the name Granny on it.

(1948-1950) Radio: Co-starred on NBC Radio's The Bob Hope Show.

Had no surviving relatives; with an estate worth over $1 million, she decided to start the Irene Ryan Foundation for theatre aspirants.

After the cancellation of The Beverly Hillbillies (1962), she was offered a starring role in a proposed TV series in which she would have played a character similar to that of Granny. 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.

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.

Toured with Bob Hope's USO troupe during World War II.

Irene owned and frequently stayed at a summer cottage on Clark Lake in Jackson County, Michigan.

A native of San Francisco, California, she was born on October 17, the same date of the 1989 San Francisco "World Series" Earthquake.

Often appeared as a celebrity panelist on Allen Ludden's Password All-Stars (1961) in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

She played the same character (Daisy Moses) on three different series: Mister Ed(1958), The Beverly Hillbillies (1962) and Petticoat Junction (1963).

Best friend of Buddy Ebsen.

Played Buddy Ebsen's mother In-Law on The Beverly Hillbillies (1962), in real-life, Ryan was six years Ebsen's senior.

Best known for her role as Buddy Ebsen's mother-in-law, 'Daisy Moses', on the popular sitcom The Beverly Hillbillies (1962).

In a live interview, Max Baer Jr., who played Jethro on The Beverly Hillbillies (1962), stated that Irene "smoked like a chimney", which made other cast members fear for her health.