Did The Beverly Hillbillies' Buddy Ebsen And Irene Ryan Get Along?

Known for her stubbornness and overreliance on her shotgun and her "tonics" — aka home-brewed moonshine — Granny (Irene Ryan) in "The Beverly Hillbillies" is a prickly cactus you can't help but love anyway. In the beloved series, she frequently clashes, albeit usually good-naturedly, with Jed Clampett (played by Buddy Ebsen), Granny's son-in-law and also the person responsible for their newfound riches. Granny and Jed's relationship might make you wonder if Ryan got along with Ebsen in real-life, too, or if there were any underlying tensions behind the scenes of the '60s show. 

After all, "The Beverly Hillbillies" cast was plagued with rumors over the years. Luckily for everyone involved, though, Ryan and Ebsen got along swimmingly during filming. In an interview with the Lima Citizen, prior to her death in 1973, Ryan roundly praised her co-star. "There never comes a morning I don't get 'How's my Granny,' and a big kiss from Buddy," she proudly told the outlet (via MeTV). How precious is that? Irene Ryan had a truly incredible life, from performing in vaudeville and on the radio to starring in "The Beverly Hillbillies," which is one of the most watched shows in TV history. Her natural camaraderie with Ebsen likely contributed to its lasting fame. 

Irene Ryan and Buddy Ebsen, who played Granny and Jed Clampett respectively on "The Beverly Hillbillies," shared one crucial thing in common: They both found fame at the same time. Although they both acted before the hit show, getting cast on "The Beverly Hillbillies" skyrocketed their careers. In a 1962 interview with the Associated Press, Ryan acknowledged, "Both Buddy and I have been close to the top many times, but we never quite made it. Now we're up there, and I can assure you it feels mighty good," per MeTV.

The lives of "The Beverly Hillbillies" cast looked much different after the hit show ended in 1971, with the various stars going on to appear in other projects. Ryan earned a Tony nod for the Broadway production of "Pippin" before she sadly passed away at the age of 70. As for Ebsen, he went on to play the titular private eye in "Barnaby Jones," alongside making appearances in "Gunsmoke," "Hawaii Five-O," "Bonanza," and lots more. Ebsen also wrote several books, and even recorded music before he died in 2003, at the impressive age of 95.