An Inner Struggle
Mr. Drysdale, the banker who would help the Clampett family deal with their fortune, was having struggles when he wasn’t in character. The man who played him, Raymond Bailey, was actually experiencing the onset of Alzheimer’s. It began apparent during the last few seasons of the show, and eventually got so bad that he had to give up acting altogether. He eventually passed away at the age of 75, but he would always be known as the banker from one of the best sitcoms ever.
A Sad Scene
A Hilarious Rumor
Fans always get a little crazy about their favorite shows and cast members, but one rumor had Buddy Ebsen cracking up with disbelief. A rumor started that Elly Mae (Donna Douglas), was actually older than Granny, played by Irene Ryan. It was said that Ryan was actually wearing makeup to look much older, and that she was younger than Douglas! In the end, it was confirmed that everyone was crazy, and Ryan was 31 years older than Douglas.
Switching Ages
