19 Things Producers of ‘The Beverly Hillbillies’ Hid from Fans

6. Max Baer Jr. Has a Love/Hate Relationship with His “Jethro” Role

The actor who played the dimwitted Jethro Bodine believes that the role essentially killed his acting career. He had a few minor roles over the years, but mostly stuck to writing, producing and directing due to the typecasting he seemed to be stuck with. When he was asked to participate in the 1981 television movie of The Return of the Beverly Hillbillies, he flat-out declined. However, he was later outraged that he wasn’t asked to do a cameo in the 1993 movie version of The Beverly Hillbillies, and was particularly incensed because Buddy Ebsen was. Later that year, he decided to reprise Jethro by appearing in the TV special The Legend of the Beverly Hillbillies. Max Baer Jr. is the last living cast member of the iconic show.