- The Beverly Hillbillies was a famous series back in the day
- There is one remaining living cast member
- Learn more about Max Baer Jr. today
It's been just over 50 years since The Beverly Hillbillies came to an end in 1971.
Since then, fans of the beloved sitcom have sadly said goodbye to virtually all the show's stars. But one original Beverly Hillbilly still survives today: "Jethro Bodine" actor Max Baer Jr.
The Beverly Hillbillies: "Jethro Bodine" actor Max Baer Jr. today
Baer is now 85 years old after starting out on The Beverly Hillbillies in his late 20s. After the sitcom, he only had a few other roles before moving away from acting in the 1990s.
Some of these roles included appearances on TV's Fantasy Island, Matt Houston, and Murder, She Wrote — which was his final acting credit in 1991. The Beverly Hillbillies was Baer's career-defining role, but he also felt that it undermined the rest of his career.
Max Baer Jr.: The last-surviving Beverly Hillbillies cast member
In the 1980s, Baer began moving into business work that involved his Beverly Hillbillies days. He bought the rights to his former TV show's title and, for years, experimented in ventures with gambling and merchandise for the series.
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In the 2000s, he even tried to build a Jethro's Casino. His official website last gave an update on the project in 2012, but, after legal battles, Baer's passion project never came to fruition.
Since then, he notably made headlines in 2014 when he sued an Iowa restaurant called Jethro's BBQ, which Baer felt infringed on his rights to his Beverly Hillbillies character. His case was mostly dismissed in 2017.
The actor will celebrate his 86th birthday in December 2023. Check out The Beverly Hillbillies and the other best retro sitcoms here.
