Irene Ryan

Birth Name:

Irene Eileen Noblett

Birth Place:

San Francisco, California, United States

Profession

Actress, Soundtrack

During World War II, she toured with Bob Hope's USO troupe, known as "the gal who makes Bob Hope laugh․"
Endowed the Irene Ryan Foundation to provide scholarships for promising theatre arts students
Her career started when she won $3 for singing "Pretty baby" in an amateur contest when she was 11, a performance she particularly wanted to excel at because she was afraid the audience would throw tomatoes at her new, pink dress otherwise
Was an established vaudeville, radio and movie actress even before she caught the eye of the general public, appearing as fussy, nervous women in films and a "Dumb Dora" in comedy routines
Was best known for playing the feisty Daisy "Granny" Moses on the comedy "The Beverly Hillbillies," a part that even Bea Benaderet, who the producers had already decided on for the role, agreed was perfect for her
Her gravestone in Woodlawn Cemetery reads "Irene 'Granny' Ryan․"
Joked that though people most often recognized her as Granny by her voice, she would rather be known for her body

1963Primetime Emmy - Outstanding Continued Performance by an Actress in a Series (Lead):Nominated
1964Primetime Emmy - Outstanding Continued Performance by an Actress in a Series (Lead):Nominated
1967Gold Medal - Favorite TV Program:Nominated
2004TV Land Award - Favorite "Fish Out of Water":Winner

Fast Facts