He shot to fame as Jethro Bodine in The Beverly Hillbillies, Today, he is the only surviving cast member of that great show, Take a deep breath before you see him aged 85

For millions of Americans, Max Baer Jr. will forever be remembered as the lovable, dim-witted Jethro Bodine from The Beverly Hillbillies. With his goofy grin, outlandish country accent, and comically earnest one-liners—like his unforgettable “five gozinta five one time”—Baer Jr. carved out a unique place in television history. But while the Clampetts became household names during the show’s 1960s heyday, Baer’s life after the series was far more complicated. At 84 years old, he remains the last surviving member of that legendary cast, carrying with him both the pride and the burden of a role that defined his career.

The Rise of Jethro Bodine

When The Beverly Hillbillies premiered in 1962, it was an overnight success. Within just three weeks, it shot to the number-one spot on American television, setting a record for speed to the top. Audiences were hooked on the story of Jed Clampett, a poor mountaineer who struck oil and moved his family to the opulent world of Beverly Hills—without abandoning their rural ways.

Among the colorful cast of characters, Jethro Bodine stood out. The dim but lovable cousin, played by Max Baer Jr., became a fan favorite. His exaggerated facial expressions, infectious laugh, and country-boy charm brought endless humor to the series, which ran for nine seasons and 274 episodes before being canceled in 1971.

Baer wasn’t just winging it. He studied accents from comedians like Andy Griffith and Jonathan Winters, perfecting his backwoods speech patterns. Combined with his natural comedic timing, his portrayal of Jethro was so convincing that audiences often forgot he was acting at all. For Baer, the role was both a blessing and a curse—it made him a household name, but it also typecast him for decades to come.

A Chance Discovery in Hollywood

Baer’s path to stardom was anything but straightforward. Born on December 4, 1937, in Oakland, California, he was the son of world heavyweight boxing champion Max Baer and Mary Ellen Sullivan. Despite his famous lineage, young Max didn’t immediately pursue entertainment. He earned a business administration degree from Santa Clara University in 1959 and seemed set for a conventional career.

That all changed on a whim. Riding his motorcycle through Los Angeles, Baer ended up in a Warner Bros. parking lot, where an executive noticed his resemblance to actor James Garner. On a stroke of luck, he was offered a one-year contract—even though he had no formal acting experience.

Baer soon picked up small guest roles on shows like 77 Sunset Strip, Maverick, and Hawaiian Eye. Though his career wasn’t soaring, he stayed persistent, eventually landing the role of a lifetime through an open audition: Jethro Bodine.

Life After the Clampetts

When The Beverly Hillbillies ended, Baer found himself in a difficult position. Hollywood producers couldn’t see past his iconic role, and he was pigeonholed as the goofy hillbilly. Guest appearances followed—on shows like Love, American Style, Fantasy Island, and Murder, She Wrote—but nothing matched the scale of his earlier fame.

Rather than fade quietly, Baer reinvented himself. He turned to directing and producing, creating films such as Macon County Line (1974). Made for just $225,000, the film grossed nearly $19 million in the U.S. alone, making it one of the most profitable independent movies of the decade. Its success spawned a sequel, Return to Macon County. Baer had proven he was more than just Jethro.

A Businessman With Big Dreams

In the 1990s, Baer purchased the rights to The Beverly Hillbillies name from CBS, envisioning a casino and theme park inspired by the show. His grand plans included hundreds of hotel rooms, animatronic characters, and slot machines themed around the Clampetts. But lawsuits, zoning battles, and licensing issues plagued the project, leaving it stalled for years.

Baer also clashed with CBS in 2014, claiming the network’s deal with a Des Moines barbecue chain named “Jethro’s BBQ” infringed on his exclusive rights. The case highlighted the long shadow Jethro Bodine continued to cast over Baer’s life and career.

Personal Tragedies

Baer married once, to Joanne Kathleen Hill in 1966, but the couple divorced in 1971. In later years, he was romantically linked to model Chere Rhodes. Their relationship ended tragically in 2008 when Rhodes died of a gunshot wound, ruled a suicide. Baer, who discovered her body, described the moment as one of the most traumatic of his life.

A Legacy Beyond Jethro

Despite the hardships, Baer has always maintained gratitude for the role that made him famous. “If I made people laugh, then I did my job,” he once said. His co-star Donna Douglas, who played Elly May Clampett, praised him for walking the fine line of playing Jethro as dimwitted but never unlikeable. She described the cast as a true family, bonded both on and off screen.

Today, Baer is celebrated not only for his comedy but also for his resilience. He transformed rejection into opportunity, moved from acting into filmmaking and business, and carried on despite personal loss. At 84, he is the last surviving cast member of The Beverly Hillbillies, a living reminder of a show that defined an era.

While he may never have fully escaped the shadow of Jethro Bodine, Max Baer Jr. remains a symbol of perseverance in Hollywood. His story proves that even when the industry tries to box you in, there are always new ways to reinvent yourself—and new roles to play, on and off the screen.