2357, citing Valhalla Memorial Park, North Hollywood, Los Angeles County, California, USA ; Maintained by Find A Grave . Bea Benaderet was an American actress, born in New York City and raised in San Francisco, California. I've always wondered. Then Betty Jo received a letter from her telling how she was going to make it back if at all possible for the baby's arrival. The show went on quite a while after that with June Lockhart as the Doc and then even June left I think just before it was cancelled (that, or maybe was thinking of leaving - not sure - its been a while since it was on TV Land)! In fact she was only referred to once or twice after the episode with Kathy Jo's birth. That's a good point regarding the closing credits, though I've seen all of the episodes from the time of her illness and departure and ultimately Bea's death -- all uncut to my knowledge -- and there doesn't seem to be any memorial.I'll have to watch closely for that episode. She immediately aged the opening of that season and not long after that she was being treated. Uncle Joe made a reference to the Kate Bradley Memorial Suite. I also don't recall for sure, but I think she had already died before the birth episode premiered. The air date was October 26, 1968, not long after Bea's passing. Bea Benaderet only appeared in a relative handful of movies, usually in small parts, but as a voice actress she was one of the busiest people on radio and later in cartoons, and in the final eight years of her life she was a fixture on two hit rural comedies on the CBS network. Actually, there was a a brief reference to Kate's passing a season or two after her death. I know that Bea Benaderet died in 1968 and a Doctor repalced her character but did they kill of Kate or what Bea was too plump and busty to run around in a mad fury the way he intended. The names, logos, and other source identifying features of newspapers depicted in our database are the trademarks of their respective owners, and our use of newspaper content in the public domain or by private agreement does not imply any affiliation with, or endorsement from, the publishers of the newspaper titles that appear on our site. She and cast knew Bea didn't have long to live. No wonder BettyJo and all looked so sad. I wonder if she was the first star of a sitcom to die while it was still on the air. In the next ep, as the baby was brought home, one of the other daughters just has a simple line like, "It's too bad Mom had to go out of town again right away." Actually, there was a a brief reference to Kate's passing a season or two after her death. So that's it. This letter was read by Betty Jo and Steve together with Bea's voiceover, along with sad music, as if to confirm to the audience what was really happening; that she was dying and sinking fast at that time.
It was Benaderet herself who suggested he audition Irene Ryan. That was the only mention of Kate's passing. Paul Henning loved Bea Benaderet. Clipping found in The Indianapolis Star in Indianapolis, Indiana on Oct 14, 1968. As for Bea passing away before that episode aired, that is correct. He seriously considered her for the role of Granny, but he had always visualized Granny as a spry and wiry woman. Just "out of town" for the remainder of the series.