Claim to Fame: Played the lovable goof Jethro Bodine on the Beverly
Hillbillies from 1962 till 1971.
Who could forget his "Double-naught" spy and his ongoing desire to be a brain
surgeon. And for us fans, we will always remember Max's role as his "sister" in
cameos as Jethreen.
Family Life: Joanna Hill (married 1970-divorced 1971). Son of boxer
Max Baer.
Info: The son of former heavyweight boxing champion Max Baer, Max Baer
Jr. is a classic (except probably to him) example of Hollywood typecasting.
Known around the world as "Jethro Bodine" in the smash TV series "The Beverly
Hillbillies" (1962), Baer did not find work as an actor in Hollywood for three
years after the show went off the air.
He finally had to put himself to work as an actor in his movie Macon County Line
(1974), which he also wrote and produced with a friend.
Although it didn't let him escape his Jethro character, he did earn more than
$35 million dollars in box office and (later) rental receipts. This after an
initial investment of just over $100,000.
Trivia:
He licensed the "Beverly Hillbillies" name and characters from CBS in
order to establish a Casino called "Jethro's". A picture of Granny will hang
over every bed with the caption: "Don't you touch her boy."
He tried to shed the public's "hillbilly" perception of him by starring as
good-guy crime fighter Max Colepepper in the unsold pilot, "The Asphalt Cowboy,"
in the early 70s.
Earned a bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Santa Clara
University (minored in philosophy).
Auditioned for Jethro only after driving his roommate to the
audition for the same part.
The success of "Ode to Billy Joe," which was the first film to be based on a
popular song, convinced Baer to pursue the rights to Madonna’s 'Like a Virgin.'
When ABC tried to prevent him from making the film, Max sued and won a judgment
of over two million dollars. Where
is He Now:
Went on to be quite succesful, writing producing movies such as 'Macon
County Line,' initiated the idea of using popular song titles as a way to
produce high profit, low budget films.
In late 2003, Max began developing an empty Wal-Mart building
and its property at the south end of Carson City into a Beverly
Hillbillies-themed hotel and casino called Jethro's Beverly Hillbillies Mansion
& Casino, which has yet to open.
Was in the new recently when he came out swinging to defend his father, now that
the late prizefighter's reputation has taken
a beating in Ron Howard's "Cinderella Man."
The film, in which Russell Crowe plays Depression-era boxer James J. Braddock,
portrays Baer Sr. as a sadistic thug who hits below the belt and boasts about
the two boxers he has killed in the ring. Baer Sr. (Craig Bierko) even threatens
to make Braddock's wife (Renée Zellweger) his lover after he has made her a
widow.
"That's a lie," Baer Jr., who played lovable yokel Jethro Bodine on the '60s TV
comedy, tells us. "My father cried about what happened to [Baer ring victim]
Frankie Campbell. He had nightmares. He helped put Frankie's children through
college."
Write to Max Baer at: Max Baer, Jr.
2760 Benedict Cyn. Rd.
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
Secondary Mailing Address:
Jethro's Beverly Hillbillies Mansion & Casino
c/o Terry Behrens Hughes
2795 Tam O'Shanter Drive
El Dorado Hills, California 95762-4240
CREDITS:
The Wild McCullochs (1975) .... Culver Robinson
Macon County Line (1974) .... Deputy Reed Morgan
The Birdmen (1971) (TV) .... Tanker
A Time for Killing (1967) .... Sgt. Luther Liskell
"The Beverly Hillbillies" (1962) TV Series .... Jethro Bodine
"Murder, She Wrote" playing "St. Trooper Boone Willoughby" (1991)
"Murder, She Wrote" playing "Johnny Wheeler" (1989)
"Matt Houston" playing "Andy McKay" (1984)
"Fantasy Island" playing "Big Jake Farley" (1979)
"Love, American Style" (1972 & another appearance in 1973)
"Vacation Playhouse" (1963)
"Follow the Sun" playing "Tom Baylor" (1962)
"77 Sunset Strip" playing "Billy Blackstone"(1961)
"Cheyenne" playing "Callow" (1961)
"Cheyenne" playing "Bert McGuire" (1961)
"77 Sunset Strip" playing "Luther Martell" (1961)
"Cheyenne" playing "Pete" (1961)
"Bronco" playing "Uncredited" (1961)
"Surfside 6" playing "Joe Wilk" (1961)
"Maverick" playing "Ticket Taker" (1960)
"77 Sunset Strip" playing "Government Man"(1960)
"Hawaiian Eye" playing "Bill Gorham" (1960)
"Maverick" playing "Cowboy" (as Max Baer) (1960)
"Surfside 6" playing "Party Guest" (1960)
"Maverick" playing "Brazos" (1960)
DIRECTING CREDITS: Hometown USA (1979)
Ode to Billy Joe (1976)
The Wild McCullochs (1975)
WRITING CREDITS: The Wild McCullochs (1975)
Macon County Line (1974)
Updated: 8/14/2005
Where
is He Now:
Went on to be quite succesful, writing producing movies such as 'Macon
County Line,' initiated the idea of using popular song titles as a way to
produce high profit, low budget films. 
