Why Max Baer Jr. Refused to Be in ‘The Beverly Hillbillies’ TV Movie

Growing up, I spent a significant amount of time watching reruns of The Beverly Hillbillies, especially during the summer months when school was out and it was still too early to go out and play with friends. Along with the fantastic theme song, the adventures of the Clampett clan were just so much fun. Yep, without a doubt, downing a big bowl of cereal and watching the comedic hijinks of Jed, Granny, Elly May, and, of course, Jethro Bodine was a great way to start the day.

Fast-forward a handful of years to 1981, when CBS decided it was time to bring the family back together for a reunion movie called Return of the Beverly Hillbillies, which brings us to the topic of this article. You see, Max Baer Jr. was the only surviving member of the original cast who refused to make that reunion movie.