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Irene Ryan

Irene Ryan

Actor · Died April 26, 1973, aged 70 · El Paso, Texas, USA

Before becoming known to millions as Granny on The Beverly Hillbillies (1962), Irene Ryan was already an established vaudeville, radio and movie actress, though not as famous prior to her television stint. She accompanied Bob Hope on his famous military tours and she was known as "the gal who makes Bob Hope laugh." After being cast as Granny, she became famous overnight. When the Hillbillies ended, she co-starred in the Broadway musical 'Pippin' with Ben Vereen. Unfortunately, despite wonderful reviews from critics, Ryan took ill, was discovered to have an inoperable brain tumor and died soon after at the age of 70.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
October 17, 1902
Died
April 26, 1973 (aged 70)
From
El Paso, Texas, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
23 on MovieCove · 52 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Down 9% in 30 days

What are Irene Ryan's films like?

Across their 16 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Genres

Comedy9 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 35th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Adventure2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 55th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Adventure movies
Crime2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 41st percentile
: browse their Crime movies
Drama2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 46th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
45%
Self
31%
Morality
17%
Power
7%
Romantic love8 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds5 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition4 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth3 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice2 titles, browse their movies with this themeClass3 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception3 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 15 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 12 · Serious 1 · Dark 2

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 6 · Stylized 7 · Heightened 2

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

A split, not a type: Gentle 8 · Charged 5 · Intense 2

Steady: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their steady movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 10 · Shifting 4 · Whiplash 1

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 4 · Some laughs 3 · Funny 8

Slow burn: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their slow burn movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 8 · Even-paced 7 · Relentless 0

Casual: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their casual movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 12 · Engaged 3 · Full focus 0

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 13 · Open-ended 1 · Ambiguous 1

Roles they play

1 analyzed role

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Joyful
8
Warm
7
Romantic
7
Tense
5
Absurd
4
Other
8

How their films linger

Feel-good13 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteCozy3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end

  • Happy11
  • Bittersweet4
  • Cyclical1

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Irene Ryan's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 11 of their 23 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on MGM+ (7).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Irene Ryan's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

52 credits, 23 with a MovieCove page; 6 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Love, American Style (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Don't Worry, We'll Think of a Title(1966)

    as Granny (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films

  • The Dean Martin Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Petticoat Junction(1963)

    Show 2 episodes · as Granny

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all shows

  • The Beverly Hillbillies(1962)

    Show 274 episodes · as Granny

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all shows

  • Mister Ed (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Bringing Up Buddy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

  • Desire in the Dust(1960)

    as Nora Finney

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • My Three Sons (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Rockabilly Baby (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    as Eunice Johnson

  • The Real McCoys(1957)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows

  • Alcoa Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Show 1 episode · as Martha Henderson

  • Spring Reunion(1956)

    as Miss Stapleton

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Matinee Theater (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Ricochet Romance (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    as Miss Clay

  • The Whistler (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • General Electric Theater (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    Show 1 episode · as Mrs. Bryant

  • Blackbeard, the Pirate(1952)

    as Alvina, a lady in waiting

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • The WAC from Walla Walla (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    as WAC Sgt. Kearns

  • Bonzo Goes to College (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    as Nancy

  • Meet Me After the Show(1951)

    as Tillie

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Half Angel(1951)

    as Kay

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • The Skipper Surprised His Wife(1950)

    as Mrs. O'Rourke (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • There's a Girl in My Heart (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)

    as Mrs. Mullin

  • Mighty Joe Young(1949)

    as Southern Belle at the Bar (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • An Old-Fashioned Girl (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)

    as Mrs. Shaw

  • My Dear Secretary(1948)

    as Mary

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Texas, Brooklyn & Heaven(1948)

    as Opal Cheever

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Arch of Triumph(1948)

    as Irate Wife (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films

  • Heading for Heaven(1947)

    as Molly

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • The Woman on the Beach(1947)

    as Mrs. Mary Wernecke

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Little Iodine (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)

    as Mrs. Tremble

  • The Diary of a Chambermaid(1946)

    as Louise

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • That Night with You (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1945)

    as Prudence

  • The Beautiful Cheat (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1945)

    as Miss Beatrice Kent

  • That's the Spirit(1945)

    as Bilson

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • San Diego I Love You(1944)

    as Miss Jones

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Hot Rhythm(1944)

    as Polly Kane (as Irene)

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • O, My Darling Clementine (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)

    as Irene (Princess Sheba)

  • The Sultan's Daughter(1943)

    as Irene

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Melody Parade(1943)

    as Gloria Brewster

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Sarong Girl (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)

    as Irene Raynor

  • Hold Your Temper (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)

    as Edgar's Wife

  • Reveille with Beverly (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)

    as Elsie (uncredited)

  • Melody for Three(1941)

    as Mrs. Veronica Higby (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Will You Stop? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Irene / Cleopatra

  • His Pest Girl (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Irene

  • The Big Courtship (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Irene Ryan

  • The Wacky Family (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    Actor

  • Peaceful Relations (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Irene

  • Just Plain Folks (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    Actor

  • One Big Happy Family (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as Irene

Career shape

Star power in the 84th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 52 titles from 1935 to 1969.

Highest rated

The Diary of a Chambermaid (1946)

Midcredits 65th

Most popular right now

The Beverly Hillbillies (1962)

Film career

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting52 of 52: 52 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score36th

By decade

1930s7 · acting1940s22 · acting1950s14 · acting1960s9 · acting

Billing

usually 7th · top billed in 0% of 6 roles

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30.

How do Irene Ryan's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 36th percentile, the median of all 20; across their 15 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 38th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

38thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 15

Approval · how many liked their films

33rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 15

Reach · how many have seen their films

27thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 15

Midcredits score across 23 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up1
  • 50th to 74th7
  • 25th to 49th11
  • Below 25th4

Shape of the crowd

11 of their 23 titles are Mixed.

  • Crowd Pleaser10
  • Broadly Agreed2
  • Mixed11

Most divisive · actor

Don't Worry, We'll Think of a Title (1966)

75th percentile spread · 49% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Mighty Joe Young (1949)

Midcredits 78th · 70% liked

Reviewers score the acting 66/100 in their films, across 13 reviewed titles; fans 76, detractors 40. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Who does Irene Ryan work with?

People who share at least 2 of Irene Ryan's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Tim Ryan shares the most, 3.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles