Fans of Petticoat Junction were excited to see one of the show’s stars make a rare public appearance on Thursday, nearly six decades after the series first aired.
Now 80, the actress looked lively and energetic as she ran errands around the city, seemingly unfazed by the nearby wildfires. She sported a casual ensemble of a corduroy jacket and loose-fitting jeans—a far cry from the glamorous costumes that defined her on-screen presence in the ’60s and ’70s, including musicals like Bye Bye Birdie and Brigadoon.
Her signature red hair, however, remained a striking nod to her days portraying one of the three charming daughters helping run the Shady Rest Hotel on Petticoat Junction. She also lent her voice to Jethrine Bodine on The Beverly Hillbillies, dubbing the character of Jethro’s twin sister.
Can you guess which iconic actress this is?
If you said Linda Kaye Henning, you’re correct!
Henning began her career in the early 1950s with roles in Rebel Without a Cause, Bus Stop, and Gidget. She danced in the 1963 film Bye Bye Birdie and appeared in stage musicals including High Button Shoes, Brigadoon, and The Sound of Music.
On television, she made frequent appearances from the ’60s through the ’80s on shows like The Ed Sullivan Show, Happy Days, Mork & Mindy, and The Facts of Life, as well as on game shows such as Family Feud and Match Game.
Her most memorable role was Betty Jo Bradley on Petticoat Junction (1963–1970). Henning was one of only three cast members to remain for the entire run, appearing in 219 of 222 episodes, and adopted her full name from Season 6 onward.
Born in Los Angeles to television producer Paul Henning and his wife Ruth, she married co-star Mike Minor (Steve Elliott on the show) in 1968—just a year after their characters tied the knot—but the marriage ended in 1973. She later married Leon Ashby Adams in 1994.
