Irene Ryan

Acting

Irene Ryan

Born 1902-10-17 · 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.

Acting credits

Mighty Joe Young poster
6.4

A young woman, Jill Young, grew up on her father's ranch in Africa, raising a large gorilla named Joe from an infant. Years later, she brings him to Hollywood to become a star.

Mighty Joe Young

1949

My Dear Secretary poster
6.1

A budding young writer thinks it's her lucky day when she is chosen to be the new secretary for Owen Waterbury, famous novelist. She is soon disppointed, however, when he turns out to be an erratic, immature playboy. Opposites attract, of course, but not without sub-plots that touch on competitiveness within marriage and responsibility.

My Dear Secretary

1948

No artwork available
NR

Bob's favorite memories and funniest moments on TV The biggest Stars! ... The biggest laughs! On DVD for the first time, this special 90 minute collection proves that laughter is the universal language with a sidesplitting salute to slapstick, satire, sketch comedy and zingers. Featuring Bob's funniest moments on television, this tribute includes a virtual who's who of legendary entertainers like Bing Crosby, Jackie Gleason, Roy Rogers, Ingrid Bergman, Bob Newhart, Lucille Ball, Ann-Margret, Jack Benny, Angie Dickinson, Steve Allen, Johnny Carson, Danny Thomas, Don Rickles, Milton Berle, Redd Foxx, Dorothy Lamour, Frank Sinatra, John Wayne, Dyan Cannon, Debbie Reynolds, Lassie and more.

Bob Hope's World of Comedy

1976

Arch of Triumph poster
6.0

In the winter of 1938, Paris is crowded with refugees from the Nazis, who live in the black shadows of night, trying to evade deportation. One such is Dr. Ravic, who practices medicine illegally and stalks his old Nazi enemy Haake with murder in mind. One rainy night, Ravic meets Joan Madou, a kept woman cast adrift by her lover's sudden death. Against Ravic's better judgment, they become involved in a doomed affair.

Arch of Triumph

1948

That's the Spirit poster
6.7

A vaudeville performer returns from the dead to help his wife and daughter, who are being dominated by a greedy banker.

That's the Spirit

1945

The Woman on the Beach poster
6.1

A sailor suffering from post-traumatic stress becomes involved with a beautiful and enigmatic seductress married to a blind painter.

The Woman on the Beach

1947

Spring Reunion poster
6.2

A spinster finally finds the right man when she returns to her alma mater after 15 years for a class reunion.

Spring Reunion

1957

The Diary of a Chambermaid poster
6.2

Celestine, the chamber-maid, has a new job in the country, at the Lanlaires. She has decided to use her beauty to seduce a wealthy man, but Mr. Lanlaire is not a right choice: the house is firmly controlled by Madame Lanlaire, helped by the strange valet Joseph. Then she tries the neighbour, former officer Mauger. This seems to work. But soon the son of the Lanlaires comes back. He is young, attractive and does not share his mother's antirepublican opinions. So Celestine's beauty attracts Captain Mauger, young Georges Lanlaire, and Joseph. Three men, from three different social classes, with three different conceptions of life. Will Celestine be able to convince Georges of her sincerity?

The Diary of a Chambermaid

1946

Blackbeard, the Pirate poster
5.9

Honest Robert Maynard finds himself serving as ship's surgeon under the infamous pirate Blackbeard.

Blackbeard, the Pirate

1952

Half Angel poster
6.2

Nurse Nora Gilpin plans are to marry building contractor Tim McCarey and settle down. But one night a sleepwalking Nora slips into a provocative dress and goes to the home of startled lawyer John Raymond, for whom she doesn't care much during the day. She does not reveal her name and he cannot figure out where they have met, but they spend several hours together until she gets away before John notices.

Half Angel

1951

Desire in the Dust poster
4.4

Lonnie Wilson returns to small southern hometown after spending six years on the chain-gang for killing Colonel Ben Marquand's son in an automobile accident. He revives his love affair with Melinda Marquand........

Desire in the Dust

1960

The WAC from Walla Walla poster
10.0

An unsophisticated country girl accidentally joins the army.

The WAC from Walla Walla

1952

Rockabilly Baby poster
6.3

The mysterious Mrs. Eleanor Carter moves to Springville with her two teenage children Jimmy and Cathy. Eleanor makes friends with the town's social leader Mrs. Wellington, who supports her idea for a town youth center, and she is aided by Tom Griffith, the high school principal. At the town's annual picnic, to which Eleanor has bought a band, the town busy-body Eunice reveals what she had learned from Eleanor's past.

Rockabilly Baby

1957

An Old-Fashioned Girl poster
6.0

A music teacher in 1870s Boston works hard to succeed, while her wealthy distant relatives find their fortunes turning.

An Old-Fashioned Girl

1949

The Skipper Surprised His Wife poster
5.3

A captain tries to keep home as tight as his ship.

The Skipper Surprised His Wife

1950

Meet Me After the Show poster
5.4

A Broadway star devises a scheme to win back her husband when she suspects he's being unfaithful.

Meet Me After the Show

1951

Melody Parade poster
8.0

The owner and staff of a Hollywood nightclub struggle to keep their establishment from closing.

Melody Parade

1943

San Diego I Love You poster
6.8

A harried daughter tries to keep her wacky family together while trying to sell her eccentric father's latest invention, a collapsible life raft.

San Diego I Love You

1944

Heading for Heaven poster
5.6

A fake swami and his crooked business partner, hoping to buy the land that's targeted for a new airport, convince the property's owner that he hasn't long to live.

Heading for Heaven

1947

The Sultan's Daughter poster
5.0

A sultan's lovely daughter finds herself courted by a handsome American.

The Sultan's Daughter

1943

Hot Rhythm poster
5.5

Jimmy O'Brien (Robert Lowery)and Sammy Rubin (Sidney Miller), write jingle commercials for radio, and meet Mary Adams (Dona Drake), who wants to break into radio as a soloist for a band.

Hot Rhythm

1944

Bonzo Goes to College poster
6.0

When Bonzo turns out to be the answer to the football teams troubles, the only solution is to enroll him into a college.

Bonzo Goes to College

1952

The Beautiful Cheat poster
6.0

The title character, played by Bonita Granville, is the secretary at a boys' reformatory. Sociology professor Noah Beery Jr. shows up to study the juvenile-delinquent mindset. Not surprisingly, he ends up taking a post-grad course in amour from the winsome Ms. Granville.

The Beautiful Cheat

1945

Texas, Brooklyn & Heaven poster
5.8

Eddie Tayloe's grandfather leaves him six thousand dollars and the money belt it came in, freeing Tayloe to leave his dull newspaper job in Texas and move to New York to become a playwright. Along the way, his car breaks down and a girl walking along the highway asks for a lift. It turns out she's a nice girl, named Perry, running away from a job at a gasoline station. Soon they're off to New York together, but part ways once they arrive. Time passes and Eddie is failing to sell his play; Perry is failing to find a job. Odd circumstances, involving an old pickpocket named Mandy, bring them together again.

Texas, Brooklyn & Heaven

1948