What Happened to Donna Douglas From The Beverly Hillbillies
TLDR: Donna Douglas was born Doris Ione Smith on September 26, 1932, in Pride, Louisiana, grew up as a genuine tomboy on her grandparents’ farm, … Read more
Careers
Sheree J. Wilson on Dallas: The Real Story of April Stevens Before Walker Texas Ranger
TLDR: Sheree J. Wilson joined Dallas in 1986 as April Stevens, a scheming oil business villain who eventually softened into Bobby Ewing’s wife across five … Read more
Sheree J. Wilson Personal Life — From IBM Farmgirl to the Woman Behind Alex Cahill
TLDR: Sheree J. Wilson was born in Rochester, Minnesota in 1958, grew up spending summers on her family’s dairy and cattle farms in Iowa and … Read more
Sylvester Stallone Before Rocky: The Real Story of His Homeless Years and the Script He Refused to Sell
TLDR: Before Rocky made him a household name, Sylvester Stallone was homeless in New York, sleeping at the Port Authority Bus Terminal, cleaning lion cages … Read more
Mary Lou Metzger From the Lawrence Welk Show — Still Going at 75
TLDR: Mary Lou Metzger joined The Lawrence Welk Show in 1970 at age 19 and became one of its most beloved cast members, known for … Read more
Ava Barber From the Lawrence Welk Show — Where Is She Now
TLDR: Ava Barber joined The Lawrence Welk Show in 1974 after her mother wrote Lawrence Welk a letter and enclosed a demo record. She became … Read more
The Otwell Twins From the Lawrence Welk Show — Where Are They Now
TLDR: David and Roger Otwell were identical twin brothers from Tulia, Texas who joined The Lawrence Welk Show in October 1977 after Lawrence Welk heard … Read more
Sheila Aldridge From the Lawrence Welk Show — Where Is She Now
TLDR: Sheila Aldridge joined The Lawrence Welk Show in 1977 after a four-audition campaign with her sister Sherry and spent five years as the more … Read more
Sherry Aldridge From the Lawrence Welk Show — Where Is She Now
TLDR: Sherry Aldridge joined The Lawrence Welk Show in 1977 after four auditions and spent five years as the vocal anchor of the Aldridge Sisters … Read more
Dick Dale From the Lawrence Welk Show Performed a Marijuana Song on National TV
TLDR: Dick Dale, born Richard Lee Dale on September 14, 1926, in Algona, Iowa, joined The Lawrence Welk Show in 1951 as a baritone saxophonist … Read more
Larry Hooper From the Lawrence Welk Show — The Bullfrog Bass Singer Who Got a Standing Ovation After Four Years Away
TLDR: Larry Hooper was the featured bass vocalist and pianist on The Lawrence Welk Show from 1948 through 1980, known to millions of viewers as … Read more
Anacani From the Lawrence Welk Show: How a Mexican Teenager Became a Saturday Night Fixture for a Decade
TLDR: Anacani, born Anacani María Consuelo Castillo-López y Cantor-Montoya on April 10, 1954, in Sinaloa, Mexico, was discovered by Lawrence Welk at his resort in … Read more
George Lindsey Was Supposed to Be Gomer Pyle — He Kicked His TV In When He Found Out He Wasn’t
TLDR: George Lindsey was born on December 17, 1928, in Fairfield, Alabama, trained as a classical stage actor at the American Theater Wing in New … Read more
Jim Nabors Was Gomer Pyle — and He Had One of the Greatest Singing Voices in American Television History
TLDR: Jim Nabors was born on June 12, 1930, in Sylacauga, Alabama, played Gomer Pyle on The Andy Griffith Show from 1962 to 1964, and … Read more
The Real Aunt Bee: Frances Bavier Was Nothing Like the Woman You Watched Every Week
TLDR: Frances Bavier was born on December 14, 1902, in New York City, trained as a classical stage actress at the American Academy of Dramatic … Read more
Ron Howard: Opie Taylor, Happy Days and What He’s Doing Now
TLDR: Ron Howard was born on March 1, 1954, in Duncan, Oklahoma, and was cast as Opie Taylor on The Andy Griffith Show at age … Read more