Linda Kay Henning Bio/Wiki, Net Worth, Married 2018
The daughter of veteran writer and TV producer Paul Henning and Ruth Henning, Linda originally studied to be a dancer before going into acting. After appearing in an uncredited role as one of the dancers in Bye Bye Birdie (1963), she landed the role of Betty Jo on Petticoat Junction (1963), on which she remained for its entire seven-year run -- ...
I've been fortunate enough. I had good parents and I had good values, and when you grow up with that they never leave you. That always stays with you and there's just so little of that today.
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Fact
1
Her first husband, actor Mike Minor developed a crush on Linda when he first played a small guest part in the second season of Petticoat Junction (1963). She did not know him, however, because they didn't share any scenes together. Once he was a regular on the series, plans were to have his character and the character of older sister Billie Jo fall in love and get married. However, when Mike and Linda fell in love on the set, the producers decided to go with it and fit it into the show instead of the original idea.
2
Because her father Paul Henning, who shares her birth date, was afraid of being accused of nepotism, he was not involved in the casting of Linda. Once she was cast, she dropped her last name at the request of her father and used her middle name of Kay instead. He wryly suggested she add an "e" to make it "Kaye" so people might think she was the daughter of fellow redheaded comedian Danny Kaye.
3
Took classes at UCLA for years with her TV sister Meredith MacRae.
4
Appeared in a number of musical theatre plays including "Brigadoon," "Carousel" (with John Raitt), "Best Foot Forward," "Applause," "The Pajama Game," "I Do! I Do!" and "Damn Yankees." Legitimate plays include "Born Yesterday" and "Mary, Mary.".
5
Enjoyed science very much while young, particularly physiology. Later married a man who had a masters in physiology and was a research scientist for several years.
Belonged to the California Artists Radio Theatre, which was set up at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel.
8
Once worked as a docent at the Los Angeles Zoo.
9
Her mother enrolled her in the children's theater group, The Peter Pan Players, to help her overcome her extreme shyness where she performed in a number of fairy tale pieces such as Cinderella, Pinocchio and Snow White. It worked and she stayed with it into her teen years. Actress Bea Benaderet saw her in one of their productions and told Paul Henning, the Petticoat Junction (1963) creator, that she would be ideal for the role of one of the daughters on their upcoming TV series. She auditioned and got the part of youngest sister Betty Jo Bradley.
10
Like her character of Betty Jo, Linda was a tomboy growing up. She liked climbing trees and animals.
11
Dubbed in the voice of Jethrine on the Beverly Hillbillies.
Because of her being credited as 'Linda Kaye' early in her career, in the 1990s some reference books and online guides mixed up and combined her credits with those of another Linda Kaye.
$1.5 Million
