Destiny of 'The Real McCoys' Cast After the Show Finale
“The Real McCoys” dominated American television from the late ‘50s to the early ‘60s and showcased the lives of the McCoy family from a farm in California. Although the scripts and banter were nothing new to comedy shows, the urban-rural setting made a difference in appearing to be distinct among other sitcoms. Many of the characters found great success and won coveted awards but others had more negative reputations making racist slurs. Read on to find out who it was! Here’s how the actors and actresses turned out after their stint on the show.
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FACTS ABOUT THE SHOW
The Real McCoys is a sitcom that was created by Irving Pincus which aired on ABC-TV and CBS. The show was produced by Walter Brennan, Danny Thomas, and Irving Pincus. It starred Kathleen Nolan, Lydia Reed, Richard Crenna, Michael Winkelman, Madge Blake, Andy Clyde, and Tony Martinez.
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The Real McCoys aired from October 3, 1957, to June 23, 1963, and had a total of 6 seasons and 224 episodes. In this article, we are going to know more about this iconic series. The story of The Real McCoys tells the story of a family that lives in the Appalachian Mountains. It went onto become one of the most popular stories.
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The family then moved to California to work and live on a farm that they inherited from their relatives. The McCoy family consists of Grandpa Amos McCoy who is played by Walter Brennan, Luke McCoy played by Richard Crenna, Lukes's wife Kate McCoy who is played by Kathleen Nolan, Tallahassee McCoy played by Lydia Reed, and Little Luke McCoy portrayed by Michael Winkleman.
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One of the most memorable episodes would probably be the one entitled The New Hell, which aired on October 30, 1958. The episode pits folklore against science because Grandpa McCoy’s divining rod proved to be greater than a geologist’s equipment when locating a new water source on the farm.
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From 1962, The Real McCoys aired on ABC series was aired every weekday mornings. After that, it was syndicated and the show was also aired on the former The Nashville Network in the late 1990s into 2000 and it was distributed by SFM Entertainment. This network ensured the massive success of these stars.
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It was aired Mondays through Fridays at 6:00 and 6:30 pm Eastern time. During the show’s last season, the Real Mccoys was aired on CBS under the title The McCoys. The promotions of the series stated that the McCoy’s farm is located 20 miles northwest of the Los Angeles City Hall. This was an area many viewers could resonate with.
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If you would look at it in a real map, it would be very close to the Mission San Fernando Cemetery where Walter Brennan was buried. Richard Crenna was just 32 years younger than Walter Brennan who played his on-screen grandfather. It was these small details that made the show truly remarkable.
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Richard Crenna was the only cast who appeared in all 224 episodes of The Real McCoys. He was the show's most renowned actor and would reap the biggest success from it. When The Real McCoys moved to CBS, some of the continuing characters were removed. Such as Luke’s wife Kate and his little brother Little Luke.
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When taping an episode in February 1961, Kathy Nolan was thrown from a horse and got injured. That’s why she missed four months of work because she was in and out of the hospital several times. Richard Crenna was 18 years older than Lydia Reed and Michael Winkelman who both played his younger siblings.
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Everett Greenbaum, the writer of the show, said that whenever they are not filming, Walter Brennan often made anti-Semitic and racist remarks on the set of the show. This definitely detracts from his reputation and gave him a bad name. Many of his co-stars spoke out against this and cut ties with him.
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A FEW FAMOUS QUOTES FROM THE SHOW
While many people might not remember everything about the show, there were some unforgettable moments and quotes that stuck with them over the decades. Grandpa Amos McCoy's speech about rocks was one of these memorable moments. He said:
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Oh sure, sure. That's what makes the land valuable. Why, they're just beggin' for rocks in the city for stepping stones and fireplaces and things like that. Rocks are the backbone of this country, y'know. You take away the rocks and what've you got left? Just dirt!
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Another famous quote was when Luke McCoy showed how much he truly cared for his dear grandfather: "...I want Grandpa to have the best care no matter what it costs 'cause, you see, we got an insurance policy, so we don't have to worry about the money. I don't care if it costs a hundred dollars, or two hundred, or even three hundred."
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These quotes exemplify the nature of the show... While it may have been all about the comedy, it had some very good family values and messages about love and commitment. It was these true sentiments that kept the viewers loyal and coming back for more.
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WALTER BRENNAN
Massachusetts-born Walter Brennan was one of the more famous actors of his time with three Oscar Award wins for Best Supporting Actor. His role in the 1936 film “Come and Get It” won him his first Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, won two more and had one nomination for the same award in the same category.
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Throughout his career, Brennan made over 100 movies, most of which had a Western genre, and had four singles that made it to the top-100 charts. In 1970, he was inducted into the Hall of Great Western Performers of the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum.
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Brennan died in 1974 after suffering from emphysema, leaving behind his wife Ruth and their three kids. His legacy in the industry as one of the best actors of his time remains. Fans of the show and of him will always remember the talented actor and the value he added to the small screen.
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RICHARD CRENNA
Although Richard Crenna appeared on “The Real McCoys” for a while, it was his role as a state legislator in the 1965 show “Slattery’s People” that set his career straight. Since then, Crenna became a familiar face on both film and television, with projects including “The Rape of Richard Beck,” which won him an Emmy Award for Best Performance by an Actor.
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Crenna also appeared in “First Blood,” “Rambo: First Blood Part II,” “Rambo III,” and “Hot Shots! Part Deux,” among many others. The actor died in 2003 due to pancreatic cancer, leaving behind his wife and three kids, with over 70 major motion pictures to date.
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His son Richard Anthony said of him: “He loved the camaraderie of a crew. He loved the creative process. He’s been working in it pretty much from the beginning.”
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KATHLEEN NOLAN
After starring in “The Real McCoys,” Kathleen Nolan appeared in “Magnum, P.I.,” and “Cold Case.” She also became the first female president of the Screen Actors Guild from 1975 to 1979. She set a good example for women on the screen and proved that they were just as good as men.
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LYDIA REED
Before the show, actress Lydia Reed became known for “High Society,” “The Vampire,” and “Matinee Theatre.” However, she stopped working in the industry after “The Real McCoys” ended. She focused on being a wife to her husband, Mario Travaglini and their child in San Fernando Valley, California.
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TONY MARTINEZ
This Puerto Rican actor was known for “Rock Around the Clock” and “The Naked Dawn,” before the premiere of “The Real McCoys.” After the show, she starred in “The Man from U.N.C.L.E.” For more than forty years, the actor played the role of Sancho Panza in “Man of La Mancha” 2,245 times, including one musical that won a Tony Award in the ‘60s.
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Kathleen Nolan recalled: “He was just a natural, and he had this enormous sense of comedy timing. He was surrounded by three people -- me, Walter Brennan, and Dick Crenna -- who were experienced actors, and he was just right on the button.”
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ANDY CLYDE
Andie Clyde had a career in the industry that spanned for over four decades until his demise in 1967, at age 75. He had several films, including his last movie “Pardon My Night Shirt,” and the television shows “No Time for Sergeants” and “The Real McCoys.”
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Clyde became a well-loved actor in the genre of comedy and was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1960. This is a testament to his successful career and the impact he had on the comedy world especially.
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This show truly changed the way sitcoms were received. It made history and made its stars big household names. All of them made a success of their lives in one way or the other. This show goes to show that comedy will always do well especially when paired with good acting! What do you think about the show and did you watch it back in the day?
