6 stars who are the last surviving cast members of classic TV shows

Let's celebrate Trixie, Lois, Jethro, Eb, Officer Reed and Jeannie.

Let's celebrate living legends. We are fortunate to still have TV icons with us, like Dawn Wells and Tina Louise from Gilligan's Island, all of the Brady kids, or Ron Howard and Betty Lynn from The Andy Griffith Show

However, in some cases, only one main cast member remains.

Here are some stars will keep the legacy of these beloves series alive. Raise a toast!

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1. Joyce Randolph of The Honeymooners

 

Randolph was neither the first nor last actor to portray Trixie Norton (Elaine Stritch and Jane Kean take claim to that, respectively) but she is most associated with the character. After all, Stritch lasted a single episode and Kean came about in the later, color reunions of the 1960s. Michigan native Randolph — once called "the Garbo of Detroit" — played Ed's wife on The Honeymooners half-hour sitcom, "The Classic 39." A key part of a relatively small cast, Randolph recently celebrated her 96th birthday. 

Image: The Everett Collection

2. Phyllis Coates of Adventures of Superman

 

Two women portrayed fearless reporter and Clark Kent love interest Lois Lane on Adventures of Superman (1952–58). Noel Neill (1920–2016) appeared in more episodes — and was the first live-action Lois in the film serials of the 1940s — but in between those two stints, Phyllis Coates starred in season one of Adventures alongside George Reeves. Born Gypsie Ann Evarts Stell, this former chorus girl first played Lois in Superman and the Mole Men (1951), the first feature film featuring the Man of Steel.

Image: The Everett Collection

3. Max Baer Jr. of The Beverly Hillbillies

 

Son of boxing champ and eventual film star Max Baer, Junior began his own acting career in earnest in the 1960s. Best known as Jethro Bodine, Baer Jr. not only outlived his castmates (Donna Douglas passed away in 2015), he wisely profited of his signature role. He obtained some Hillbillies sublicensing rights for products such as food and slot machines. For decades, he has envisioned a casino themed around the sitcom that has yet to come to fruition. The plans for the Nevada attraction called for a 200-foot replica oil derrick. In 1986, Baer attempted to get the film rights to Madonna's "Like a Virgin."

Image: The Everett Collection

4. Tom Lester of Green Acres

 

The man behind Eb Dawson was an honest-to-goodness farmer. Tom Lester was not your typical Hollywood star. You know him as the friendly farmhand on Green Acres. A Mississippi native, Lester remained a country boy at heart. It is said that Lester beat out 400 other actors for the role of Eb because he actually knew how to milk a cow. After Green Acres ended in 1971, Lester returned home to Laurel, Mississippi. He moved back in with his parents. He later became the owner of a 250-acre timber farm in Vossburg, Mississippi. In 1997, he was the recipient of Mississippi's "Wildlife Farmer of the Year" award.

5. Kent McCord of Adam-12

 

When it comes to police shows and sci-fi, few actors have the resume and reputation of Kent McCord. He began his career as the picture-perfect street cop, with a chiseled jaw and neat hair. No wonder his iconic character Jim Reed appeared on so many shows beyond Adam-12. Later, he landed regular roles on Galactica 1980 (the Battlestar Galactica sequel series), SeaQuest 2032 and Farscape. Along the way, he often reteamed with his old partner Martin Milner — and became an important power-player in Hollywood unions. Milner passed away in 2015. William Boyett (Sgt. MacDonald), Fred Stromsoe (Officer Woods), Gary Crosby (Officer Wells), and Claude Johnson (Officer Brinkman) had all previously passed. Well, one other voice from Adam-12 survives. Shaaron Claridge, the uncredited dispatcher who was an LAPD dispatcher in real life.

Image: The Everett Collection

6. Barbara Eden of I Dream of Jeannie

 

Following the deaths of Larry Hagman (Tony), Bill Daily (Roger), Hayden Rorke (Dr. Bellows), Jeannie herself is the last remaining regular cast member of I Dream of Jeannie. She recently played Mrs. Claus in the 2019 holiday movie My Adventures with Santa.

Image: The Everett Collection

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115 Comments

Richard74a 22 months ago
As of today John Astin is the last surviving cast member of The Addams Family and Michael McKean is the last surviving cast member of Laverne and Shirley.
AaronHandyIII 30 months ago
The main cast of "The Green Hornet" (ABC, 1966-67): Bruce Lee, Wende Wagner and Van Williams...sadly, all gone. 😟

JJPerry 31 months ago
Burt Ward is the last surviving regular cast member of Batman....some of the villains/villainesses are still alive...Julie Newmar (Catwoman)...Barbara Rush (Nora Clavicle)...Joan Collins (Siren)...Glynis Johns (Lady Penelope Peasoup)...John Astin (played Riddler in ONE 2 part episode)...Jill St.John (Molly)
jerrygon 36 months ago
Sadly Shaaron Claridge passed away on September 15, 2021. Kent McCord is truly the last Adam-12 survivor. Stay well Kent!
Antoine 36 months ago
Now Mickey Dolenz is the last surviving member of The Monkees.
Antoine 44 months ago
Now Jay North is the last surviving regular cast member of Dennis The Menace.
AarHandy3 Antoine 41 months ago
Jeannie Russell (Margaret Wade) is still with us.

AaronHandyIII 47 months ago
Only 4 original cast members of Star Trek are still with us: William Shatner, George Takei, Walter Koenig and Nichelle Nichols.

Kent85 47 months ago
Tina Louise is now the only surviving cast member of Gilligan’s Island.
AaronHandyIII 49 months ago
All cast members of The Flying Nun save for the star, Sally Field (Sis. Betrille), are dead.
dexman335 56 months ago
Sadly, with the recent passing of Tom Lester, the entire main cast of Green Acres is gone. ☹
Richie74 56 months ago
Marla Gibbs, Berlinda Tolbert and Damon Evans are the last surviving cast members of The Jeffersons.
However the entire cast of The Love Boat is still alive today.
ChrisRobinson 56 months ago
Technically, Burt Ward is the last surviving star of Batman. Julie Newmar was a "Guest Star" in all of her appearances
JJPerry 57 months ago
Heres another one Julie Kavner (Rhoda's kid sister Beth)
JJPerry 52 months ago
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AaronHandyIII HalPritzker 49 months ago
The dreaded "D" word... 😒

JJPerry 57 months ago
And one more....James Brolin (Dr.Kiley...Marcus Welby M.D.)
JJPerry 52 months ago
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JJPerry 57 months ago
You forgot a couple...Terry Carter (The Phil Silvers Show)...and Marc Copage (Corey on Julia)
thomtv 57 months ago
Recently went to Lucille Balls hometown in New York. We went to her museum and enjoyed it immensely. The sets, the costumes and the story of Lucy took me back to my childhood. A great experience!
robert thomtv 18 months ago
Yes, but the rest of Jamestown, NY leaves a lot to be desired.
kkvegas 57 months ago
This got me thinking about how many stars of the Mary Tyler Moore Show are still alive: Betty White (98), Cloris Leachman (93), Ed Asner (90), and Gavin MacLeod (89).
CouchPotato19 kkvegas 56 months ago
Wow! At those ages, I would wager not for much longer.
CouchPotato19 52 months ago
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Richard74a kkvegas 22 months ago
Sadly all have since passed away.
DavidBartholomew 57 months ago
Noel Neill and Phyllis Coates (Lois Lane) ....

Noel was the Lois in the Serials in the 1940s, with Kirk Allyn. The 1950s TV show, George Reeves, Noel was doing a film, so Coates was hired for one season. Noel was in the rest of the shows. And, of course, Kirk Allyn and Neill played Lois Lane parents in the first Christopher Reeve Superman film.
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