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Linda Kaye Henning said that having a famous relative is ''the best and worst thing that can happen to a performer.''
The actor's father was Paul Henning, creator of The Beverly Hillbillies.
Being a relative of someone famous isn’t all it's cracked up to be. The public will shun you, call you a nepo baby, and swear that you’ve never worked an honest day in their lives. But just because someone lives a privileged life doesn’t mean that they haven’t had their own personal struggles.
As the daughter of television creator Paul Henning, Linda Henning claimed that being the child of a famous creator is “the best and worst thing that can happen to a performer,” during an interview with The Daily Report.
Paul Henning was responsible for popular sitcoms like The Beverly Hillbillies and had a hand in comedies like Green Acres. Though she was born into the industry, Linda Henning explained that being the daughter of an important creator did her no favors with casting producers.
“I had to audition with everyone else,” said Henning. “People would forget that I’ve been training for a career since I was five years old and working professionally since I was 15.”
Even Linda’s father wouldn’t show preferential treatment. When she was invited to audition for the role of Betty Jo in Petticoat Junction, it was only because her future co-star, Bea Benaderet, had convinced the elder Henning to offer an audition.
Once Linda had won the role based on her own talent, her father served her with a warning.
“When I got the part, I couldn’t believe it,” said Henning. “Then my father called me aside and said I’d better make him proud of me, and I’ve never worked so hard in my life.”
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