Petticoat Junction Star Dies

L O S   A N G E L E S, July 15 -- Meredith MacRae, who played comely countrygirl Billie Jo Bradley in the 1960s sitcom Petticoat Junction,died Friday from brain cancer. She was 56.

MacRae, who had a tumor removed from the right side of her brainJan. 28, 1999, and received an excellent prognosis at the time,died at her Manhattan Beach home, publicist Sandy Pollock said.

“She really fought the good fight,” said Pollock, a longtimefriend. “She was a terrific women, one of the best I’ve known.”

MacRae played Billie Jo from 1966-70 on the CBS series, whichstarred Bea Benaderet as the widowed owner of the Shady Rest Hoteland mother of three eye-catching daughters who helped run theHooterville establishment.

The series was part of CBS’ popular country-themed lineup thatincluded Green Acres.

A Hollywood Family

MacRae was born in Houston to a Hollywood family: Her father wasthe late actor-singer Gordon MacRae, who played the lovesick cowboyCurly in “Oklahoma!” Her mother is actress-comedian Sheila MacRae(The Honeymooners).

Meredith MacRae made her film debut at age 7 in By the Lightof the Silvery Moon (1953) which starred her father and DorisDay. Her first TV series was My Three Sons, in which she playedSally, the love interest for Mike (Tim Considine) from 1963-65.

She launched a TV talk show career with Mid-Morning L.A.,which she co-hosted Geoff Edwards. It ran for eight years and wonher a local Emmy in 1986. MacRae followed that with BornFamous, in which she interviewed the offspring of celebrities.

MacRae, whose marriages to movie executive Richard Berger andactor Greg Mullavey ended in divorce, married business executivePhil Neal in 1995.

She is survived by her husband, her daughter Allison Mullavey,her mother, and brothers Bruce and Gar. Funeral arrangements werepending.