During her earlier show business career(before Granny on "The Beverly Hillbillies"), Irene Ryan appeared in a number of "B" films scripted by her first husband Tim Ryan. In these films, Ms.Ryan usually was cast as a wisecracking, man-hungry old maid.
Irene Ryan often cheerfully said that she was virtually washed up in the entertainment business until she landed the role of Granny on "The Beverly Hillbillies".