Betty Jo from 'Petticoat Junction' Was Married to Co-star Mike Minor Who Died in 2016 Meet Linda

Publish date: 2024-05-22

The sixties was a nostalgic era that gave us legendary stars, epic shows, and fabulous fashions - one of these came in the form of "Petticoat Junction."

Linda Kaye Henning, well known for her many screen roles and especially as Betty Jo Bradley on the CBS series "Petticoat Junction," is now 76.

In 2016, she experienced the death of her ex-husband and former co-star, Mike Minor, who died of cancer at 75.

Linda Henning sits on the porch of the Shady Rest Hotel on an episode of "Petticoat Junction" in' Los Angeles, on October 2, 1963 | Source: Getty Images

ABOUT LINDA KAYE HENNING

Linda, who studied to be a dancer before going into acting, is the daughter of veteran writer and TV producer Paul Henning and Ruth Henning.

Linda's biography on FrostSnow describes a colorful career that highlights her most notable role as Betty Jo on "Petticoat Junction."

Portrait of an early version of the cast of "Petticoat Junction," in California on April 24, 1963 | Source: Getty Images

In that project, Linda was one of three permanent cast members and appeared in 220 episodes of the show between 1963 and 1970 until the show was canceled.

Born on September 16, 1944, in Los Angeles, she began her illustrious career as a teenager. Acting in well-known productions, as well as musicals, she made a name for herself on shows like "Bye Bye Birdie," "Gidget," "Bus Stop," and "Rebel Without a Cause."

Linda Henning at the 50th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards on August 29, 1998, at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium | Source: Getty Images

Later, she went on to appear on "The Ed Sullivan Show," "Adam-12," "Happy Days," "Mork and Mindy," "Sliders," "Hunter," and "Capitol."

After her separation from Minor, Linda married an American actor, Ashby Adams, in 1994. They are still together after 26 years.

Mike Minor poses for a portrait in circa 1966 | Source: Getty Images

HENNING AND MINOR'S RELATIONSHIP

Mike Minor was said to have developed a crush on Linda while still a guest in the second season of "Petticoat Junction."

When he became a regular, the original script for the show indicated that he would fall in love with Billie Jo's older sister. As fate would have it, he fell for Linda, and the producers decided to go with it and fit it into the show.

Linda dated her co-star, Mike Minor, for five years before marrying him, first on-screen and then in real life. They divorced five years later, in 1973, and had no children together.

Linda Henning at the Chiller Theatre Expo - Day 1 at Sheraton Parsippany Hotel on October 23, 2015, | Source: Getty Images

LIFE OF MINOR

Minor and Linda, singers as well as actors, often sang duets together. Linda and her onscreen sisters, played by Meredith MacRae and Lori Saunders, also sang in a trio on the show.

Before his appearance on "Petticoat Junction," Minor, the oldest son of Don Fedderson, the producer behind such series as "My Three Sons," "Family Affair," and "The Millionaire," had his first professional singing gig at the "Ye Little Club in Beverly Hills."

Then he made guest appearances on shows such as "The Donald O'Connor Show" in 1954 and "The Joey Bishop Show" in 1961. He also appeared on episodes of "The Lieutenant," "CHiPS," "All My Children," and other shows.

In 1999, Minor was seen performing on Broadway at the Duffy Theatre, starring as Inspector James Ascher in "A Perfect Crime." At the time of his death, he had been divorced from Linda for almost 46 years. However, he was survived by his son John, grandchildren Shane, Morgan, and Taylor, brothers Dana and Brian, and sisters Monya and Dionne.

ncG1vNJzZmimlazAb63MqKSapZFjsLC5jmppa2tmbnqjsdOtsGain2K9psDTopqomaRit7a6wq2gqKZdoq6zvsiem2aZXajBb7TTpqM%3D