Green Acres: The two women who portrayed Doris Ziffel

Green Acres Lives On

Green Acres was an American sitcom that ran on CBS from 1965-1971. Barbara Pepper originated the role of Doris Zifel who was married to Fred Ziffel (Hank Patterson) and they were the parents of Arnold the pig. The actress was born Marion Pepper in New York City, to actor David Mitchell "Dave" Pepper, and his wife, Harrietta S. Pepper. Barbara began acting at age 16 with Goldwyn Girls, a musical stock company where she met Lucille Ball and the two became friends.

Other Projects

From 1937 to 1943, Pepper appeared in 43 movies, mostly in supporting roles or in minor films. She ad a leading role in The Rogues' Tavern and Mummy's Boys, both feature films were released in 1936 She later had small roles inlater film parts were small roles in It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963) and My Fair Lady (1964).

Pepper married actor Craig Reynolds in 1943 and they had two sons. Reynolds died in a motorcycle accident in California in 1949 and the actress never remarried. After she began gaining weight, Pepper's roles were confined to small character parts on television, including several appearances on The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show, I Love Lucy, The Jack Benny Program, and Petticoat Junction, She made four appearances on Perry Mason, In 1957, she guest-starred in the episode "The Diet" of the CBS sitcom Mr. Adams and Eve. Pepper was actually credited as "Fat Woman." In 1958, she appeared on the television western Tales of Wells Fargo as "Boxcar Annie" in the episode titled "Butch Cassidy".

Green Acres we are there

Barbara Pepper is best remembered as the first Doris Ziffel on Green Acres. Her first appearance was on Petticoat Junction in 1964 but she was called Ruth. From 1965 to 1968, she was Doris who kept Fred in line and treated Arnold just like a regular little boy. Sadly her health ailments eventually forced her to leave the beloved sitcom. Pepper's final performance was in the film Hook, Line & Sinker in 1969, where she portrayed Jerry Lewis's secretary. She died five months after leaving Green Acres on July 18, 1969. Her cause of death was heart ailments.

Green Acres replaces Pepper with Fran Ryan

Actress Fran Ryan replaced Pepper on Green Acres, which would continue to run for another three years. Ryan began performing at the age of six and began her television career two decades later. Her debut came in episode 43 of Batman, in 1966, which was followed by a small part in Beverly Hillbillies. " Ryan's first supporting actress role was as Aggie Thompson in the first several episodes of The Doris Day Show. During this same season, she was offered the opportunity to replace Pepper on Green Acres as Doris Ziffel.

Other Roles

Ryan portrayed Rosie Carlson in the NBC soap opera Days of Our Lives from 1976–1979 and was Sister Agatha on General Hospital in 1989. She also did voiceovers for cartoons such as Mister T, Hong Kong Phooey, and Little Dracula. She was Gertrude the Grouch in the children's show Sigmund and the Sea Monsters in 1975 and Mrs. Goodbody in the 1970s children's show New Zoo Revue. Her last regular television role was on The Dave Thomas Comedy Show.

Ryan also appeared in many feature films, including Big Wednesday (1978), The Long Riders (1980), Take This Job and Shove It (1981), Pale Rider (1985), and Chances Are (1989). Her television roles also included CHiPs, Quantum Leap, Night Court, Taxi, The Dukes of Hazzard, Baywatch, Adam-12, and The Commish. On Green Acres at first glance viewers may not have readily noticed that Pepper had been replaced by Ryan because the two women were of similar build. Once Ryan opened her mouth the difference was evident because she had a really distinctive voice.

Double tragedy

Fran's first husband, Walter Kenneth Wayne died when the plane he was piloting crashed in January 1951. The actress was pregnant at the time with their first and only child a son, Christopher, born in April 1951. Fran remarried Howard Schafer in January 1953 and he also died when a plane he was piloting crashed in May 1953. The wreckage of Howard's plane was not discovered until November 1968 but no remains were found.