If you’ve spent any time lately falling down a rabbit hole of classic TV nostalgia, you've probably asked the big question: is Max Baer alive? It’s a bit of a trick question because the answer depends entirely on which Max Baer you’re talking about. The name carries a massive legacy that spans from the brutal heavyweight boxing rings of the 1930s to the slapstick oil-rich mansion of The Beverly Hillbillies.
Honestly, the confusion is understandable. We’re talking about a father and son who shared a name, a massive physical presence, and a knack for capturing the American imagination.
The Short Answer: Who is Still With Us?
To get straight to the point: Max Baer Sr. passed away decades ago, but his son, Max Baer Jr., is very much alive. As of January 2026, Max Baer Jr.—the man we all know and love as the dim-witted but lovable Jethro Bodine—is 88 years old. He isn’t just alive; he’s essentially the last man standing from one of the most iconic eras of television. After the passing of Donna Douglas (who played the beautiful Elly May) in 2015, Max became the final surviving member of the original Beverly Hillbillies main cast.
🔗 Read more: Where is Shawn Wayans Now: Why the Comedy Icon Disappeared (and His 2026 Comeback)
It’s kind of wild to think about. Jed, Granny, Elly May... they’re all gone. Only Jethro remains.
The Tragic and Brief Life of Max Baer Sr.
When people ask "is Max Baer alive" and they’re thinking of the boxing champion, the answer is a firm no. Max Baer Sr. was a powerhouse. He was the Heavyweight Champion of the World back in 1934 after he knocked out Primo Carnera. He was a guy who fought with a Star of David on his trunks to spite the Nazis, despite being only half-Jewish.
But his life was cut short way too soon.
On November 21, 1959, the elder Baer was staying at the Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood. He had just refereed a boxing match in Phoenix a few days prior and was in town to film some commercials. While he was shaving in his hotel room, he started feeling severe chest pains. He actually managed to call the front desk and ask for a doctor, famously joking with the medic about his "v-eight" engine failing him.
He died of a heart attack at the hospital that same day. He was only 50 years old.
Why Max Baer Jr. Is the "Last Man Standing"
It’s almost poetic that Max Baer Jr. outlived the "tough guy" image of his father by so many decades. Born Maximilian Adalbert Baer Jr. in 1937, he was just 21 when his dad died. Most people don't realize that Max Jr. was actually a high-level athlete himself—he played football and was a great golfer—but he chose the camera over the ring.
💡 You might also like: Benji Madden: What Most People Get Wrong About What Does Cameron Diaz Husband Do
When The Beverly Hillbillies premiered in 1962, Max Jr. became an overnight sensation. But that fame was a double-edged sword.
Playing Jethro Bodine, a character who famously had a "sixth-grade education" and spent most of his time trying to become a "double-naught spy" or a brain surgeon, basically killed Max’s acting career. He was so good at being Jethro that Hollywood couldn't see him as anything else.
"I couldn't get a job as an actor after that," he once said in an interview. "I was Jethro. People thought I was actually that dumb."
He Made a Fortune Anyway
If you think Max Baer Jr. spent his life wallowing in the "Jethro" shadow, think again. He’s actually one of the smartest businessmen to ever come out of 1960s TV.
When he couldn't get acting gigs, he went behind the scenes. He wrote, produced, and starred in Macon County Line in 1974. It was a gritty, low-budget film that cost about $200,000 to make and ended up grossing over $25 million. At the time, it was the most profitable indie film ever made per dollar spent. He repeated that success with Ode to Billy Joe.
Basically, Jethro was a secret genius.
Where is Max Baer Jr. Now in 2026?
Today, Max lives a relatively quiet, private life. He moved away from the Hollywood hustle a long time ago, settling in Northern Nevada near Lake Tahoe.
He’s spent a significant portion of the last twenty years trying to develop a Beverly Hillbillies-themed casino. It’s been a saga of legal battles, zoning issues, and developers backing out, but he’s never really let the dream go. He wanted a place where fans could eat at "Jethro’s All-You-Can-Eat Buffet" and see a replica of the mansion.
Even at 88, he’s known for being sharp-witted and occasionally cranky in interviews. He doesn't do the convention circuit much anymore—he’s earned his rest. He spends time on the golf course and stays out of the limelight, which is probably why people constantly search the internet to see if he's still around.
Common Misconceptions About the Baer Family
There are a few "facts" that get twisted when people talk about the Baers. Let's clear some up:
📖 Related: Pharrell Williams Wife Ethnicity: What Most People Get Wrong
- The "Killer" Reputation: In the 2005 movie Cinderella Man, Max Baer Sr. is portrayed as a bit of a villain who taunts Jim Braddock about killing men in the ring. The real Max Baer Sr. was devastated by the death of Frankie Campbell, a fighter who died after a bout with him. He actually helped pay for Campbell's children’s education. Max Jr. has been very vocal about how much that movie unfairly smeared his father's character.
- The Jewish Connection: Max Sr. wore the Star of David to protest Hitler, but he wasn't religiously Jewish. He was raised in a household with a Jewish father and a non-Jewish mother.
- The "Dumb Jethro" Myth: Max Baer Jr. has a degree in Business and Philosophy from Santa Clara University. He is literally the opposite of the character he played.
Why We Still Care
The fascination with whether Max Baer is alive stems from a deep-seated love for the Golden Age of Television. Seeing Jethro on screen reminds people of a simpler time when families sat around the TV together. Knowing that Max Jr. is still with us feels like a final thread connecting us to that era of comedy.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
If you want to celebrate the legacy of the Baers, here is how you can do it without just Googling their status:
- Watch the Real Max Sr.: Skip Cinderella Man for a second and look up actual footage of Max Baer Sr. fighting. His charisma in the ring was unlike anything else in the 1930s.
- Check out Macon County Line: If you only know Max Jr. as Jethro, you owe it to yourself to see his work as a filmmaker. It’s a dark, intense movie that proves his range.
- Support Classic TV Preservation: Since Max Jr. is the last surviving member, consider supporting organizations like the Paley Center for Media that preserve the history of The Beverly Hillbillies.
- Visit Livermore, California: There is a park named after Max Baer Sr. in Livermore (where he grew up). It’s a great spot for a bit of sports history.
Max Baer Jr. might be the "last man standing," but through his business savvy and his father’s legendary boxing career, the Baer name isn't going anywhere. He’s living proof that you can be typecast as a "dim-wit" and still end up as the smartest guy in the room.