When you think of Max Baer Jr., your mind probably goes straight to that giant, grinning face of Jethro Bodine from The Beverly Hillbillies. He was the guy who could eat a whole ham in one sitting and spend his afternoons dreaming of becoming a "double-naught spy." But off-camera? Max was a lot more complicated than the dim-witted nephew he played for nine years. Fans often wonder about his private life, especially since he vanished from the spotlight to become a casino mogul later in life. One question pops up more than any other: was Max Baer Jr. ever married? The short answer is yes. He was. But it’s not a long list of Hollywood starlets and messy tabloid divorces like you might expect from a 1960s sitcom star. Honestly, his marital history is pretty short, though it carries a bit of that classic Hollywood heartache.
The Short-Lived Marriage to Joanne Hill
Max Baer Jr. married Joanne Kathleen Hill in 1966. At the time, The Beverly Hillbillies was basically at the peak of its powers. Max was a household name. Joanne was an actress herself, though she didn’t have the same level of recognition. They tied the knot right in the middle of the "Swinging Sixties," but the marriage didn't exactly go the distance.
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They were together for about five years before calling it quits in 1971. That was the same year the Hillbillies finally went off the air. It’s kinda interesting to think about—his career-defining role and his only marriage both wrapped up at almost the exact same time. Talk about a life transition. After the divorce, Max never walked down the aisle again. He’s spent over 50 years as a bachelor, which is almost unheard of for someone who spent that much time in the public eye.
Why didn't they have kids?
This is something Max has actually been pretty open about. He once mentioned in an interview that he never had children because he didn't think he could live up to the standard his own father set. His dad was Max Baer Sr., the legendary heavyweight boxing champion. Max Jr. idolized him. He’s gone on record saying his father was his "buddy" and one of the kindest men he ever knew.
He basically felt that if he couldn't be the same kind of father his dad was to him, he’d rather not do it at all. It's a heavy reason, but it shows the guy had a lot of introspection. He wasn't just some goofy actor; he was someone who took the idea of legacy very seriously.
Life After Marriage: Relationships and Tragedy
Even though he stayed single in the legal sense, Max didn't live like a monk. He’s had several long-term relationships over the decades. The most notable—and unfortunately, the most tragic—was with a model named Chere Rhodes.
Max and Chere lived together in Lake Tahoe for a long time. She was much younger than him, about 30 when Max was 70. Sadly, in 2008, Chere took her own life at their home. It was a massive blow to Max. Reports at the time mentioned a suicide note that hinted at relationship struggles, which just adds a layer of sadness to the whole thing. Since that event, Max has kept his private life even closer to the vest.
The Bachelor Life in Nevada
If you go looking for Max Baer Jr. today, you won't find him in a Hollywood mansion with a trophy wife. He’s been a Nevada resident for ages. For years, he’s been obsessed with building a Beverly Hillbillies-themed casino. He bought the rights to the name and has spent millions trying to get the project off the ground in places like Reno and Douglas County.
It’s been a legal nightmare for him. He’s fought with local developers, city councils, and even other business owners. It’s sort of ironic: the man who played a guy who became an overnight millionaire is spending his real-life millions fighting the government to build a place where other people can try to get rich.
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Why the single life stuck
People often ask why a guy with his money and (former) fame stayed single for 50 years. Honestly? Some people just aren't built for the "husband" role after a certain point. Max clearly valued his independence. After the divorce in '71, he transitioned from being just an actor to being a producer and director. He made a ton of money with the movie Macon County Line in 1974.
When you're a self-made millionaire with a famous name and you’ve already been through the marriage wringer once, maybe you just decide that one time was enough.
Summary of Max’s Marital Timeline
To keep things simple, here is how the timeline actually looks:
- 1937: Born to Max Baer Sr. and Mary Ellen Sullivan.
- 1966: Married Joanne Hill during the height of his TV fame.
- 1971: Divorced Joanne Hill; the same year The Beverly Hillbillies ended.
- 1970s–Present: Remained unmarried, focusing on film production and later, casino development.
- 2008: Suffered the loss of long-time partner Chere Rhodes.
What you should take away from this
Max Baer Jr. is the last surviving member of the original Beverly Hillbillies cast. That alone makes him a bit of a living legend. But his personal life tells the story of a man who was very much shaped by his father’s shadow and a desire for a different kind of success than just being "the guy who played Jethro."
If you're looking for a deep romantic history, you won't find it here. You’ll find one marriage, one major tragedy, and a whole lot of years spent being a businessman in the Nevada desert.
Next Steps for Fans:
If you want to dive deeper into Max’s life, you should check out his work behind the camera. Watch Ode to Billy Joe (1976), which he directed. It gives you a much better sense of his creative mind than the "sixth-grade education" character he played on TV. You can also look into the history of his father, Max Baer Sr., to understand why Max Jr. held family standards so high that he chose to never have kids of his own.