Behind the Scenes With The Real McCoys

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Walter Brennan, Kathleen Nolan and Richard Crenna.

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Hello! I'm Mr. Ed

Blog Created: 4-26-2026

Last Updated: 5-8-2026

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The Real McCoys is an American sitcom starring Walter Brennan, Richard Crenna, and Kathleen Nolan. Co-produced by Danny Thomas's Marterto Productions in association with Walter Brennan and Irving Pincus's Westgate Company, it was broadcast for six seasons: five by the ABC-TV network, from 1957 to 1962; and a final season by CBS, 1962–1963. Set in California's San Fernando Valley, it was filmed at Desilu studios in Hollywood.

Synopsis ~

The Real McCoys concerns the lives of a family originally from the Appalachian Mountains of West Virginia, from a fictional place named Smokey Corners. They relocated to California to live and work on a farm they inherited from Ben McCoy, brother to patriarch Amos McCoy. The family included Grandpa Amos (Walter Brennan), his grandson Luke (Richard Crenna), Luke's new wife Kate (Kathleen Nolan), Luke's teenage sister Tallahassie "Hassie" (Lydia Reed), and her 11-year-old brother "Little Luke" (Michael Winkelman). The double naming of the brothers is explained in the first full episode ("Californy, Here We Come"), when the elder Luke introduces Little Luke to Pepino Garcia (Tony Martinez) and says, "Well, you see, in the excitement of having him, Ma and Pa plum forgot they already had me." Only Crenna appeared in all 225 episodes.

The former West Virginians join the Grange farm association and hire Pepino when he informs them he was Ben's foreman. In the episode broadcast January 8, 1962, Pepino becomes an American citizen and assumes the surname "McCoy." The McMichaels, a brother and sister played by Andy Clyde and Madge Blake in 29 and 21 episodes, respectively, lived on the hill near the McCoys. Amos McCoy and George McMichael, both crotchety old men, sometimes quarreled, often about their games of checkers and horseshoes. Kate is friendly with Flora McMichael, George's sister, and becomes involved with life in the community.

Although still in her 20s, Kate serves as a mother figure for Luke's younger siblings, Hassie and Little Luke. Many episodes have a moral theme consistent with the conservative opinions of Walter Brennan.

On February 23, 1961, while working on The Real McCoys, Kathleen Nolan was thrown from a horse and seriously injured. Her character of Kate was off the series for several months. Hassie left home to attend college, and Little Luke joined the United States Army. For the final season Hassie appeared only in the first episode; Little Luke was never seen again. Amos McCoy did not appear in the last eleven episodes; he was said to be back visiting family in West Virginia. Luke was a widower, and many of the stories concerned Grandpa trying to find him a new wife. This nearly succeeded when Luke met Louise Howard, portrayed by Janet De Gore, a widow with a young son, Greg, played by Butch Patrick, later of CBS's series The Munsters, a relationship which continued through the end of the series.

Guest stars ~

Jon Lormer was cast seven times as an actor for The Real McCoys during 1959 and 1960, six as the character Sam Watkins. Joan Blondell appeared three times near the end of the series as Aunt Win. Marjorie Bennett was cast three times as Amanda Comstock. Pat Buttram and Howard McNear also appeared three times; they were subsequently cast as Eustace Haney on CBS's Green Acres and as Floyd the Barber on CBS's The Andy Griffith Show. Olin Howland and Willard Waterman appeared five times each as Charley Perkins and Mac Maginnis, respectively.

Early in the series, Charles Lane, who often appeared in a character role on I Love Lucy, was cast twice as Harry Poulson, a fast-talking egg salesman; Hassie McCoy has an interest in Harry's son. During 1963, Jack Oakie appeared three times in the role of Uncle Rightly. Dick Elliott was cast twice as Doc Thornton, and Lurene Tuttle appeared twice as Gladys Purvis, the widowed mother of series character Kate McCoy, with Jay Novello in one of those appearances as Gladys' intended second husband, a retired photographer from Fresno.

Malcolm Cassell appeared several times as Hassie McCoy's boyfriend, Tommy. Edward Everett Horton (the narrator of Fractured Fairy Tales) played J. Luther Medwick, the grandfather of Hassie's other boyfriend, Jerry; Medwick and Amos soon clash. Verna Felton, a member of the December Bride cast, appeared once as Cousin Naomi Vesper. Jesse White, known later as the actor portraying the Maytag repairman for television commercials and subsequently a cast member of CBS's The Ann Sothern Show, portrayed a used car salesman named "San Fernando Harry" who clashes with Amos in "The New Car" (October 2, 1958). On June 1, 1961, Amos, Luke, and Kate return to West Virginia for the 100th-birthday gathering of "Grandmother McCoy", played by Jane Darwell. In one episode, Lee Van Cleef played an Air Force Security Guard; in another Tom Skerritt appeared as a letter carrier.

The episode "The Tycoon" (August 30, 1960) four years later coincidentally shared the title of Brennan's next ABC sitcom, The Tycoon, with his co-actor Van Williams. Barbara Stanwyck made a cameo appearance in the 1959 episode "The McCoys Go To Hollywood", which also features Dorothy Provine. In 1961, Fay Wray is featured in the episode "Theatre in the Barn", as herself. She volunteers to direct a local amateur production to raise money for the Grange.

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Walter Brennan as Grandpa Amos McCoy.

Richard Crenna as Luke McCoy.

Kathleen Nolan as Kate McCoy.

Michael Winkelman (as Little Luke McCoy). Episode, The Artist, originally broadcast November 26, 1959. (Photo by CBS via Getty Images).

Lydia Reed as Hassie McCoy with Michael L. Winkelman.

Tony Martinez as Pepino Garcia. He was the McCoy's hired hand.

Joan Blondell and Andy Clyde. He played George McMichael, the McCoy's neighbor and Amos' best friend.

Madge Blake as Flora McMichael. George's sister.

Michael Lew Winkelman.

Episode, The Girl Veterinarian. Originally broadcast December 2, 1962. Pictured is Ellen Burstyn (as Dorothy Carter, the vet). (Photo by CBS via Getty Images).

Episode, Grandpa's Date. Pictured is Tony Martinez (as Pepino) and Unidentified actress (as Conchita, Pepino's date). Originally broadcast November 21, 1957. (Photo by CBS via Getty Images).

The cast of the televison comedy 'The Real McCoys' drive down Pennsylvania Avenue in an open-top car similiar to one used in the show, Washington DC, April 7, 1960. Pictured are front seat from left, Walter Brennan (1894 - 1974), Kathleen Nolan, and Tony Martinez (1920 - 2002), back seat, from left, Richard Crenna (1926 - 2003), Michael Winkleman (1946 - 1999), and Lydia Reed. (Photo by PhotoQuest/Getty Images).

Episode, The Girl Veterinarian. Originally broadcast December 2, 1962. Pictured from left is Richard Crenna (as Luke McCoy), Ellen Burstyn (as Dorothy Carter, the vet). (Photo by CBS via Getty Images).

Episode, The Girl Veterinarian. Originally broadcast December 2, 1962. Pictured is Walter Brennan (as Grandpa Amos McCoy), at left. (Photo by CBS via Getty Images).

Episode, Grandpa's Date. Pictured is Walter Brennan (as Grandpa McCoy) on set. Originally broadcast November 21, 1957. (Photo by CBS via Getty Images).

Episode, Theater In The Barn, originally broadcast April 6, 1961. Pictured is Richard Crenna sitting in a director's chair. (Photo by CBS via Getty Images).

Pictured is an off camera moment, left to right, Stephen Ellsworth (Kathy Nolan's father), Kathleen Nolan (as Kate McCoy) and Walter Brennan (portrays Grandpa Amos McCoy). Episode, The Artist, originally broadcast November 26, 1959. (Photo by CBS via Getty Images).

Episode, The Politician, originally broadcast October 8, 1959. Pictured is Walter Brennan as (Granpa Amos McCoy). (Photo by CBS via Getty Images).

"The Horse Expert" - Airdate: January 19, 1961. (Photo by ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images) MICHAEL WINKELMAN (2ND FROM R) AND RICHARD CRENNA (R) WITH EXTRAS.

"The Horse Expert" - Airdate: January 19, 1961. (Photo by ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images) L-R: TONY MARTINEZ;WALTER BRENNAN.

"Money in the Bank" - Airdate: May 18, 1961. (Photo by ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images) RICHARD DEACON.

"Once There Was a Traveling Salesman" - Airdate: March 6, 1958. (Photo by ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images) PEGGY KNUDSEN;RICHARD CRENNA.

"Meeting Hassie's Friends" - Airdate: January 25, 1962. (Photo by ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images) L-R: MAY HEATHERLY;WALTER BRENNAN;QUINN O'HARA.

"Luke Leaves Home" Behind-the-Scenes Coverage - Airdate: October 19, 1961. (Photo by ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images) L-R: RICHARD CRENNA;UNKNOWN;KATHLEEN NOLAN.

"Back to West Virginny" - Airdate: July 27, 1961. (Photo by ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images).

"Back to West Virginny" - Airdate: July 27, 1961. (Photo by ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images) PRODUCTION SHOT OF WALTER BRENNAN, RICHARD CRENNA AND KATHLEEN NOLAN.

Lydia Reed Color - Shoot Date: October 1, 1960. (Photo by ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images) LYDIA REED.

Richard Crenna Antique Shopping - Shoot Date: May 27, 1959. (Photo by ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images) RICHARD CRENNA.

Richard Crenna Antique Shopping - Shoot Date: May 27, 1959. (Photo by ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images) RICHARD CRENNA WITH SHOP OWNER BETTINA HANSON.

Richard Crenna at home after antique shopping.

Walter Brennan with Camera - Shoot Date: May 7, 1958. (Photo by ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images) WALTER BRENNAN (L) WITH FIRST CAMERAMAN CHARLIE BURKE.