<P> In 1962, Baer was cast in the role of the doltish Jethro Bodine, Jed Clampett's cousin's son . It proved to be the high point of his acting career and the role for which he is best remembered . </P> <P> He continued to take other parts during the nine - year run of The Beverly Hillbilles and appeared on the television programs Vacation Playhouse and Love, American Style, as well as in the western A Time for Killing . </P> <P> Following the cancellation of The Beverly Hillbillies in 1971, Baer made numerous guest appearances on television, but he quickly found his acting career hampered on the "small screen" by typecasting . He therefore began to concentrate on working in feature motion pictures, especially behind the camera, writing, producing and directing . Baer wrote and produced the drama Macon County Line (1974), in which he played Deputy Reed Morgan . It was the highest - grossing movie per dollar invested at the time . Made for just US $110,000, it earned almost US $25 million at the box office . This record lasted until The Blair Witch Project broke it in 1999 . He also wrote, produced, and directed the drama The Wild McCullochs (1975), as well as playing the role of Culver Robinson . </P> <P> Baer then had the idea of using the title of a popular song as a movie title, so he acquired the rights to Bobbie Gentry's hit song to produce the 1976 film Ode to Billy Joe, which he also directed . Made for only US $1.1 million, it grossed $27 million at the box office, plus earnings in excess of US $2.65 million outside the US, US $4.75 million from television, and US $2.5 million from video . The film starred Robby Benson and Glynnis O'Connor . </P>

Who played jethro in the beverly hillbillies movie