You probably know Sharon Tate as the tragic face of late-60s Hollywood or the breakout star of Valley of the Dolls. But if you go back to the black-and-white archives of 1963, you’ll find her in the most unexpected place: Commerce Bank.
Sharon Tate on The Beverly Hillbillies wasn't just a quick guest spot. It was a calculated, multi-year "incognito" internship. Honestly, if you weren’t looking closely at the credits, you might have missed her entirely. She wasn't playing a glamorous starlet. She was Janet Trego, a brunette bank secretary.
The Secret of the Black Wig
Why the disguise? It sounds like something out of a spy novel, but it was actually the brainchild of Martin Ransohoff. He was the head of Filmways and the man who held Tate’s contract. Ransohoff was obsessed with "seasoning" his new discovery. He didn't want the world to see the "real" Sharon Tate until she was a polished diamond.
Basically, he hid her in plain sight.
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To keep her from being too recognizable, the production team slapped a short, dark wig over her famous blonde hair. She played Janet Trego, the efficient assistant to Miss Jane Hathaway at Milburn Drysdale’s bank. Between 1963 and 1965, she appeared in 15 episodes. Sometimes she was just in the background. Other times, she was the target of Jethro Bodine’s legendary, awkward "courting" attempts.
More Than Just Janet
While Janet Trego was her main gig, the show used her like a Swiss Army knife. Before she became a fixture at the bank, she popped up in the season 2 episode "Elly Starts School" as a girl named Mary. She even had a tiny uncredited bit as a party guest in another episode.
It’s wild to watch those scenes now. You see this future fashion icon taking notes, answering phones, and playing the "straight man" to the Clampetts’ chaotic hillbilly energy. She was learning the ropes. Max Baer Jr., who played Jethro, later recalled how incredibly sweet and down-to-earth she was. He’d clown around with her between takes, and there are actually some great candid photos of them on set where she's finally ditched the wig and is just laughing in her natural blonde state.
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The "Siren" in Training
Ransohoff’s strategy was weird, but it worked. By the time she left the show in 1965, she had hours of camera time under her belt. She’d learned timing from pros like Buddy Ebsen and Nancy Kulp. She wasn't just a "pretty face" anymore; she was a working actress.
The transition from the bank to the big screen happened fast.
- 1965: She lands a role in The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
- 1966: She stars in Eye of the Devil.
- 1967: The world finally sees the "real" Sharon in Valley of the Dolls.
Most people today watch The Beverly Hillbillies and think, "Wait, is that...?" Yeah. It is.
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Why It Still Matters
It’s easy to look at Sharon Tate’s career through the lens of how it ended. But looking at her time as Janet Trego gives you a glimpse of a young woman just trying to make it. She worked hard. She wore a goofy wig and sat at a desk in the background because she wanted to be great.
If you want to spot her yourself, look for the episodes "Jethro’s First Love" or "Dash Riprock, You Cad." It’s a trip to see her navigating the 60s sitcom world before she became the definitive face of the "Summer of Love."
How to Find Sharon’s Episodes
If you're looking to do a deep dive into her Filmways era, here is how to track down the best footage:
- Check the Black and White Eras: Most of her work as Janet Trego happened in seasons 2 and 3. Since the show eventually moved to color, her appearances feel like a time capsule of the early 60s.
- Look for the Credits: Unlike her uncredited movie walk-ons in The Americanization of Emily, she is often credited in the Hillbillies episodes, though sometimes she’s just "Secretary."
- Streaming Services: Most classic TV platforms like Pluto TV or MeTV run these on a loop. Keep an eye out for the Commerce Bank scenes.
The next time you see a brunette behind the desk next to Miss Jane, look at the eyes. That’s not just a background extra. That’s a legend in the making.