Donna Douglas
0.5Acting

Donna Douglas

Sep 26, 1933 - Pride Louisiana USA

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Donna Douglas (born Doris Ione Smith; September 26, 1932 – January 1, 2015) was an American actress and singer, known for her role as Elly May Clampett in CBS's The Beverly Hillbillies (1962–1971). Following her acting career, Douglas became a real estate agent, gospel singer, inspirational speaker, and author of books for children and adults.

Although Douglas was an active actress in the 1960s, she was still relatively unknown when selected from among 500 young actresses to work alongside veteran actor and dancer Buddy Ebsen on The Beverly Hillbillies. This series ran for nine consecutive seasons, beginning in 1962 and ending in 1971. Continually typecast as a result of her Hillbillies role, Douglas decided to focus on her career as a gospel singer.

During the 1966 summer hiatus of The Beverly Hillbillies, Douglas made her only starring feature film appearance, cast as Frankie in Fred de Cordova's Frankie and Johnny (1966) alongside Elvis Presley. The film proved popular but it did little to advance Douglas' big-screen career.

With the 1973 death of Hillbillies co-star Irene Ryan, and Max Baer Jr.'s refusal to participate, Douglas joined Nancy Kulp and Buddy Ebsen in 1981 as the only original cast members to appear in the reunion movie, Return of the Beverly Hillbillies. Douglas was a guest star on a number of other television programs and the subject of paper dolls, dolls, coloring books, and various toys during the height of the show's popularity. In a 2003 interview with "Confessions of a Pop Culture Addict", she summed up her views on the role: "Elly May was like a slice out of my life. She is a wonderful little door opener for me because people love her, and they love the Hillbillies. Even to this day it's shown every day somewhere. But, as with any abilities, she may open a door for you, but you have to have substance or integrity to advance you through that door."

In 1992, Douglas and Baer attended Buddy Ebsen's 84th birthday celebration in Beverly Hills, California. In 1993, Douglas, Ebsen, and Baer reunited on The Jerry Springer Show, and for a final time in a CBS-TV television special, The Legend of The Beverly Hillbillies.

In December 2010, Mattel released a new collection of three Barbies called the Classic TV Collection. These dolls were Samantha Stephens (from Bewitched, played by Elizabeth Montgomery), Jeannie (from I Dream of Jeannie, played by Barbara Eden) and Elly May Clampett.

Credits

Cast

Media
Movie2019The Twilight Zone: A 60th Anniversary CelebrationJanet Tyler (archive footage)
Movie1961Lover Come BackDeborah, Peter's Secretary
Movie1960Bells Are RingingParty Guest (uncredited)
Movie1966Frankie and JohnnyFrankie
Movie1993The Legend of the Beverly Hillbillies
Movie1959CareerMarjorie Burke
Movie1981The Return of the Beverly HillbilliesElly May Clampett
Movie1959Li'l AbnerDogpatch Girl
Movie2007An Awesome Christmas
Movie1959North by NorthwestWoman on Sidewalk (uncredited)
TV Show1961Mister Ed3
TV Show195877 Sunset Strip1
TV Show1961Cain's HundredEdie1
TV Show1993The NannyDonna Douglas1
TV Show1962The Beverly HillbilliesElly May Clampett274
TV Show1996E! True Hollywood Story1
TV Show1960Surfside 61
TV Show1970Night Gallery1
TV Show1959The Twilight ZoneJanet Tyler1
TV Show1962Sam Benedict1
TV Show1978Project U.F.O.2
TV Show1960ThrillerLaura Bellman1
TV Show1960The Aquanauts1
TV Show1960Pete and Gladys2
TV Show1959Lock-Up1
TV Show1989The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!Ellie Mae1
TV Show1950The Jack Benny Program1
TV Show1950The Bob Hope ShowSelf1
TV Show1959The DetectivesSandra Hoyle1
TV Show1959The Twilight ZoneDebutante1
TV Show1971McMillan & WifeRita1
TV Show1968Adam-12Nina Draper1
TV Show1960Route 66Dana1
TV Show1960Surfside 6Amy Faris1
TV Show1969Love, American StyleGloria1
TV Show1969Love, American StyleAnnabelle1

Crew

No crew credits available.