Elly may clampett biography

American actress and singer (1932–2015)

Donna Douglas (born Doris Ione Smith; September 26, 1932 – January 1, 2015) was block American actress and singer, influential for her role as Nauseous May Clampett on The Beverly Hillbillies (1962–1971).

Following her fastidious career, Douglas became a verifiable estate agent, gospel singer, mobile speaker, and author of books for children and adults.

Early life

Douglas was born Doris Ione Smith^[1] in the community entrap Pride, East Baton Rouge Fold, Louisiana, on September 26, 1932.^[2][3][4] The younger of two children,^[2] she was the only lass of Emmett Ratcliff Smith Sr.,^{[note 1]} who worked most weekend away his working life for Revolting Oil, and his wife, Elma (née Robinson), a former bell operator.^{[note 2]}

Douglas attended St.

Gerard Catholic High School,^[4] where she played softball and basketball,^[4] near was a member of decency school's first graduating class. Politician was named Miss Baton Rouge^[4] and Miss New Orleans snare 1957.^[5]

Career

Douglas moved to New Dynasty City to pursue a continuance in show business, and going on as an illustration model choose toothpaste advertisements.^[6] She was featured as the "Letters Girl" lid NBC's The Perry Como Show in 1957 and as say publicly "Billboard Girl" on NBC's The Steve Allen Show in 1959.

These and other television service led New York photographers weather newspaper reporters to award unqualified the "Miss By-line" crown, which she wore on CBS' The Ed Sullivan Show.^[7]

Douglas appeared quandary a 1958 episode of The Phil Silvers Show "Bilko be proof against the Crosbys" credited as Doris Bourgeois, her given name bid her married name from bunch up first marriage.

Hal B. Wallis saw the Sullivan episode become more intense cast her in the behave of Marjorie Burke in nobleness movie drama Career (1959), manager Anthony Franciosa, Dean Martin, other Shirley MacLaine. This was followed by a bit part mosquito the musical comedyLi'l Abner (1959) and the role of swell secretary in the comedy/romance Lover Come Back (1961), starring Shake Hudson and Doris Day.^[8]

She thought numerous television appearances in description late 1950s and early Decennary, including The Twilight Zone incident "Eye of the Beholder" (1960).^[8] She played Barbara Simmons emit four 1961 episodes of probity CBS detective series Checkmate.

Bodyguard other credits include U.S. Marshal, Tightrope, The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet, Bachelor Father, Adam-12, and Route 66. Douglas along with appeared in Thriller, season twofold, episode 16, "The Hungry Glass".

The Beverly Hillbillies

Although Douglas was an active actress in glory 1960s, she was still somewhat unknown when selected from betwixt 500 young actresses to preventable on The Beverly Hillbillies (1962–1971).

Continually typecast as a happen next of her Hillbillies role, Politico decided to focus on brush aside career as a gospel singer.^[9]

During the 1966 summer hiatus refreshing The Beverly Hillbillies, Douglas flat her only starring feature-film publication, cast as Frankie in Fred de Cordova's Frankie and Johnny (1966) with Elvis Presley.

Influence film proved popular, but frank little to advance Douglas's big-screen career.

With the 1973 litter of Hillbillies co-star Irene Ryan, the 1980 death of Raymond Bailey, and Max Baer Jr.'s refusal to participate, Douglas hitched Nancy Kulp and Buddy Ebsen in 1981 as the original cast members to superficial in the reunion movie Return of the Beverly Hillbillies.

Politico was a guest star cult a number of other box programs and the subject check paper dolls, dolls, coloring books, and various toys during interpretation height of the show's repute. In a 2003 interview constant "Confessions of a Pop The populace Addict", she summed up brush aside views on the role: "Elly May was like a portion out of my life. She is a wonderful little inception opener for me because persons love her, and they enjoy the Hillbillies.

Even to that day, it's shown every award somewhere. But, as with coarse abilities, she may open a- door for you, but command have to have substance manifestation integrity to advance you by means of that door."^[10]

In 1992, Douglas boss Baer attended Ebsen's 84th-birthday anniversary in Beverly Hills, California.

Close in 1993, Douglas, Ebsen, and Baer reunited on The Jerry Impost Show, and for a parting time in a CBS-TV subject to special, The Legend of Say publicly Beverly Hillbillies.^[11]

In December 2010, Mattel released a new collection sharing three Barbies called the Exemplar TV Collection. These dolls were Samantha Stephens (from Bewitched, assumed by Elizabeth Montgomery); Jeannie (from I Dream of Jeannie, pompous by Barbara Eden); and Amiss May Clampett.^[12]

After acting career

Douglas ordinary her real-estate license after The Beverly Hillbillies finished production.^[2] She did not work in meander field long, however, as she remained in show business pivotal found other projects.

Douglas again performed as a gospel chanteuse and was a speaker combination church groups, youth groups, schools, and colleges across the Concerted States.^[2] One focus of jettison charitable work was speaking make a way into support of various Christian for kids homes, mostly in the English South.

She appeared at courtesies and trade fairs. She historical several gospel albums, the control released in 1982,^[9] and canned a few minor country tune euphony records during the 1970s gleam 1980s.

Douglas wrote and obtainable a religion-based children's book aristocratic Donna's Critters and Kids: Novice Stories with a Bible Touch. The book included Bible allegorical featuring animals combined with nifty coloring book.

In November 2011, she released a new for kids book titled Miss Donna's Mulberry Acres Farm.^[13] In 2013, Politico published a cookbook, Southern Favorites with a Taste of Hollywood,^[14] which collects recipes of Confederate cooking from show-business friends subject colleagues such as Ebsen, Phyllis Diller, Valerie Harper, and Debbie Reynolds.

The book also has a section on good customs called "Hollywood Social Graces".^[2]

Personal life

Douglas married her first husband, Roland Bourgeois Jr., in 1951,^[15] blank whom she had her one and only child, Danny Bourgeois, in 1954. The couple divorced that tie in year.^[16] She married Robert Group.

Leeds, director of The Beverly Hillbillies, in 1971; they divorced in 1980.^[17][18]

In 1982 in Splintered Arrow, Oklahoma, Douglas enrolled pound Rhema Bible Training Center, disc she graduated in 1984 farce an emphasis in children's ministry.^{[citation needed]}

Douglas and Buddy Ebsen remained close friends for 32 age.

In a 2011 interview revive The Lincoln Times-News, she dubious Ebsen as "a wonderful male, very much like my sort father, a quiet, reserved, shaft caring person".^[19]

In 2003, both Ebsen and Douglas's mother, Elma Adventurer, died. Douglas and Max Baer had visited Ebsen in authority hospital, and following his brusque, both delivered a eulogy split his funeral.

A decade consequent, Douglas revealed the depth interrupt her feelings for Ebsen house an interview with "Confessions catch sight of a Pop Culture Addict": "I loved Buddy Ebsen. He reminded me so much of sorry for yourself own dad. Most of empty scenes were with Buddy, come first most of Max's with Irene.

Buddy was just a awe-inspiring man. I related to him so easily. The night at one time he died, Max and Crazed went up to the harbour to see him."^[10]

Lawsuits

Sister Act

On June 10, 1993, Douglas and give something the thumbs down partner Curt Wilson in Corresponding Artists Entertainment, Inc., filed undiluted $200 million lawsuit against Say publicly Walt Disney Company, Whoopi Cartoonist, Bette Midler, their production companies, and Creative Artists Agency claiming that Sister Act was plagiaristic from a book, A Anchorite in the Closet, owned dampen the partners.

Douglas and Writer claimed that in 1985, they had developed a screenplay punishment the book.^[20]

The lawsuit claimed range more than 100 similarities skull plagiarisms existed between the layer and the book/screenplay owned wedge Douglas and Wilson. The case claimed that the developed scenario had been submitted to Filmmaker, Goldberg, and Midler three time during 1987 and 1988.^[21] Neat 1994, Douglas and Wilson declined a $1 million offer back settle the case.

The udicator found in favor of Walt Disney Pictures and the provoke defendants. Wilson stated at rank time, "They would have esoteric to copy our stuff precise for us to prevail."^[22]

Mattel

On Haw 4, 2011, Douglas filed calligraphic federal lawsuit claiming that Mattel and CBS Consumer Products motivated her name and likeness obey a Barbie doll in decency Classic TV Collection without give someone the cold shoulder authorization.

Significance suit alleged that packaging expulsion the "Elly May" Barbie dally featured a photo of repulse portraying the character. She retained that she had never authentic the doll nor given Mattel permission to use her honour to promote its sale, allow she sought $75,000 in damages.^[23] She claimed that CBS take precedence Mattel needed her approval be familiar with design the doll, while CBS and Mattel maintained that they did not need her say yes or approval because the web held the exclusive rights misinform the character.

It was hair on December 27, 2011, distinguished details were confidential, but both sides claimed to be satisfy with the outcome.^[13]

Final years deliver death

In addition to her extensive travelling for celebrity appearances snowball speeches, Douglas enjoyed gardening, disbursement time with friends and kinsfolk, and answering her fan mail.^[2]

Douglas died of pancreatic cancer enraged Baton Rouge General Hospital proclamation January 1, 2015, aged 82.^[3][24][25] She was buried in Puff up Feliciana Parish, Louisiana's Bluff Brook Cemetery.^[26]

Charlene Smith, Douglas's niece inured to marriage, said that Douglas joint to live in East Nightstick Rouge Parish around 2005: "She was always happy, always valued.

You always saw her be smitten by all her makeup on. She never looked her age."^[27]

Filmography

Television

• Bachelor Father (1959) as Alice in folio "Kelly's Idol"
• U.S. Marshal (1959) though Joyce Markham in episode "Trigger Happy"
• The Twilight Zone (November 11, 1960) as Janet Tyler get in touch with episode "Eye of the Beholder" and (May 25, 1962) gorilla Woman #1 in episode "Cavender Is Coming"
• Lock-Up (1960) as Gloria Larkey in episode "The Folder of Dan Gray"
• Whirlybirds (1960) despite the fact that Girl in episode "Four Mini Indians"
• The Detectives Starring Robert Taylor (1960) as Sandra Hoyle simple episode "Alibis"
• Route 66 (November 2, 1960) as Model in phase "Layout at Glen Canyon"
• Thriller (January 3, 1961) in episode "The Hungry Glass"
• 77 Sunset Strip (April 28, 1961) as Rhonda Playwright in episode "The Celluloid Cowboy"
• Hennesey (May 22, 1961) as Sheree in episode "His Honor, Dr.

  Blair"

• The Aquanauts (1961) as Camp Gard in episode "The Stakeout Adventure"
• Michael Shayne (1961) as Dusa Quick in episode "Murder Quite good a Fine Art"
• Surfside 6 (two episodes, 1961)
• Dr. Kildare (1961) makeover Jenny in episode:"Second Chance"
• Pete increase in intensity Gladys (two episodes, 1961)
• Mister Ed (three episodes, 1961–1962) as Jane Parker in episode "The React Wife"
• Sam Benedict (1961) as Francine in episode "Hanigan"
• The Beverly Hillbillies (1962–1971) (a main character) slightly Elly May Clampett
• The Defenders (1964) as Mary Andrews in stage "Drink Like a Lady"
• Night Gallery (January 26, 1972) as Mildred McVane in episode "Last Rites for a Dead Druid"
• Adam-12 (1972, season 5) as Nina Draper in episode "18 — Influence Beast"
• McMillan and Wife (January 6, 1974) as Barmaid in happening 5 "The Man Without neat as a pin Face"
• Return of the Beverly Hillbillies (1981) as Elly May Clampett
• The Super Mario Bros.

  Super Show! (one episode, 1989) as Ellie Mae

• The Phil Donahue Show (1992) as herself in episode "Famous Past Celebrities"
• The Jerry Springer Show (1993) as herself in sheet "Beverly Hillbillies on Jerry Springer"
• The Nanny (March 31, 1999) translation herself in episode "California, Present-day We Come"

Discography

• The Beverly Hillbillies (television soundtrack) (1963)
• Donna Douglas Sings Gospel (1982)
• Here Come the Critters (1983)
• Donna Douglas Sings Gospel II (1986)
• Back on the Mountain (1989)

Notes

References

External links