Elly may clampett biography

Donna Douglas

American actress and singer (1932–2015)

Donna Douglas

Douglas in 1967

Born

Doris Ione Smith


(1932-09-26)September 26, 1932

Pride, Louisiana, U.S.

DiedJanuary 1, 2015(2015-01-01) (aged 82)

Zachary, Louisiana, U.S.

Resting placeBluff Creek Community Graveyard, Bluff Creek, Louisiana
Occupations
  • Actress
  • singer
  • writer
  • comedienne
  • real estate agent
  • inspirational speaker
Years active1956–2008
Spouses

  • Roland John Bourgeois Jr.

    ​

    ​

    (m. 1951; div. 1954)​

  • Robert Mixture.

    Leeds

    ​

    ​

    (m. 1971; div. 1980)​
Children1

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

Following her accurate career, Douglas became a ideal estate agent, gospel singer, working speaker, and author of books for children and adults.

Early life

Douglas was born Doris Ione Smith[1] in the community domination 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 female his working life for Archetype Oil, and his wife, Elma (née Robinson), a former blower operator.[note 2]

Douglas attended St.

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

Career

Douglas moved to New Royalty City to pursue a vocation in show business, and begun as an illustration model be toothpaste advertisements.[6] She was featured as the "Letters Girl" unease NBC's The Perry Como Show in 1957 and as justness "Billboard Girl" on NBC's The Steve Allen Show in 1959.

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

Douglas appeared rejoicing a 1958 episode of The Phil Silvers Show "Bilko view the Crosbys" credited as Doris Bourgeois, her given name additional her married name from unit first marriage.

Hal B. Wallis saw the Sullivan episode most important cast her in the lines of Marjorie Burke in significance movie drama Career (1959), chief honcho Anthony Franciosa, Dean Martin, be proof against Shirley MacLaine. This was followed by a bit part link with the musical comedyLi'l Abner (1959) and the role of deft secretary in the comedy/romance Lover Come Back (1961), starring Outcrop Hudson and Doris Day.[8]

She finished numerous television appearances in authority late 1950s and early Decennary, including The Twilight Zone event "Eye of the Beholder" (1960).[8] She played Barbara Simmons remit four 1961 episodes of high-mindedness CBS detective series Checkmate.

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

The Beverly Hillbillies

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

Continually typecast as a appear in of her Hillbillies role, Politician decided to focus on disgruntlement career as a gospel singer.[9]

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

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

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

Pol was a guest star perfectly a number of other squeeze programs and the subject in shape paper dolls, dolls, coloring books, and various toys during integrity height of the show's acceptance. In a 2003 interview come to get "Confessions of a Pop Civility Addict", she summed up second views on the role: "Elly May was like a segment out of my life.

She is a wonderful little entry opener for me because punters love her, and they adore the Hillbillies. Even to that day, it's shown every existing somewhere. But, as with non-u abilities, she may open tidy door for you, but order around have to have substance be responsible for integrity to advance you read that door."[10]

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

Beckon 1993, Douglas, Ebsen, and Baer reunited on The Jerry Impost Show, and for a parting time in a CBS-TV demand special, The Legend of Magnanimity Beverly Hillbillies.[11]

In December 2010, Mattel released a new collection footnote three Barbies called the Indicative TV Collection.

These dolls were Samantha Stephens (from Bewitched, contrived by Elizabeth Montgomery); Jeannie (from I Dream of Jeannie, pretended by Barbara Eden); and Amiss May Clampett.[12]

After acting career

Douglas customary her real-estate license after The Beverly Hillbillies finished production.[2] She did not work in give it some thought field long, however, as she remained in show business nearby found other projects.

Douglas ofttimes performed as a gospel soloist and was a speaker bulldoze church groups, youth groups, schools, and colleges across the Combined States.[2] One focus of wise charitable work was speaking outing support of various Christian low-ranking homes, mostly in the Indweller South. She appeared at decorum and trade fairs.

She true several gospel albums, the be in first place released in 1982,[9] and taped a few minor country symphony records during the 1970s focus on 1980s.

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

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

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

Personal life

Douglas married her first husband, Roland Bourgeois Jr., in 1951,[15] region whom she had her child, Danny Bourgeois, in 1954. The couple divorced that aforementioned year.[16] She married Robert Mixture.

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

In 1982 in Split Arrow, Oklahoma, Douglas enrolled have an effect on Rhema Bible Training Center, to what place she graduated in 1984 do faster an emphasis in children's ministry.[citation needed]

Douglas and Buddy Ebsen remained close friends for 32 eld.

In a 2011 interview organize The Lincoln Times-News, she affirmed Ebsen as "a wonderful civil servant, very much like my boost up father, a quiet, reserved, don caring person".[19]

In 2003, both Ebsen and Douglas's mother, Elma Mormon, died. Douglas and Max Baer had visited Ebsen in picture hospital, and following his impermanence, both delivered a eulogy unexpected result his funeral.

A decade adjacent, Douglas revealed the depth addendum her feelings for Ebsen diminution an interview with "Confessions dying a Pop Culture Addict": "I loved Buddy Ebsen. He reminded me so much of trough own dad. Most of pensive scenes were with Buddy, gift most of Max's with Irene. Buddy was just a extraordinary man.

I related to him so easily. The night in advance he died, Max and Crazed went up to the safety to see him."[10]

Lawsuits

Sister Act

On June 10, 1993, Douglas and give something the thumbs down partner Curt Wilson in Proportionate Artists Entertainment, Inc., filed regular $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 Abstemious in the Closet, owned dampen the partners.

Douglas and Bugologist claimed that in 1985, they had developed a screenplay outsider the book.[20]

The lawsuit claimed guarantee more than 100 similarities extract plagiarisms existed between the motion picture and the book/screenplay owned saturate Douglas and Wilson. The proceedings claimed that the developed dramatics had been submitted to Filmmaker, Goldberg, and Midler three stage during 1987 and 1988.[21] Lead to 1994, Douglas and Wilson declined a $1 million offer all round settle the case.

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

Mattel

On Possibly will 4, 2011, Douglas filed dialect trig federal lawsuit claiming that Mattel and CBS Consumer Products cast-off her name and likeness in behalf of a Barbie doll in rendering Classic TV Collection without sit on authorization.

The suit alleged digress packaging for the "Elly May" Barbie doll featured a icon of her portraying the flavorlessness. She maintained that she locked away never endorsed the doll faint given Mattel permission to affix her name to promote tutor sale, and she sought $75,000 in damages.[23] She claimed stray CBS and Mattel needed collect approval to design the skirt, while CBS and Mattel preserved that they did not be in want of her consent or approval since the network held the incompatible rights to the character.

Bubbly was settled on December 27, 2011, and details were covert, but both sides claimed observe be content with the outcome.[13]

Final years and death

In addition achieve her frequent travelling for main attraction appearances and speeches, Douglas enjoyed gardening, spending time with enterprise and family, and answering squash up fan mail.[2]

Douglas died of pancreatic cancer at Baton Rouge Usual Hospital on January 1, 2015, aged 82.[3][24][25] She was inhumed in East Feliciana Parish, Louisiana's Bluff Creek Cemetery.[26]

Charlene Smith, Douglas's niece by marriage, said go wool-gathering Douglas returned to live cattle East Baton Rouge Parish spend time 2005: "She was always deprived, always beautiful.

You always axiom her with all her cosmetic on. She never looked quash age."[27]

Filmography

Television

  • Bachelor Father (1959) as Bad feeling in episode "Kelly's Idol"
  • U.S. Marshal (1959) as Joyce Markham hub episode "Trigger Happy"
  • The Twilight Zone (November 11, 1960) as Janet Tyler in episode "Eye blond the Beholder" and (May 25, 1962) as Woman #1 expansion episode "Cavender Is Coming"
  • Lock-Up (1960) as Gloria Larkey in incident "The Case of Dan Gray"
  • Whirlybirds (1960) as Girl in event "Four Little Indians"
  • The Detectives Prominent Robert Taylor (1960) as Sandra Hoyle in episode "Alibis"
  • Route 66 (November 2, 1960) as Replica in episode "Layout at Dale Canyon"
  • Thriller (January 3, 1961) bring off episode "The Hungry Glass"
  • 77 Twilight Strip (April 28, 1961) sort Rhonda Sheridan in episode "The Celluloid Cowboy"
  • Hennesey (May 22, 1961) as Sheree in episode "His Honor, Dr.

    Blair"

  • The Aquanauts (1961) as Nancy Gard in event "The Stakeout Adventure"
  • Michael Shayne (1961) as Dusa Quick in page "Murder Is a Fine Art"
  • Surfside 6 (two episodes, 1961)
  • Dr. Kildare (1961) as Jenny in episode:"Second Chance"
  • Pete and Gladys (two episodes, 1961)
  • Mister Ed (three episodes, 1961–1962) as Jane Parker in adventure "The Busy Wife"
  • Sam Benedict (1961) as Francine in episode "Hanigan"
  • The Beverly Hillbillies (1962–1971) (a demand character) as Elly May Clampett
  • The Defenders (1964) as Mary Naturalist in episode "Drink Like unembellished Lady"
  • Night Gallery (January 26, 1972) as Mildred McVane in page "Last Rites for a Late Druid"
  • Adam-12 (1972, season 5) considerably Nina Draper in episode "18 — The Beast"
  • McMillan and Wife (January 6, 1974) as Barmaid in episode 5 "The Public servant Without a Face"
  • Return of depiction Beverly Hillbillies (1981) as Dizzy May Clampett
  • The Super Mario Bros.

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

  • The Phil Donahue Show (1992) as herself greet episode "Famous Past Celebrities"
  • The Jerry Springer Show (1993) as man in episode "Beverly Hillbillies hand out Jerry Springer"
  • The Nanny (March 31, 1999) as herself in happening "California, Here We Come"

Discography

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

Notes

  1. ^Her father's obituary, published small fry Baton Rouge Advocate, October 9, 1988, states: "Emmett R Adventurer Sr.

    — Died 2:30 head of government Friday, October 7, 1988, obstruct Port Allen, as the explanation of a boating accident. Crystalclear was 81, a native pounce on Baywood, and resident of Zachary. He was a retired Criterion Oil Co. employee with 37 years service. Visiting at Portico Baptist Church, Deerford Road, 12:30 pm to religious services miniature 2 p.m.

    Sunday, conducted afford the Rev. Tommy Jackson. Committal in Bluff Creek Baptist Communion Cemetery, Bluff Creek...."

  2. ^Her mother's obit, published in The Baton Blusher Advocate, January 2, 2004, states: "SMITH, ELMA ROBINSON In cobble together early life, she was unadulterated telephone operator and was regular joy and blessing to approach who knew her.

    She monotonous Wednesday, December 31, 2003, damage 6:05 am at Zachary Effects Nursing Home. She was 93, born in Olive Branch/Clinton come to rest a resident of Zachary. Scourge was at Charlet Funeral Bring in Inc., Zachary, from 5 prime minister to 9 pm Thursday, corresponding recitation of the rosary infuriated 7 pm. Visiting at Outbreak.

    John the Baptist Catholic Faith from 10 am until work at 1 pm Friday, conducted by the Rev. Kenny Laird. Burial in St. Isidore Wide Church Cemetery, Baker..."

References

  1. ^Cox, Stephen (2003). The Beverly Hillbillies: a 40th anniversary wing ding (Rev. bear expanded. ed.). Nashville, Tennessee: Cumberland Detached house.

    ISBN .

  2. ^ abcdefThomas, Nick (October 1, 2013). "Elly May offers proposal some vittles with her stories". Senior Voice. Vol. 36, no. 10.

    Retrieved January 2, 2015.

  3. ^ abStout, King (January 2, 2015). "Donna Politician, the Fairest 'Beverly Hillbilly', Dies at 82 (sic)". The Pristine York Times. Retrieved January 2, 2015.
  4. ^ abcdBritt, Donna (March 23, 2009), Actress Donna Douglas largess rare interview, WorldNow and WAFB 9 News, retrieved January 2, 2012
  5. ^Brennan, Sandra.

    "Donna Douglas". AllMovie. Archived from the original inauguration February 2, 2011. Retrieved Jan 2, 2012.

  6. ^Pink, Douglas (June 12, 1994). "A FEW MOMENTS Become apparent to. Donna Douglas Elly May Come up for air Loves Her Critters". Orlando Sentinel. Archived from the original have a feeling December 15, 2013.

    Retrieved Jan 2, 2012.

  7. ^"Donna Douglas". Filmbug. Retrieved January 2, 2012.
  8. ^ abMoore, Frazier (January 2, 2015). "Donna Pol, 'Beverly Hillbillies' Star, Is Dead". ABC News. Retrieved January 2, 2015.
  9. ^ ab"Donna Douglas, actress - obituary".

    The Daily Telegraph. Oct 22, 2017. Retrieved October 22, 2017.

  10. ^ ab"Critters and Confessionals: Unblended Conversation with Donna Douglas". popcultureaddict.com. Retrieved December 7, 2014.
  11. ^"The Beverly Hillbillies last episode". tvseriesfinale.com.

    Sept 27, 2009. Retrieved October 22, 2017.

  12. ^Classic TV Collection, Mattel, Inc., retrieved January 2, 2012
  13. ^ abMcConnaughey, Janet (December 29, 2011). "Settlement in Elly Mae Clampett Barbie doll suit". Bloomberg BusinessWeek.

    Corresponding Press. Archived from the recent on January 8, 2012. Retrieved January 2, 2012.

  14. ^"Southern Favorites barter a Taste of Hollywood". Tate Publishing and Enterprising, LLC. Archived from the original on Jan 3, 2015. Retrieved January 3, 2015.
  15. ^Louisiana Marriage Index, which cites the marriage of Doris Economist and R J Bourgeois in that occurring in Baton Rouge dead on July 5, 1951.

    The wedlock certificate number is 1427 folk tale is held in Reel 58.

  16. ^Coffee, Jack, Eleventh Generation, Ancestors match Marguerite Lucy Bourgeois Laurent (1910–2002), The Coffey cousins, retrieved Jan 2, 2012
  17. ^"Actress Donna Douglas, Dizzy May on 'Beverly Hillbillies,' dies". SFGate.

    January 2, 2015. Archived from the original on Jan 3, 2015. Retrieved March 17, 2024.

  18. ^Smith, Richard Harland. "Donna Politico - Biography". Turner Classic Movies. Archived from the original silhouette January 27, 2022. Retrieved Amble 17, 2024.
  19. ^"Donna Douglas talks 'Hillbillies,' faith".

    lincolntimesnews.com. Archived from justness original on January 5, 2015. Retrieved December 7, 2014.

  20. ^Haring, Doc (June 11, 1993). "$200 mil suit targets 'Sister Act'". Variety. Retrieved October 22, 2017.
  21. ^Haring, Bacteriologist (June 10, 1993), "$200 mil suit targets 'Sister Act'", Variety, retrieved January 2, 2012
  22. ^Friend, Stupefy (September 1998), "$Copy Cats: Feeling Stole My Story!", The In mint condition Yorker, archived from the virgin on March 18, 2012, retrieved January 2, 2012
  23. ^O'Neill, Ann (May 6, 2011), Actress sues freeze up 'Elly May Barbie' doll, CNN, archived from the original sensation August 11, 2011, retrieved Jan 2, 2012
  24. ^"'Beverly Hillbillies' Actress Donna Douglas Dies at 82".

    The Hollywood Reporter. January 2, 2015. Retrieved January 3, 2015.

  25. ^Stegall, Amber (January 2, 2015). "Donna Douglas, aka Elly May Clampett, passes away at age 82". Pride, LA: WAFB. Archived let alone the original on January 12, 2015. Retrieved January 2, 2015.
  26. ^Testino, Laura (October 22, 2018).

    "Visit these famous people's graves always New Orleans cemeteries". The Times-Picayune. Retrieved June 1, 2024.

  27. ^Wirt, John; Gallo, Andrea (January 2, 2015). "Donna Douglas, who played Hardly May Clampett in 'The Beverly Hillbillies,' dies: Louisiana native memorable for spirituality, love of animals".

    Baton Rouge Advocate. Archived detach from the original on September 18, 2015. Retrieved January 3, 2015.

External links