Donna Douglas
Encyclopedia
Donna Douglas is an American actress best known for her role as Elly May Clampett, in the long-running television series The Beverly Hillbillies
.
, she was the only daughter of Emmett Ratcliff Smith Sr. (1907–1988) and his wife, the former Elma Robinson (1910–2003).
Douglas attended St. Gerard High School
, and after high school she married, had a son, divorced, and won some beauty contest
s, all within the span of a few years. She was awarded the titles “Miss Baton Rouge” and, in 1957, was “Miss New Orleans”.
to pursue a career in entertainment and started out as a model
for toothpaste ads. She was featured as the “Letters Girl” on The Perry Como Show in 1957, and as the “Billboard Girl” on The Steve Allen Show
in 1959. These and other TV appearances led New York photographers and newspaper reporters to award her the “Miss By-line” crown, which she wore on The Ed Sullivan Show
.
Producer
Hal Wallis saw the Sullivan episode and cast her in the role of Marjorie Burke in the movie drama Career
(1959) starring Anthony Franciosa
, Dean Martin
and Shirley MacLaine
. This was followed by a bit part in the musical comedy Li'l Abner (1959) and the role of a secretary in the comedy/romance Lover Come Back
(1961) starring Rock Hudson
and Doris Day
.
She made numerous TV appearances in the late 1950s and early 1960s, including a notable episode of The Twilight Zone
, entitled "The Eye of the Beholder
" (1960). She also appeared in episodes of Tightrope
, The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet
, Bachelor Father, Route 66
and Thriller
.
. She starred on the program for all nine seasons, along with Buddy Ebsen
, Irene Ryan
, Nancy Kulp
, Raymond Bailey
and Max Baer, Jr.
The Beverly Hillbillies became the number one show in the United States in its first two years.
During the 1966 summer hiatus for the show, Douglas made her only starring motion picture appearance, cast as Frankie in Frederick de Cordova
's Frankie and Johnny
(1966) opposite Elvis Presley
. The film proved popular and is among Presley’s most broadcast films on television but did little to open the door to a film career for Douglas. In 1981, she returned for a made-for-TV reunion movie
.
covers.
In 2011, Mattel released a Barbie
as Elly May Clampett in a series of three TV icon dolls, along with Samantha Stevens (Elizabeth Montgomery
) and Jeannie
(Barbara Eden
).
This doll resulted in a lawsuit. Douglas claimed the company used her name and likeness for a Barbie doll without her authorization. The federal suit alleged that packaging for the "Elly May" Barbie doll featured a photo of Donna Douglas portraying the character. Douglas maintained she never endorsed the doll or gave Mattel permission to use her name to promote its sale.
Douglas received her real estate
license
after The Beverly Hillbillies
went off the air in order to have something to fall back on. She did not work in that field long, however, as she remained in show business and found other projects.
A devoted Christian, Douglas frequently performs as a gospel
singer and speaks at churches across America. She has recorded several gospel albums, the first being released in 1982. She has recorded a few minor country music records during the 1970s and 1980s. (A British pop singer
in the 1960s also named Donna Douglas recorded a number of recordings including a U.K. hit "Message in a Bottle" and occasionally her discs are mistaken for those of the "Hillbillies" star.)
She has also written a children's book
titled Donna's Critters & Kids: Children's Stories with a Bible Touch, which has Bible
stories featuring animals and is combined with a coloring book
for ages two to seven.
Douglas has remained busy making appearances, speaking for church groups, youth groups, schools and colleges. One key focus of her charitable work has been to appear and speak in support of various Christian children's homes, mostly in her native South
. She has also appeared at conventions
and trade shows. In 2005 she filmed two pilot episodes for a children's program titled Mirror, Mirror.
In November of 2011, Douglas released a new children's book, "Miss Donna's Mulberry Acres Farm".
Chronicles of Life Trials........ 4 Episodes
The Beverly Hillbillies
The Beverly Hillbillies is an American situation comedy originally broadcast for nine seasons on CBS from 1962 to 1971, starring Buddy Ebsen, Irene Ryan, Donna Douglas, and Max Baer, Jr....
.
Early life
Born as Doris Smith in Pride, East Baton Rouge Parish, LouisianaEast Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana
East Baton Rouge Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish seat is Baton Rouge, Louisiana's state capital. As of the 2010 census, the population was 440,171. The parish has a total area of , of which is land and is water. It is the most populous parish in the state...
, she was the only daughter of Emmett Ratcliff Smith Sr. (1907–1988) and his wife, the former Elma Robinson (1910–2003).
Douglas attended St. Gerard High School
Redemptorist High School
Redemptorist Upper School is a private, Roman Catholic high school in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. It is located in north Baton Rouge, under the remit of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Baton Rouge.-Background:...
, and after high school she married, had a son, divorced, and won some beauty contest
Beauty contest
A beauty pageant or beauty contest, is a competition that mainly focuses on the physical beauty of its contestants, although such contests often incorporate personality, talent, and answers to judges' questions as judged criteria...
s, all within the span of a few years. She was awarded the titles “Miss Baton Rouge” and, in 1957, was “Miss New Orleans”.
Acting career
Douglas moved to New YorkNew York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
to pursue a career in entertainment and started out as a model
Model (person)
A model , sometimes called a mannequin, is a person who is employed to display, advertise and promote commercial products or to serve as a subject of works of art....
for toothpaste ads. She was featured as the “Letters Girl” on The Perry Como Show in 1957, and as the “Billboard Girl” on The Steve Allen Show
Steve Allen (comedian)
Stephen Valentine Patrick William "Steve" Allen was an American television personality, musician, composer, actor, comedian, and writer. Though he got his start in radio, Allen is best known for his television career. He first gained national attention as a guest host on Arthur Godfrey's Talent...
in 1959. These and other TV appearances led New York photographers and newspaper reporters to award her the “Miss By-line” crown, which she wore on The Ed Sullivan Show
The Ed Sullivan Show
The Ed Sullivan Show is an American TV variety show that originally ran on CBS from Sunday June 20, 1948 to Sunday June 6, 1971, and was hosted by New York entertainment columnist Ed Sullivan....
.
Producer
Film producer
A film producer oversees and delivers a film project to all relevant parties while preserving the integrity, voice and vision of the film. They will also often take on some financial risk by using their own money, especially during the pre-production period, before a film is fully financed.The...
Hal Wallis saw the Sullivan episode and cast her in the role of Marjorie Burke in the movie drama Career
Career (1959 film)
Career is a 1959 blacklist film drama co-written by Dalton Trumbo and starring Dean Martin, Tony Franciosa, and Shirley MacLaine. The movie involves actor Sam Lawson , bent on breaking into the big time at any cost, braving World War II, the Korean War and even the more recent blacklist, something...
(1959) starring Anthony Franciosa
Anthony Franciosa
Anthony Franciosa was an American actor, usually billed as Tony Franciosa during the height of his career.-Early life:...
, Dean Martin
Dean Martin
Dean Martin was an American singer, film actor, television star and comedian. Martin's hit singles included "Memories Are Made of This", "That's Amore", "Everybody Loves Somebody", "You're Nobody till Somebody Loves You", "Sway", "Volare" and "Ain't That a Kick in the Head?"...
and Shirley MacLaine
Shirley MacLaine
Shirley MacLaine is an American film and theater actress, singer, dancer, activist and author, well-known for her beliefs in new age spirituality and reincarnation. She has written a large number of autobiographical works, many dealing with her spiritual beliefs as well as her Hollywood career...
. This was followed by a bit part in the musical comedy Li'l Abner (1959) and the role of a secretary in the comedy/romance Lover Come Back
Lover Come Back
Lover Come Back is a 1961 Eastmancolor romantic comedy released by Universal Pictures. The film stars Doris Day and Rock Hudson in their second film together. The supporting cast includes Tony Randall, Edie Adams, Ann B. Davis, and Donna Douglas....
(1961) starring Rock Hudson
Rock Hudson
Roy Harold Scherer, Jr., later Roy Harold Fitzgerald , known professionally as Rock Hudson, was an American film and television actor, recognized as a romantic leading man during the 1950s and 1960s, most notably in several romantic comedies with Doris Day.Hudson was voted "Star of the Year",...
and Doris Day
Doris Day
Doris Day is an American actress, singer and, since her retirement from show business, an animal rights activist. With an entertainment career that spanned through almost 50 years, Day started her career as a big band singer in 1939, but only began to be noticed after her first hit recording,...
.
She made numerous TV appearances in the late 1950s and early 1960s, including a notable episode of The Twilight Zone
The Twilight Zone (1959 TV series)
The Twilight Zone is an American anthology television series created by Rod Serling, which ran for five seasons on CBS from 1959 to 1964. The series consisted of unrelated episodes depicting paranormal, futuristic, dystopian, or simply disturbing events; each show typically featured a surprising...
, entitled "The Eye of the Beholder
The Eye of the Beholder
"The Eye of the Beholder" is an episode of the American television anthology series The Twilight Zone.-Synopsis:...
" (1960). She also appeared in episodes of Tightrope
Tightrope (TV series)
Tightrope is an American crime drama series that aired on CBS from September 1959 to September 1960. Produced by Russell Rouse and Clarence Greene in association with Screen Gems, the series stars Mike Connors as an undercover agent named "Nick" who was assigned to infiltrate criminal gangs...
, The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet
The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet
The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet is an American sitcom, airing on ABC from October 3, 1952 to September 3, 1966, starring the real life Nelson family. After a long run on radio, the show was brought to television where it continued its success, running on both radio and TV for a couple of years...
, Bachelor Father, Route 66
Route 66 (TV series)
Route 66 is an American TV series in which two young men traveled across America. The show ran weekly on CBS from 1960 to 1964. It starred Martin Milner as Tod Stiles and, for two and a half seasons, George Maharis as Buz Murdock. Maharis was ill for much of the third season, during which time Tod...
and Thriller
Thriller (US TV series)
Thriller is an anthology television series that aired during the 1960–61 and 1961–62 seasons on NBC. The show featured host Boris Karloff introducing a mix of macabre horror tales and suspense thrillers....
.
The Beverly Hillbillies
The turning point in Douglas’s career came when she was chosen to play the role of the tomboy Elly May Clampett on The Beverly HillbilliesThe Beverly Hillbillies
The Beverly Hillbillies is an American situation comedy originally broadcast for nine seasons on CBS from 1962 to 1971, starring Buddy Ebsen, Irene Ryan, Donna Douglas, and Max Baer, Jr....
. She starred on the program for all nine seasons, along with Buddy Ebsen
Buddy Ebsen
Buddy Ebsen was an American character actor and dancer. A performer for seven decades, he had starring roles as Jed Clampett in the long-running television series The Beverly Hillbillies and as the title character in the 1970s detective series Barnaby Jones, and played Barnaby Jones in the movie...
, Irene Ryan
Irene Ryan
Irene Ryan was an American actress, one of the few entertainers who found success in vaudeville, radio, film, television and Broadway....
, Nancy Kulp
Nancy Kulp
Nancy Jane Kulp was an American character actress best known as Miss Jane Hathaway on the popular television series The Beverly Hillbillies.-Early life:...
, Raymond Bailey
Raymond Bailey
Raymond Thomas Bailey was an American actor on the Broadway stage, movies, and television. He is best known for his role as wealthy banker, Milburn Drysdale, in the television series The Beverly Hillbillies....
and Max Baer, Jr.
Max Baer, Jr.
Max Baer Jr is an American actor, screenwriter, producer, and director. He is best known for playing Jethro Bodine on The Beverly Hillbillies.-Early life:...
The Beverly Hillbillies became the number one show in the United States in its first two years.
During the 1966 summer hiatus for the show, Douglas made her only starring motion picture appearance, cast as Frankie in Frederick de Cordova
Frederick de Cordova
Frederick "Fred" Timmins de Cordova was an American stage, motion picture and television director and producer. He is best known for his work on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.-Early life:...
's Frankie and Johnny
Frankie and Johnny (1966 film)
Frankie and Johnny is a 1966 musical film starring Elvis Presley as a riverboat gambler. The role of "Frankie" was played by Donna Douglas from The Beverly Hillbillies TV series. The film reached #40 on the Variety weekly national box office list for 1966. The budget of the film was estimated at...
(1966) opposite Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
. The film proved popular and is among Presley’s most broadcast films on television but did little to open the door to a film career for Douglas. In 1981, she returned for a made-for-TV reunion movie
Television movie
A television film is a feature film that is a television program produced for and originally distributed by a television network, in contrast to...
.
Marriages
Donna Douglas was married twice:- Roland John Bourgeois Jr. (married 1949, divorced 1954); the couple had one son, Danny P. Bourgeois (born September 14, 1954).http://www.thecoffeycousins.org/Bourgeois/Jacques%20Bourgeois%20and%20Jeanne%20Trahan/b9344.htm#P9344
- Robert M. Leeds (1920–2000), the director of The Beverly Hillbillies; the couple wed in 1971, but later divorced.
Elly May Clampett Pop Culture Icon
Donna Douglas as Elly May Clampett became one of the most popular and recognizable television personalities during the 1960s, a guest star on a number of other television programs and the subject of paper dolls, dolls, coloring books, and various toys during the show's heyday. She was also the only cast member to be on all seven of the series' TV GuideTV Guide
TV Guide is a weekly American magazine with listings of TV shows.In addition to TV listings, the publication features television-related news, celebrity interviews, gossip and film reviews and crossword puzzles...
covers.
In 2011, Mattel released a Barbie
Barbie
Barbie is a fashion doll manufactured by the American toy-company Mattel, Inc. and launched in March 1959. American businesswoman Ruth Handler is credited with the creation of the doll using a German doll called Bild Lilli as her inspiration....
as Elly May Clampett in a series of three TV icon dolls, along with Samantha Stevens (Elizabeth Montgomery
Elizabeth Montgomery
Elizabeth Victoria Montgomery was an American film and television actress whose career spanned five decades. She is perhaps best remembered for her roles as Samantha Stephens in Bewitched, as Ellen Harrod in A Case of Rape and as Lizzie Borden in The Legend of Lizzie Borden.-Early life:Born in Los...
) and Jeannie
Jeannie
Jeannie was a 30-minute Saturday morning animated series produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions in association with Screen Gems from September 8, 1973 to August 30, 1975 on CBS...
(Barbara Eden
Barbara Eden
Barbara Eden is an American film and television actress and singer who is best known for her starring role in the sitcom I Dream of Jeannie.-Early years:...
).
This doll resulted in a lawsuit. Douglas claimed the company used her name and likeness for a Barbie doll without her authorization. The federal suit alleged that packaging for the "Elly May" Barbie doll featured a photo of Donna Douglas portraying the character. Douglas maintained she never endorsed the doll or gave Mattel permission to use her name to promote its sale.
Later career
Real estate
In general use, esp. North American, 'real estate' is taken to mean "Property consisting of land and the buildings on it, along with its natural resources such as crops, minerals, or water; immovable property of this nature; an interest vested in this; an item of real property; buildings or...
license
License
The verb license or grant licence means to give permission. The noun license or licence refers to that permission as well as to the document recording that permission.A license may be granted by a party to another party as an element of an agreement...
after The Beverly Hillbillies
The Beverly Hillbillies
The Beverly Hillbillies is an American situation comedy originally broadcast for nine seasons on CBS from 1962 to 1971, starring Buddy Ebsen, Irene Ryan, Donna Douglas, and Max Baer, Jr....
went off the air in order to have something to fall back on. She did not work in that field long, however, as she remained in show business and found other projects.
A devoted Christian, Douglas frequently performs as a gospel
Gospel music
Gospel music is music that is written to express either personal, spiritual or a communal belief regarding Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music....
singer and speaks at churches across America. She has recorded several gospel albums, the first being released in 1982. She has recorded a few minor country music records during the 1970s and 1980s. (A British pop singer
Pop Singer
"Pop Singer" is the début single from London-based glam rockers Rachel Stamp. It was released in February, 1996 through WEA. The single was released as a 2 track CD Single and limited edition pink 7" vinyl of 1000 copies...
in the 1960s also named Donna Douglas recorded a number of recordings including a U.K. hit "Message in a Bottle" and occasionally her discs are mistaken for those of the "Hillbillies" star.)
She has also written a children's book
Children's literature
Children's literature is for readers and listeners up to about age twelve; it is often defined in four different ways: books written by children, books written for children, books chosen by children, or books chosen for children. It is often illustrated. The term is used in senses which sometimes...
titled Donna's Critters & Kids: Children's Stories with a Bible Touch, which has Bible
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
stories featuring animals and is combined with a coloring book
Coloring book
A coloring book is a type of book containing line art for a reader to add color using crayons, colored pencils, marker pens, paint or other artistic media...
for ages two to seven.
Douglas has remained busy making appearances, speaking for church groups, youth groups, schools and colleges. One key focus of her charitable work has been to appear and speak in support of various Christian children's homes, mostly in her native South
Southern United States
The Southern United States—commonly referred to as the American South, Dixie, or simply the South—constitutes a large distinctive area in the southeastern and south-central United States...
. She has also appeared at conventions
Fan convention
A fan convention, or con , is an event in which fans of a particular film, television series, comic book, actor, or an entire genre of entertainment such as science fiction or anime and manga, gather to participate and hold programs and other events, and to meet experts, famous personalities, and...
and trade shows. In 2005 she filmed two pilot episodes for a children's program titled Mirror, Mirror.
In November of 2011, Douglas released a new children's book, "Miss Donna's Mulberry Acres Farm".
Filmography
- CareerCareer (1959 film)Career is a 1959 blacklist film drama co-written by Dalton Trumbo and starring Dean Martin, Tony Franciosa, and Shirley MacLaine. The movie involves actor Sam Lawson , bent on breaking into the big time at any cost, braving World War II, the Korean War and even the more recent blacklist, something...
(1959) (Paramount) ... Marjorie Burke - Li'l AbnerLi'l AbnerLi'l Abner is a satirical American comic strip that appeared in many newspapers in the United States, Canada and Europe, featuring a fictional clan of hillbillies in the impoverished town of Dogpatch, Kentucky. Written and drawn by Al Capp , the strip ran for 43 years, from August 13, 1934 through...
(1959) (Paramount) ... bit part (uncredited) - Lover Come BackLover Come BackLover Come Back is a 1961 Eastmancolor romantic comedy released by Universal Pictures. The film stars Doris Day and Rock Hudson in their second film together. The supporting cast includes Tony Randall, Edie Adams, Ann B. Davis, and Donna Douglas....
(1961) (Universal) ... Deborah - Frankie and JohnnyFrankie and Johnny (1966 film)Frankie and Johnny is a 1966 musical film starring Elvis Presley as a riverboat gambler. The role of "Frankie" was played by Donna Douglas from The Beverly Hillbillies TV series. The film reached #40 on the Variety weekly national box office list for 1966. The budget of the film was estimated at...
(1966) (United Artists) ... Frankie
Recordings
- 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)
Selected TV appearances
- The Twilight ZoneThe Twilight Zone (1959 TV series)The Twilight Zone is an American anthology television series created by Rod Serling, which ran for five seasons on CBS from 1959 to 1964. The series consisted of unrelated episodes depicting paranormal, futuristic, dystopian, or simply disturbing events; each show typically featured a surprising...
(November 11, 1960) ... Janet Tyler ... episode: "The Eye of the BeholderThe Eye of the Beholder"The Eye of the Beholder" is an episode of the American television anthology series The Twilight Zone.-Synopsis:...
" - Route 66 (TV series)Route 66 (TV series)Route 66 is an American TV series in which two young men traveled across America. The show ran weekly on CBS from 1960 to 1964. It starred Martin Milner as Tod Stiles and, for two and a half seasons, George Maharis as Buz Murdock. Maharis was ill for much of the third season, during which time Tod...
(November 2, 1960)... Dana ... Model ... episode: "Layout at Glen Canyon, Season 1, Episode 9" - 77 Sunset Strip77 Sunset Strip77 Sunset Strip is an hour-length American television private detective series created by Roy Huggins and starring Efrem Zimbalist, Jr., Roger Smith, and Edd Byrnes....
(April 28, 1961) ... Rhoda Sheridan ... episode: "The Celluloid Cowboy" - Mister EdMister EdOriginally produced in late 1960, Mister Ed is an American television situation comedy produced by Filmways that first aired in syndication from January 5 to July 2, 1961, and then on CBS from October 1, 1961, to February 6, 1966....
(3 episodes, 1961–1962) - The Twilight ZoneThe Twilight Zone (1959 TV series)The Twilight Zone is an American anthology television series created by Rod Serling, which ran for five seasons on CBS from 1959 to 1964. The series consisted of unrelated episodes depicting paranormal, futuristic, dystopian, or simply disturbing events; each show typically featured a surprising...
(May 25, 1962) ... Woman ... episode: "Cavender Is ComingCavender Is Coming"Cavender is Coming" is an episode of the American television anthology series The Twilight Zone.-Synopsis:Agnes Grep, unemployed and behind on her rent, gets help from Cavender, her guardian angel, who has to make Agnes happier in twenty-four hours to earn his wings...
" - The Beverly HillbilliesThe Beverly HillbilliesThe Beverly Hillbillies is an American situation comedy originally broadcast for nine seasons on CBS from 1962 to 1971, starring Buddy Ebsen, Irene Ryan, Donna Douglas, and Max Baer, Jr....
(1962–1971) (main character) ... Elly May Clampett - Night GalleryNight GalleryNight Gallery is an American anthology series that aired on NBC from 1970 to 1973, featuring stories of horror and the macabre. Rod Serling, who had gained fame from an earlier series, The Twilight Zone, served both as the on-air host of Night Gallery and as a major contributor of scripts, although...
(January 26, 1972) ... Mildred McVane ... episode: "Last Rites for a Dead Druid" - Adam 12 (1972), Season 5) ... Nina Draper ... episode: "18 - The Beast"
- The Super Mario Bros. Super Show (1 episode, 1989) ... Ellie Mae
- The Jerry Springer ShowThe Jerry Springer ShowThe Jerry Springer Show is a syndicated television tabloid talk show hosted by Jerry Springer, a former politician, broadcast in the United States and other countries...
(1993) - The NannyThe Nanny (TV series)The Nanny is an American television sitcom co-produced by Sternin & Fraser Ink, Inc., and Fran Drescher in association with TriStar Television for the CBS network...
(March 31, 1999) ... Herself ... episode: "California, Here We Come"
Chronicles of Life Trials........ 4 Episodes