The Beverly Hillbillies aired a long time ago, so most of the amazing cast members of the show have sadly passed away since then. Douglas died Jan. 1 . She lost the race, and moved to Palm Springs, where she decided to spend the rest of her days devoted to charity organizations. Donna Douglas was born on September 26, 1933 and died on January 1, 2015. ", Smith described Douglas as a "very good Christian lady. She may have been a real cunt. She was small and not overweight or anything. "That was the first time I had ever been on an airplane," Douglas said. Louisiana native Donna Douglas, who played hillbilly blond bombshell Elly May Clampett on the baby-boomer-beloved 1960s sitcom "The Beverly Hillbillies," has died. One of the actresses had an affair with him during shooting. While it is ironic that such a big-prestige award is named after Irene Ryna, best known as Granny, it continues to be the highest national scholarship in acting given to undergraduate acting students. Bannon is now John Travolta's brother-in-law, as he's married to Ellen Travolta. R81, why do you keep posting? She pointed out that the second she left the show would fail, so they'd better all just be nice to her. Mirielle Enos (THE KILLING), gay Dan Butler (FRASIER), and maybe gay Kevin Rahm (MAD MEN) were all recipients of Irene Ryan acting scholarships. The family became rich from the oil, and moved to Beverly Hills in an opulent mansion. I have read that Roger Torrey was originally casting for the Jethro role. Douglas' death leaves only one member of the show's original cast still alive: Max Baer Jr., who played Elly May's cousin, Jethro. "The Beverly Hillbillies" cast (l-r): Irene Ryan, Buddy Ebsen, Max Baer, Nancy Kulp, Raymond Bailey and Donna Douglas (AP). I have a copy in in a magazine of famous male nudes published in the 1970s and it used to be online so I was surprised I couldn't find it with a Google image search to link it. He spent his last years of life mostly a recluse, although he occasionally kept in touch with one of his former castmates, Nancy Kulp. She had had her bags packed before the matinee, and right after the show, with the help of Walter Willison, my friend and standby, she had left for the airport right after the afternoon performance. Max Baer was built. Facts Verse Donna Douglas, who played voluptuous tomboy daughter Elly May Clampett on the 1960s TV series "The Beverly Hillbillies," died January 2. Thereafter Nancy remained single until her death. Not long after, she casted in The Beverly Hillbillies. The particular role made her a national star. 1:07. Douglas sued Goldberg, Midler, Disney, their respective production companies and Creative Artists Agency because she said the movie Sister Act was a direct rip-off of the book A Nun in the Closet, the rights to which Douglas and her business partners owned. As a bonus, it's Harrison Ford's first screen credit. Why are there no more photos of the frogman? ", My God, that was DECADES after the Wizard of Oz. But she ended up spilling the beans on one of the most embarrassing chapters of her life instead. More: Theres a very sad reason to binge-watch Gilmour Girls this weekend. Max Baer turned up at the last minute and walked away with the part, being the only actor Henning saw who had both the right look and the skill to carry the part. Donna Douglas married and divorced twice, having a child by her first husband, Roland John Bourgeois, Jr. Elvis married and divorced Priscilla Ann Presley, having one child before he died at . She had a music career: Douglas did The Beverly Hillbillies soundtrack and made four Christian albums. But Bolger coveted the Scarecrow part so much that Ebsen let him have it. and a queen like yourself would know about UGLY. Spent hours autographing photos and personally responding to fan mail - even though she received far more than anyone else in the cast of. Underneath it all, she was Doris from Louisiana, who had gotten extremely lucky to be on one of the most successful sitcoms of the second half of the 20th Century - but she knew she'd never have another role like TBH. After the series endedm Ryan did Pippin on Broadway where she received a Tony nomination. She continued with minor roles throughout the 50s, with one noteworthy role of Pamela Livingstone in the TV comedy series The Bob Cummings Show (1955-1959). She was interred at Westminster Presbyterian Cemetery in Mifflintown, Pennsylvania, USA. In the early 60s, Nancys name became more popular, and it was in 1962 that she secured her career role, as Jane Hathaway in the TV series The Beverly Hillbillies (1962-1971). "Oh, yeah, it was just like a slice out of my life," she told The Advocate in an interview a few years ago." Ebsen was poisoned by aluminum dust that was put on his face as part of his Tin Man costume. In the new millennium, Jan has turned her interests [] More, Each year over 1.5 million patients become victims of medical malpractice in the US alone. However, Nancy left her studies during the Second World War, and joined the US Naval Reserve. Hassan I saw my mistakebut there's no editing function. Diana Douglas, an actress who was the first wife of Kirk Douglas and the mother of Michael Douglas, died in California Friday, her husband said. Just posting to say that R42 is correct. However, theres one cast member who hasnt died yet! Donna Douglas is well known for playing the role of Elly May Clampett on The Beverly Hillbillies. I think what he meant was that Bolger and Ebsen "traded" roles that Ebsen had been initially cast as the Scarecrow. It was really sad that Donna Douglas continued to be "Ellie Mae" even after the series ended. He was a fine specimen. Paul Henning loved Bea Benaderet. They tried to make out like it was a promotion cause she "starred" in it, but it wasn't. "The Beverly Hillbillies" ran on CBS for nine seasons from 1962 to 1971 and was one of the most popular shows of the 1960s, topping the ratings its first two seasons. He purchased the rights to the show and made Beverly Hillbillies themed slot machines and casino games. Sadly, however, Kulp diagnosed with cancer in 1990, and died a year later, on February 3rd, 1991, at age 69. No doubt it made him pissed. Irene had tons of credits prior to the BH. Douglas' career began with beauty pageants -- she was Miss Baton Rouge and Miss New Orleans -- followed by a trip to New York to pursue a career in entertainment. Yep, Edson Stroll. September 14, 2021, 5:02 am, Way back in 1980, Dolly Parton sat down with Chet Flippo of Rolling Stone magazine for what she thought was just going to be a typical interview. She reached the rank of a lieutenant, junior grade, and for her service received several awards and honors, such as the American Campaign Medal. Two observations: In the first few seasons, Mr. Drysdale was calm reasonable banker. And he wasn't "traded" with Ray Bolger. Douglas was best known for "The Beverly Hillbillies," in which she played the role of Elly May. Elly May proves to be quite fond of animals or, as she would call them, "critters.". She was a recurring character on Beverly Hillbillies and she was the lead on Petticoat Junction in a role that I think might has been said to be written with her in mind. When Mr. Drysdale was watching Pro Wrestling, she said "Milburn, how can a man of your culture watch such trash?" Was a self-described tomboy in her younger days, and like her character Elly May Clampett, she was extremely fond of animals. In todays video, were going to take a look at the contributions of each member of The Beverly Hillbillies cast, as well as the way each cast member eventually died. In 2010 she sued CBS and toymaker Mattel seeking some of the proceeds from sales of a Barbie doll that used Elly May's name and likeness. Max Baer Jr., who co-starred with Donna Douglas on The Beverly Hillbillies, tells RumorFix, "I loved her.". Facts Verse She didn't drop dead, she had a stroke. As a result, Max Baer Jr. was forced to make money in some other way. Directors simply couldnt imagine him playing any other role, and he was unable to find work. Ebsen was the only person who disliked her, for being a "lesberal.". The stories you care about, delivered daily. Donna Douglas appeared in feature films before and after the much-loved '60s sitcom The Beverly Hillbillies, and she has been remembered even today as the buxom, the blue-eyed tomboy Elly May Clampett. She only starred in one movie. And then there was Ronnie Burns! It funds post-bachelors conservatory training (i.e. Rock stars are infamous for their insatiable appetites for all things in excess. Is Donna Douglas still alive from the Hillbillies? Torrey was bigger than Baer but much less adept at comedy. Donna Douglas, who played hillbilly bombshell Elly May Clampett on the baby-boomer-beloved 1960s sitcom The Beverly Hillbillies, has died. Over the Summer Hiatus, Donna made the feature film "Frankie and Johnny" with Elvis Presley. Irene Ryan was wonderfully supportive to young talent, as her scholarship fund showed. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! Actors/Actresses Who Appears in Both The Twilight Zone & Night Gallery series. I always heard that the cast got along great, with the exception of the guy who played Mr. Drysdale, who was kind of a dick, apparently. If memory serves me correct, Irene Ryan was up for the Eileen Brennan part in Scarecrow, not the Ann Wedgeworth part, but I could be wrongI know Gene Hackman was a big fan of hers and I think they had done some off-Broadway stuff together in the late 50s. Take a look at Died: January 1, 2015, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Her only starring film appearance was in "Frankie and Johnny," a musical in which she played riverboat gambler Presley's girlfriend. Big deal. Donna Douglas performed as a gospel singer and wrote the book, "Miss Donna's Mulberry Acres Farm", which was published in 2011. Douglas died of cancer a little after 9 . They always called him "J.D. Donna Douglas, the actress who won over TV viewers as Elly May Clampett on The Beverly Hillbillies, has died. "Sure..darlin'. When I returned to the Imperial for the evening show, the call had just come through from Kennedy airport: Irene was on a plane to Los Angeles. Typically she was clad in a snug flannel shirt and tight jeans cinched with a rope belt, and she seemed to prefer her critters to any beau. Baer has been trying to get his casino going for years. She taught at Juniata College in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania / not Huntington. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. And he wasn't "traded" with Ray Bolger. I've read that she loved the fact that no one ever recognized her without her Granny make-up on. One of his sisters, Helga Ebsen, died on November 7, 1994 . And Kulp was loved, too. Kulp was "loved?" Agree with R162 -- needed more Mrs. Drysdale. I loved that fast-guitar theme (reminiscent of silent-movie villain music) they used to play when Mrs. Drysdale was on the rampage against the Clampetts, "And Kulp was loved, too. Audience members roared with laughter as they watched the backwoods family try to get used to a wealthy lifestyle. Donna Douglas, who played Elly May Clampett on the hit 1960s sitcom The Beverly Hillbillies, has died. how did joe mcbryan die. Because she had a tiny pair of vestigial balls? The work itself and the fame it brought meant more to her than a paycheck. One of my favorite episodes was when Mr Drysdale convinces Granny that his wife is fighting viciously--including a doctored radio interview insulting Granny--to be Possum Queen. "I had milked cows before," she recalled in a 2009 interview with The Associated Press. Her childhood in Pride, Louisiana, came in handy when she was asked during her audition to milk a goat. Jan. 14, 1986 12 AM PT. Douglas died at Baton Rouge General Hospital in 2015 from pancreatic cancer, aged 82. Ryan, Baer, and Douglas worked up an act (some singing, hillbilly dancing, and snappy patter) they did in character on the road and they didn't have to split the take with the copyright owner. Laughter as they watched the backwoods family try to get used to a wealthy lifestyle received. Made Beverly Hillbillies, '' Douglas said Torrey was originally casting for the Jethro role prior the... Look at died: January 1, 2015 photos of the most embarrassing chapters her... 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