Donna Douglas

Donna Douglas
Donna Douglas (at Lawrenceburg, Tennessee parade, June 2007)
Born	Doris Smith September 26, 1933 (1933-09-26) (age 78) East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana, U.S.
Spouse	Roland John Bourgeois Jr. (1949-54; divorced) Robert M. Leeds (1971-19??; divorced)

Donna Douglas (born September 26, 1933) is an American actress best known for her role as Elly May Clampett, in the long-running television series The Beverly Hillbillies.

Early life

Born as Doris Smith in Pride, East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana, she was the only daughter of Emmett Ratcliff Smith Sr. (1907–1988) and his wife, the former Elma Robinson (1910–2003).^[1]

Douglas attended St. Gerard High School, and after high school she married, had a son, divorced, and won some beauty contests, all within the span of a few years. She was awarded the titles “Miss Baton Rouge”^[2] and, in 1957, was “Miss New Orleans”.^[3]

Acting career

Douglas moved to New York 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.^{[citation needed]}

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.

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 Hillbillies. 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.^{[citation needed]}

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.^{[citation needed]}

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).[1]^[4]
• 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 Guide 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.^{[citation needed]}

Later career

Donna Douglas as Grand Marshal at a parade in Lawrenceburg, Tennessee.

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".

Filmography

• Career (1959) (Paramount) ... Marjorie Burke
• Li'l Abner (1959) (Paramount) ... bit part (uncredited)
• Lover Come Back (1961) (Universal) ... Deborah
• Frankie and Johnny (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 Zone (November 11, 1960) ... Janet Tyler ... episode: "The Eye of the Beholder"
• Route 66 (TV series) (November 2, 1960)... Dana ... Model ... episode: "Layout at Glen Canyon, Season 1, Episode 9"
• 77 Sunset Strip (April 28, 1961) ... Rhoda Sheridan ... episode: "The Celluloid Cowboy"
• Mister Ed (3 episodes, 1961–1962)
• The Twilight Zone (May 25, 1962) ... Woman ... episode: "Cavender Is Coming"
• The Beverly Hillbillies (1962–1971) (main character) ... Elly May Clampett
• Night Gallery (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 Show (1993)^[5][6]
• The Nanny (March 31, 1999) ... Herself ... episode: "California, Here We Come"

Chronicles of Life Trials........ 4 Episodes

References

1. ^ Her father's obituary, published in The Baton Rouge Advocate, October 9, 1988 , states the following: "Emmett R Smith Sr. — Died 2:30 p.m. Friday, October 7, 1988, near Port Allen, as the result of a boating accident. He was 81, a native of Baywood and resident of Zachary. He was a retired Standard Oil Co. employee with 37 years service. Visiting at Galilee Baptist Church, Deerford, 12:30 p.m. to religious services at 2 p.m. Sunday, conducted by the Rev. Tommy Jackson. Burial in Bluff Creek Baptist Church Cemetery, Bluff Creek.... "
   
   Her mother's obituary, published in The Baton Rouge Advocate, January 2, 2004, states: "SMITH, ELMA ROBINSON In her early life, she was a telephone operator and was a joy and blessing to all who knew her. She died Wednesday, December 31, 2003, at 6:05 a.m. at Zachary Manor Nursing Home. She was 93, born in Olive Branch/Clinton and a resident of Zachary. Visiting was at Charlet Funeral Home Inc., Zachary, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday, with recitation of the rosary at 7 p.m. Visiting at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church from 10 a.m. until service at 1 p.m. Friday, conducted by the Rev. Kenny Laird. Burial in St. Isidore Catholic Church Cemetery, Baker..."
2. ^ Britt, Donna (March 23, 2009). "Actress Donna Douglas grants rare interview". WAFB-TV. http://www.wafb.com/global/story.asp?S=10052872. 
3. ^ Brennan, Sandra. "Donna Douglas". Allmovie. http://www.allmovie.com/artist/19857. 
4. ^ Birthdate accessed on ancestry.com on May 5, 2011)
5. ^ Beverly Hillbillies on Jerry Springer Part 3. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sD-ZRD3j9po. Retrieved 2009-05-24. 
6. ^ Beverly Hillbillies on Jerry Springer Part 5. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sggHllb6TNk. Retrieved 2009-05-24. 

External links

• Donna Douglas at the Internet Movie Database
• Donna Douglas at AllRovi
• [2]
• [3]
• Donna Douglas on the New Jim Baker Show
• The Official Website of Donna Douglas

Persondata
Name	Douglas, Donna
Alternative names	Smith, Doris
Short description	Actress
Date of birth	September 26, 1933
Place of birth	East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana, U.S.
Date of death
Place of death