She got freaked out when an Elvis impersonator showed up and gave her flowers and wanted to take a picture with her, she did it, but she didn't say two words to the man.it was creepy. But did you know that he originally didnt even want to play the role in the first place? The stories you care about, delivered daily. She reached the rank of a lieutenant, junior grade, and for her service received several awards and honors, such as the American Campaign Medal. ", "Howdy, Miss Jane. Do you know how rich Nancy Kulp was at the time of her death? She was quite well known. Bea Benaderet was also the first choice for Ethel Mertz, since she'd played the corresponding sidekick role in "My Favorite Husband," the radio precursor to "ILL." But she was starring in "The Jack Benny Program" at the time and was unavailable. Ray Bolger, however, became a dancer because he was inspired by Fred Stone, who was the Scarecrow in the original Broadway operetta of 1904. A lot of gems there. I joyously discovered that every episode of TBH is on Youtube! Facts Verse Gilbert Gottfried interviewed Max Baer Jr. this year on his podcast. Donna Douglas (born Doris Ione Smith; September 26, 1932 - January 1, 2015) was an American actress and singer, known for her role as Elly May Clampett in CBS's The Beverly Hillbillies (1962-1971). He said he was watching a girl beat up on a hillbilly, she said "oh, educational TV.". Producer and co-star. They spent nine years together before getting a divorce in 1980. I hope she has a star on Hollywood Boulevard. Thanks for finding John Rubinstein's remembrance of Irene Ryan! The Jethro becomes a Hippy or Jethro joins the Army kind of stuff hasn't aged well. It netted Baer millions. Hello. Her childhood in Pride, Louisiana, came in handy when she was asked during her audition to milk a goat. An honest-to-goodness Southern Belle, similar to her most famous character role, "Elly May Clampett" on The Beverly Hillbillies (1962), Donna Douglas grew up in the Baton Rouge, Louisiana area, loving "critters". She had to explain about "Hollywood romances", Donna actually thought Elvis was gonna marry her. So he created Petticoat Junction a year later, promoting Bea from supporting actress to star, in part to get rid of Cousin Pearl. Some features on this site require registration. I don't think I would have been too pleased either if somebody was running a political campaign that falsely claimed I was a supporter. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, Facts Verse Fred Clark and then Larry Keating played Harry Morton, Blanche's fussbudget husband on Burns & Allen. Nancys acting career started in the early 50s, when she moved to Hollywood.Nancy Kulp. Donna Douglas's Salary and Net Worth. Depressing. Nobody really knows what Max Baer Jr. is up to these days, but we all remember him fondly for his role as Jethro! I remember it was esp. ". As a bonus, it's Harrison Ford's first screen credit. Douglas, whose age was variously reported at 81 and 82, died Thursday in . It has been awhile since I have watched the series, but I think she might have been used more earlier in the show. Two of the TV hillbillies who struck oil on the show and gold in the ratings, Donna Douglas and Max Baer Jr. go through a bit of horseplay on the set in Hollywood in May 1963. The hit show The Beverly Hillbillies was the top show in America for two years and hugely popular for all nine . Kulp wouldn't have won the election anyway, so it's stupid to say that her election chances were ruined by evil Buddy Ebsen. and Ryan was constantly making trouble with her haughty ways. Ebsen was poisoned by aluminum dust that was put on his face as part of his Tin Man costume. Baer, Jr, didn't like his role and he talked about Ryan kicking him in the ass with her big boots when he stood in her light, but other than that, nothing. This especially pleased Buddy Ebsen. Final years and death Douglas died at Baton Rouge General Hospital, aged 82, on January 1, 2015, from pancreatic cancer. I seem to remember Granny reaching a stage of acceptance with Elly Mae's suitor and having a heart-to-heart with an actual bullfrog at the edge of the cement pond. [quote]There was nothing but resentment. However, many audience members didnt realize that. It was only in the later seasons they turned him into a money-grubbing banker out to bilk the Clampetts and be deliberately cruel to Miss Hathaway. "She was 82," Smith said firmly, adding jokingly, "She's going to haunt me for that.". Hassan The others were very good, but she was great. She also was very honest and up-front about herself, even the fact that she was a hermaphrodite (functionally a woman but with vestigial testicles by her clitoris, known because she had no qualms about using her status as a morale booster when others were whining about their problems). As Elly May Clampett, a blonde country girl in the suddenly-rich family at the center of The Beverly Hillbillies, Douglas was the object of many a teenage crush -- alongside competition like Barbara Eden (I Dream of Jeannie), Elizabeth . Official Sites. Just a little dab around the ears, R123, just a dab. I have read that Roger Torrey was originally casting for the Jethro role. He spent his free time on the set learning about filmmaking. She kept the same Ellie Mae pigtails hairstyle year after year decade after decade. Donna Douglas was an American actress and singer, best known for her performance as 'Elly May Clampett' in the series 'The Beverly Hillbillies. Bannon is now John Travolta's brother-in-law, as he's married to Ellen Travolta. Two observations: In the first few seasons, Mr. Drysdale was calm reasonable banker. Baer has been trying to get his casino going for years. There, the doctors discovered that she suffered from a malignant brain tumor. She WAS liked. The woman in the bandages was played by Maxine Stuart. That may be partly due to the fact Henning in lieu of a higher salary gave them free rein to cash in on their characters by way of personal appearances. By the time the show ended, and the characters had been in the city close to ten years and the characters were just as naive (maybe even more so) and the actors were starting to look middle-aged (Donna Douglas was approaching 40), the wide-eyed naive act started to get a little cringe-worthy (not to mention a little stale).. "they were hired for TBH and they signed on for very little money. Her mother was a telephone operator and died on December 31 . She don't ride no limousine. ^ Yeah, that was really shitty of Buddy Ebsen. Max was good in small doses, but when he tried to carry the episode he took it way over the top. Max Baer adored her and the cast of Pippin were shocked and saddened when she died a couple weeks after having a stroke only a few months into the show's run. R12 et al are much more entertaining than the supposed truth. "Jethro Clampett" is one of the best names ever invented. Nancy repeated the role of Jane Hathaway in the television film The Return of the Beverly Hillbillies in 1981, and except for a short hiatus between 1983 and 1986, remained active as an actress until her death. [quote]Guys, Jack Haley replaced Buddy as Tin Man. Irene Ryan was one of the people who was instrumental in seeing Douglas through that time dark time. There was nothing "shitty" about Buddy Ebsen supporting another political candidate. She wasn't otherwise very active while on the show, but still had a few roles worth mentioning, including the part of Wilhelmina Peterson in the film "The Night of the Grizzly" (1966), and was also . 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. NEW YORK (AP) - Donna Douglas, who played the buxom tomboy Elly May Clampett on the hit 1960s sitcom "The Beverly Hillbillies," has died. His dad the boxer was slightly better looking. "So many kinds of people relate to Elly May," Douglas said. Under that name, she won Miss Cinderella of 1955, receiving a six-day Caribbean cruise and completing the first stage of her bid to be Miss Louisiana. Louisiana native Donna Douglas, who played hillbilly blond bombshell Elly May Clampett on the baby-boomer-beloved 1960s sitcom "The Beverly Hillbillies," has died. Douglas died of cancer a little after 9 . Sadly, she died on January 1st, 2015 from pancreatic cancer. Douglas, along with Buddy Ebsen and Max Baer Jr., attended the memorial of Irene Ryan, when the actress passed away in 1973. Even though Max Baer Jr. became famous for his role as Jethro, however, it ended up ruining his career as an actor. Funny woman. "I had milked cows before," she recalled in a 2009 interview with The Associated Press. Administered through the Irene Ryan Trust. She played Elly Mae Clampet on the Beverly Hillbillies. He ended up in an iron lung and could have died. She did not win that contest, however, but did win several other local beauty contests, as well as being a judge in others. All rights reserved. Today, actors are more in charge. I care nothing about her personal life she was a great actress . Donna Douglas Birthday and Date of Death. She was really good. 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. I don't know, I think the notion that Granny thought the frogman was actually part frog is pretty hilarious (imagining Irene Ryan handling that schtick) and not much different than the humor of the show from the very beginning. Buddy Ebsen died at 95 on Jul. IMHO, Burns & Allen, Love That Bob and The Beverly Hillbillies are the only early sitcoms, besides I Love Lucy, that still hold up and are genuinely funny. However, there was no stopping the spread of the disease, and she sadly passed away on the 3rd February 1991; she was 69 years old. American viewers had plenty of bombshells with comedic chops to choose from on 1960s sitcoms -- one of the national favorites was without a doubt Donna Douglas. Nancy Kulp Wiki: Age, Childhood, and Education, Nancy Kulp Personal Life, Marriage, Husband, Divorce, The Untold Truth Of Stan Lees Daughter Joan Celia Lee. Wait. May 6, 2021, 4:35 pm Henning's sister, who lived in a restored Victorian mansion, invited the cast to her house for dinner. And just what WERE her politics, anyway? Jethro and Ellie Mae had a nice fresh, naive charm when the show first started and they portraying young adult entering this new world. "Well.I've whitewashed a few myself. Donna died of pancreatic cancer on January 1, 2015, at Baton Rouge General Hospital. The particular role made her a national star. At her death, she was survived by son Danny Bourgeois, three grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, one brother and other extended family members. In fact, she become nominated for two Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series. Donna Douglas as Elly May Clampett, left, and Buddy Ebsen as Jed Clampett of the television show 'The Beverly Hillbillies' holding the Australian. When Bailey was introduced to Henning's sister, he said "Are you the madam of this whorehouse?". According to Lana, Natalie was turned off by her relationship with the rock 'n' roll star after he brought her home to Memphis and introduced her to his parents, dad Vernon and mom Gladys . "Donna was the star of that infamous "Eye of the Beholder" Twilight Zone episode, but they dubbed all of her dialogue.". What was Jed's full name? What was the location of death? Market data provided by Factset. Irene knew (either consciously or not) that it was her "time". [August 2014]. I found this on Broadwayworld.com, credited to John Rubinstein, who was starring in PIPPIN along with ben Vereen, Jill Clayburgh, and Irene Ryan: Dear Irene Ryan did NOT die during a performance. Kulp was "loved?" Roughly a quarter million of these unlucky souls sustain injuries so severe that they end up dying. It seemed to go on for a whole season, and it was fucking stupid. Big deal. Donna was one of the biggest stars on TV in the 1960s playing Elly May Clampett. and a queen like yourself would know about UGLY. Hot However, Douglas later married fellow Hillbilly star Edgar Buchanan, and the rumors about her and Elvis Presley died down. They always called him "J.D. Her mother, Elma Robinson, died on December 31, 2003, at age 93. Finally, she also wrote a children's book titled Miss Donna's Mulberry Acre's Farm. I wonder how Ryan would have been as Mamma, on the "Addams Family" TV series, instead of Blossom Rock(sister of Jeanette MacDonald, believe it or not). It was typical power play by her. 1:07. Thanks, that explains Douglas's behavior. I think it might have been more dumbed down later on where the earlier episodes might have had a more subversive (not sure that is quite the right word) feel to them. 1. The suit was settled in 2011. The finest Queen you've ever seen, Granny all the way! When the show debuted on Sept. 26, 1962, Douglas was 30 years old. Right after The Beverly Hillbillies wrapped up, however, Douglas decided it was time for a career change. Was a self-described tomboy in her younger days, and like her character Elly May Clampett, she was extremely fond of animals. In fact, I've never heard anything bad about him. He is 77. She WAS the reason for the show's success. 7.3k Views. She wanted to leave the series. That's when Jack Haley replaced him. In 1946 she was honorably discharged. From left, Buddy Ebsen, Irene Ryan, Max Baer, and Donna Douglas, stars of the television series "The Beverly Hillbillies," are shown in a scene from the show, Oct. 8, 1965. I had heard the story as Bailey said to Henning when they pulled up, "you didn't tell me your sister lived in a whorehouse." 1 Year-Later She Realizes Her Huge Mistake, Bebe Buell Reveals Everything About Her Rock Star Romances, The Real Reason Peter Lawford Got Kicked Out of the Rat Pack, Pam Dawber is Unrecognizable Today (Try Not to Gasp), Why Jan Smithers DISAPPEARED After WKRP in Cincinnati, Celebrities Who Died Due to Medical Malpractice, The ONE Time Dolly Parton Got Naked in Public, Rare Photos of Lynda Carter Not Suitable for All Ages, How Each Gilligans Island Cast Member Died, The Tragic Death of Robert Urich & His Wife, The Tragic Life and Demise of Angie Dickinson. Elly May was gorgeous but was happier playing with her numerous pets including chimpanzees or "rasslin' fellas" rather than smooching them. Facts Verse More: Joe Cockers 7 accomplishments that should be celebrated, Douglas found a real-life father figure in Buddy Ebsen, who played her father Jed Clampett on The Beverly Hillbillies. and died after 2 days. Different standards today - but I am not even sure I would consider Baer built. Donna Douglas, who played hillbilly bombshell Elly May Clampett on the baby-boomer-beloved 1960s sitcom The Beverly Hillbillies, has died.She was 82. 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. Ebsen was the only person who disliked her, for being a "lesberal.". I once ruined Buddy Ebsen's credit rating. But she'll always be known as Elly May the tomboy-but-sweetly sexy blond Clampett daughter who never seemed to be aware of her effect on men, and who referred to their Beverly Hills mansion swimming pool as the "SEE-ment pond.". Donna was 81 years old at the time of death. And he wasn't "traded" with Ray Bolger. [quote]They were talking about the Scarecrow in The Wizard of Oz R64, not The Scarecrow and Mrs. King. Otherwise, you'll just have to find some other site From there, she would perform in a double act vaudeville performance with her husband at the age of 20. Douglas guest-starred on other shows including "Love, American Style" and "The Twilight Zone," but rejected some movie roles for being too racy. The Beverly Hillbillies wasnt the only show Buddy Ebsen known for, though. Donna Douglas was an American . 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. The beautiful but tomboyish blonde Elly May was played on the hit 1960s show "The Beverly Hillbillies" by the late actress Donna Douglas, a Pride native who died in January 2015. Irene Ryan is perharps best known for her role as Granny in The Beverly Hillbillies. Facts Verse Max Baer still makes a yearly pilgrimage to spit on her grave. News in 2000. A media report . "So many people love her, and that means a lot to me.". Facts Verse The funniest parts IMO were Granny v Mrs Drysdale . Granny's choreography for music video for the theme to DC Cab. That was a very interesting life Nancy had .I loved watching her in the Beverly hillbillies she was very funny. It wasn't much of a stretch for Douglas to fit into the troupe, said her cousin, Charlene Smith. She had some disputes with her partner allegedly, which I did not personally observe. Irene Ryan was wonderfully supportive to young talent, as her scholarship fund showed. LIke R42 said, he really didn't care which part he played. Mrs. Henning says Donna Douglas was a mess after Frankie and Johnny. During her final days, she enjoyed giving speeches and reading the letters she received from fans. 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