She WAS the reason for the show's success. I loved doing Elly May. They did not have any children together her only child was her son Danny P. Bourgeois from her first marriage to Roland Bourgeois and they divorced in 1980. Press Esc to cancel. Publicity Listings Elly May was gorgeous but was happier playing with her numerous pets including chimpanzees or "rasslin' fellas" rather than smooching them. Not only was the show a life changing event for Douglas, but she also found love, and friends for life. Bolger was cast as the Tin Man, but he passionately wanted to play the Scarecrow. Because it's only given to TALENTED people..and it's named for her because the money comes from her estate. She was exactly as the previous posters have said - gracious, delightful, tireless in taking photos and signing autographs. We went to see Donna Douglas when she appeared at a local car dealership for a radio station promotion. Donna Douglas - Buddy Ebsen. ODE TO BILLIE JOE with Glynis Johns trilling around the Mississippi Delta must have been something to see! The Beverly Hillbillies aired a long time ago, so most of the amazing cast members of the show have sadly passed away since then. After meeting the sister, he said to her, "oh that explains it, you aren't one of the girls, you're the madam." As a bonus, it's Harrison Ford's first screen credit. She had the Elly May hair and white Kabuki-like makeup, but she was very funny and friendly. He was generally nice (though there was a real ass-hole side) , but there wasn't much there. I meant to write: "Jethro Bodine" is one of the best names ever invented. Bea Benaderet left the show for a Petticoat Junction even though that show was much lower rated so she could get away from them. Ebsen was still pissed he traded with Ray Bolger for the Tin Man and got kicked off of the Wizard of Oz. Max Baer Jr. once said he and Irene spent a lot of time together off the set in cocktail bars knockin' 'em back. Donna Douglas, who played the ditsy Elly May Clampett on "The Beverly Hillbillies," died Friday at her home in Zachary, La., according to a report by CBS affiliate WAFB-TV in Baton Rouge, La. March 29, 2021, 4:49 am, by Imogene Coca was a poor substitute for Irene Ryan. Granny was most concerned with the fact that Ellie Mae wasn't married. She is survived by him, by three grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, one brother and other extended family members, Smith said. Irene never did any promo for the show and I think that's why the rest of the cast resented her. Nancy starred in 246 episodes next to Buddy Ebsen, Irene Ryan, Max Baer Jr. and Donna Douglas. His paternal grandfather was of German Jewish descent, and his mother and paternal grandmother were both of Scots-Irish descent. Sharon Tate as Janet Trego.. was the best character on the show. Creator, Her stage name in the 1950's, while still living in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, was Dot Bourgeois, as can be seen in several articles in Baton Rouge newspapers of the day. As a little kid I loved watching endless reruns of them but also My Little Margie, Our Miss Brooks, I Married Joan, Private Secretary and December Bride, which are all excrutiatingly unfunny to me now. She did not win that contest, however, but did win several other local beauty contests, as well as being a judge in others. She was a former vaudevillian who had been an infrequent performer on radio. 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. Just posting to say that R42 is correct. 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.". I have always I thought that her behavior was like that of an old cat, who curls up under the bed and goes to sleep and just doesn't wake up. They gave me a lot of laughs when I was a kid. In fact, I've never heard anything bad about him. Donna Douglas, who played Elly May Clampett on the hit 1960s sitcom The Beverly Hillbillies, has died. She was transport d back to California and died there. The cause of . He didn't like her using him as an endorsement without his consent, so he publicly supported her opponent. Did the series ever have a final episode? Coming from the 77-year-old, that means a lot, because he says, "I'm such a bastard that if you're a dick when your living you're a dead . July 2, 2021, 6:38 am, by January, 2015. That's why he recorded an ad for the Republican. Unlike Lovely Howell, there was never anything even vaguely charming or attractive about her. "She was a very giving person and a very Christian lady," her niece said. Rich suitors tried to woo her with little success. Kulp wouldn't have won the election anyway, so it's stupid to say that her election chances were ruined by evil Buddy Ebsen. Unfortunately the part did nothing to advance her acting career. 1. She was kind and gentle with Douglas. January 28, 2023, 4:29 pm, by Donna Douglas later even recorded and sold several gospel and country music records. It netted Baer millions. Ebsen, contacted the Shuster campaign and volunteered to record radio spots declaring, "Hey Nancy, I love you dearly but you're too liberal for me I've got to go with Bud Shuster. " I believe she actually died about three days later of some kind of heart failure. And what was his middle name? It consistently ranked in the top most-watched programs on TV during its run, even though critics didn't care for it. 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. Sadly, however, Kulp diagnosed with cancer in 1990, and died a year later, on February 3rd, 1991, at age 69. Back then, the producers were in charge. Here are 7 things you may not have known about the beautiful blonde. J.D. She was married and divorced twice, including the second time, to The Beverly Hillbillies director, Robert Leeds. Get the best of Fox News' entertainment coverage, right in your inbox. "But she was a very private person nothing like me." She don't ride no limousine. It's kind of sad as she really had to psyche herself each night to sing "No Time At All." The others were very good, but she was great. Bea Benaderat was a complicated woman, that's all I'll say on that. Donna Douglas was born on September 26, 1933 and died on January 1, 2015. 2023 SheMedia, LLC. Raymond Bailey was THE speaker for banker's conventions, Paul Henning often accompanied him. But that made her loved by the cast and crew, not hated. Henning's sister, who lived in a restored Victorian mansion, invited the cast to her house for dinner. R12 et al are much more entertaining than the supposed truth. One of his sisters, Helga Ebsen, died on November 7, 1994 . Elly May proves to be quite fond of animals or, as she would call them, "critters.". "Yeah I had heard that Buddy was a nasty Republicantoo bad.". Donna Douglas as Elly May Clampett, left, and Buddy Ebsen as Jed Clampett of the television show 'The Beverly Hillbillies' holding the Australian. Were you more saddened to learn about the death of Buddy Ebsen, or about Nancy Kulps sad battle with cancer? However, Douglas later married fellow Hillbilly star Edgar Buchanan, and the rumors about her and Elvis Presley died down. 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. "Max Baer, Jr.? | Of the main cast only Donna Douglas was ever grateful for the role. 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. She was small and not overweight or anything. What was Donna Douglas net worth when she died? She thought she was better than them and her character Granny was the reason the show was a hit. Donna Douglas came to my town for a parade and the grand opening of a business in the late 1970s. 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. 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. 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. They're like children. Huh. The show was a success due to its excellent writing and directing. Popular, by Take a look at these vintage photos to see the beauty of young Donna Douglas in the 1950s and 1960s. Hello. Well no one will be talking about me 40 some years after I die. From there, she would perform in a double act vaudeville performance with her husband at the age of 20. The suit was settled in 2011. It doesn't appear he ever played another role at all. 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 . What was Jed's full name? ", [quote] Wait. 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! Donna Douglas was an American . She got married soon after high school, had a son, divorced and won a couple of beauty contests, all within the span of a few years. It was a conservative district and she lost by a wide margin. (adsbygoogle=window.adsbygoogle||[]).push({}); She furthered her education at the University of Miami, where she studied for a masters degree in English and French. Don't know why he's been crossed out. "She was 82," Smith said firmly, adding jokingly, "She's going to haunt me for that.". He often wore a frogman suit and Granny mistakenly assumed that he was part frog. Her mother was a telephone operator and died on December 31 . She died on January 1, 2015, in New York City, born and reared. Donna's father, Emmett R. Smith Sr., a retired 'Standard Oil Co.,' died in a boating accident on October 7, 1988, near Port Allen. Harriet MacGibbon was brilliant as Mrs. Drysdale. I once ruined Buddy Ebsen's credit rating. So was Dash Riprock and Roger Torrey who played Matthew and Mark Templeton. After the series endedm Ryan did Pippin on Broadway where she received a Tony nomination. Nor did she finish her contract. I never saw an icicle start any fires. She created a completely believable Beverly Hills bigot. Paul Henning invited the cast and crew to his hometown of Joplin Missouri when he was being honored with an award. She lived to be 91. 7.3k Views. She said that his place was like a stereotypical bachelor's pad with a bear skin rug and fake fur bedspread. "I am happy to say I have terminated my tenure of employment with that cretin." He is 77. 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. IE 11 is not supported. The answer is yes to both. ", "Grandma Moses was famous for painting primitives." She remained in show business and frequently performed as a gospel singer and spoke at churches across America. "She was always happy, and she really loved animals -- just like her character on `The Beverly Hillbillies.' Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. She signed all of her pictures with a Bible verse. "So many kinds of people relate to Elly May," Douglas said. Drysdale?" 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. She was 81. Jimmie Tramel. 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. When he got ask to play the role of Jed Clampett, Ebsen nearly turned down the role. Different standards today - but I am not even sure I would consider Baer built. All these years, I thought I remembered starring in it! What does Donna Mills have to do with any of this? Lucy was the first choice for Granny, but Gary Morton talked her out of it. [quote]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. Meyer Lansky. Rude as it is, I'm sorry but that's funny. Net Who is Cody Martin Linley? Why are there no more photos of the frogman? May your soul rest in peace, Donna Douglas. Due to Nancys secretive ways and her single-life, she sparked rumors about her sexuality; she remained silent for years, but two years before her death, she came out and said that she was a lesbian, but never stated whether she was in a relationship with another woman or not. In their own way, the Clampetts were a forerunner of the `60s counterculture. Today, nostalgic adults still watch the show in syndication, and even the children of today can appreciate its wacky humor. We all called and sent her cards and love and wishes to get better fast, but she basically wasted away over the next few days. She had one line; they thought they'd have to dub in Maxine Stuart's voice, but she did such a good imitation of it that they didn't have to do that. He said that she was very Christian, very warm, and quite likable. In 1975, however, he had to retire due to his Alzheimers. Ebsen didn't care which part he played, and it was agreed that they would switch roles. She moved to New York and soon appeared on television series, including a well-remembered guest-star shot on The Twilight Zone (1959) in one of the series' most famous episodes, The Twilight Zone: Eye of the Beholder (1960), in which she plays a woman who tries to undergo a series of experimental treatments to make her beautiful, only for the treatments to fail. Nancy starred in 246 episodes next to Buddy Ebsen, Irene Ryan, Max Baer Jr. and Donna Douglas. When the show ended, Max took the small pot of money he had saved and produced an indie thriller called Macon County Line. We weren't allowed to change lines. "Would you like to see your bedroom suite?" She . She was just having a good time, and everyone loved her. She was 82 years old at the time of her death. The clips have been pulled off YouTube but here are the lyrics of Granny's campaign song: "Here's your choice for Possum Queen Granny, Granny! Market data provided by Factset. 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