Rich suitors tried to woo her with little success. Guys, Jack Haley replaced Buddy as Tin Man. Her former castmates from The Beverly Hillbillies all deeply saddened by her passing. Try our quiz and enter to win $500!Click below to check the trivia questionDonna Douglas will always be best remembered. She thought she was better than them and her character Granny was the reason the show was a hit. She was 81. Like R77, I knew every song by heart. Irene Ryan was no saint - but she was generous, talented, and wise - no one who knew her during that time will ever forget what a presence and complete professional she was. She was 81. January, 2015. 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. 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. That is absolutely not true. The Beverly Hillbillies was a groundbreaking sitcom that aired on CBS in 1962 and ran for nine seasons until its eventual end in 1971. 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. She lost the race, and moved to Palm Springs, where she decided to spend the rest of her days devoted to charity organizations. They should have featured her more often. She had some disputes with her partner allegedly, which I did not personally observe. She had a music career: Douglas did The Beverly Hillbillies soundtrack and made four Christian albums. Leeds died in 2000. 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. Nor did she finish her contract. Ryan wished them luck but told them she had no intention of rocking the boat. He usually played hayseeds in the movies, so it was only natural to cast him as the Scarecrow. Kirk Douglas celebrated his 103rd birthday in 2019 and has never been charged with a crime. Buddy Ebsen was originally cast as the Scarecrow in The Wizard of Oz. Hello. When he got ask to play the role of Jed Clampett, Ebsen nearly turned down the role. Irene Ryan was wonderfully supportive to young talent, as her scholarship fund showed. Friends said she would "shudder" every time she heard Douglas's name. Douglas died Thursday in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, near her h Agree with R162 -- needed more Mrs. Drysdale. Here's the true story: . I knew Nancy Kulp when she was older and moved back to PA semi-retired. In 1946 she was honorably discharged. 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. 7.3k Views. Nancy appeared in over 90 films and TV titles during her career, all of which steadily increased her wealth. [quote]Fred Clark and then Larry Keating played Harry Morton, Blanche's fussbudget husband on Burns & Allen. She continued to act for a little while longer before become a gospel singer. It's tied to a national theatre competition and the Kennedy Center. He may have been a Republican, but he wasn't "nasty." He wasn't in that movie because of illness, not being "traded.". Tragically Natalie died in 1981 without ever getting justice for her rape. The legendary actor Buddy Ebsen certainly drew audiences in with his impressive acting background, but the show featured many other acting gems who werent quite as famous as Ebsen at the time. Spent hours autographing photos and personally responding to fan mail - even though she received far more than anyone else in the cast of. 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). The funniest parts IMO were Granny v Mrs Drysdale . 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. Jan. 2, 2015, 4:19 PM PST / Updated Jan. 2, 2015, 4:57 PM PST. Bolger was cast as the Tin Man, but he passionately wanted to play the Scarecrow. I'm not a theatre hag and was thrilled to discover "No Time at All" on YouTube a few years ago. Irene could be tough - but she was mostly professional and a warm-hearted doll who knew how lucky she was to get the TBH break so late in her career. When the show ended, Max took the small pot of money he had saved and produced an indie thriller called Macon County Line. 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. The others were very good, but she was great. You can't fool them. She worked as a speaker for church groups, and even travelled to churches with her beautiful singing voice. [quote]If they had been real people, they'd have their own reality series today. [quote]They were talking about the Scarecrow in The Wizard of Oz R64, not The Scarecrow and Mrs. King. Mr. Drysdale, however, would greedily find away to keep the Clampett family firmly located in Beverly Hills, to increase his own wealth. Douglas, 81, played Elly May Clampett on the television series "The Beverly . Max definitely brought an effortless sweetness and naivete to Jethro that is, no doubt, harder for a hunky grown man to achieve than most people would appreciate. The particular role made her a national star. With his final acting appearance being in the show King of the Hill as the character Chet Elderson. Douglas died Thursday in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, near her hometown of Zachary. Kind of like Doris Roberts. Wait. I love the way Ebson, Ryan, Douglas and Baer played their roles so unselfconsciously. Irene was a maternal figure, who had been through Vaudeville and all the horrible places show business could take a woman trying to make a career during that time. "I am happy to say I have terminated my tenure of employment with that cretin." She died of pancreatic cancer on January 1, 2015 at the age of 82. Died: January 1, 2015, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Never got rid of the pig tails etc. The suit was settled in 2011. Become a contributor - post when you want with no ads. Do you mean Donna Douglas? In fact, I've never heard anything bad about him. Where are the NYC theater queens when you need them? document.getElementById("ak_js_1").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()); Type above and press Enter to search. Actors/Actresses Who Appears in Both The Twilight Zone & Night Gallery series. Today comedy actors always seem to be indicating that they're in on the joke. DoYouRemember.comThe site that takes you back!DONNA DOUGLAS: THE SAD STRANGE STORYhttp://doyouremember.com/https://www.facebook.com/DoYouRemember/https://twi. Max Baer Jr. landed fame after being cast to play the role of Jethro Bodine, and unlike the other cast members on this list, is actually still alive today. It was Benaderet herself who suggested he audition Irene Ryan. Today, actors change everything and won't do parts. Donna Douglas, who played the shapely, blue-eyed daughter of the suddenly wealthy mountaineer Jed Clampett on "The Beverly Hillbillies," the wildly popular television sitcom of a . As a result, Max Baer Jr. was forced to make money in some other way. After The Beverly Hillbillies, she attempted to run for Congress, but surprisingly opposed by none other than her former castmate, Buddy Ebsen. However, a few details have surfaced, and we are happy to share them with you. She seems to have worked a lot in very small roles- often uncredited. 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. She was scheduled to be there for an hour, but she stayed until she talked to everyone and signed everything anyone wanted her to. After meeting the sister, he said to her, "oh that explains it, you aren't one of the girls, you're the madam." Dear Irene Ryan did NOT die during a performance. "The Beverly Hillbillies" cast (l-r): Irene Ryan, Buddy Ebsen, Max Baer, Nancy Kulp, Raymond Bailey and Donna Douglas (AP). 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. Because she had a tiny pair of vestigial balls? One Saturday matinee, she looked particularly drained, and I got worried that she might be sick. Hello and thank you for registering. None of the female cast or crew wanted to use the bathroom after Irene got through in there. He even attempted to create a casino of his own, but the project was suspended indefinitely. What a hoot. Actress best known for her role on the hit 1960s sitcom sat down with E! She was a sweet soul.". She was not hated. Ebsen could have easily stayed out of it, but apparently his disdain for Kulp was intense. On Donna Douglas: 'She Was Elly May Until The Day She Died'. Donna Douglas 1933-2015 10 photos Douglas -- known for her sparkly blue eyes and platinum blonde hair -- had parts in the "Twilight Zone" and "Mr. Ed," and in 1966, she starred in "Frankie and . Maybe you love her because she was a lesbian, but you have no idea what kind of person she was. All rights reserved. She was a former vaudevillian who had been an infrequent performer on radio. Raymond was insane, Kulp was a hardened militant lesbian, Baer thought he was too good to play Jethro and used any excuse to get of out being on the show. Earlier, she sued Disney, CAA. 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. It has been awhile since I have watched the series, but I think she might have been used more earlier in the show. Facts Verse ". Appeared as a guest at the Western Film Fair in Charlotte, North Carolina in 1992, 1994, 1998, 1999, 2002 and 2005. Donna Douglas as Elly May Clampett, left, and Buddy Ebsen as Jed Clampett of the television show 'The Beverly Hillbillies' holding the Australian. But I guess it's as good a song as any actress could hope to go out on: "Here is a secret I never have told Maybe you'll understand why I believe if I refuse to grow old I can stay young till I die.". She was really a cordial and good person. She won over the hearts of TV viewers with her starring role on The Beverly Hillbillies, but there was much more to this versatile actress than Elly May Clampett. And he wasn't "traded" with Ray Bolger. Her mother was a telephone operator and died on December 31 . Donna Douglas Actress Donna Douglas receives a donation at the Salvation Armys Annual Celebrity Bell Ringing December 12, 2001 in Los Angeles, CA. "So many kinds of people relate to Elly May," Douglas said. Was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. The cause of . She remained in show business and frequently performed as a gospel singer and spoke at churches across America. And she was determined to give back - which she did through the Irene Ryan Trust and the acting scholarship, which continues to be prestigious and coveted to this day. Irene Ryan is perharps best known for her role as Granny in The Beverly Hillbillies. Irene Ryan was a near-nobody and she knew it. Elvis famously said that he missed sleeping with only two of his female movie co-stars (Mary Tyler Moore from a "Change of Habit" and I forget the second). "She was always happy, and she really loved animals -- just like her character on `The Beverly Hillbillies.' 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. However, Nancy left her studies during the Second World War, and joined the US Naval Reserve. Ebson couldn't stand the role and waited for it to be cancelled. One of the actresses had an affair with him during shooting. Did she have children, heirs or survivors? Even though Max Baer Jr. became famous for his role as Jethro, however, it ended up ruining his career as an actor. Donna Douglas is best known for her role as Ellie Mae Clampett on the '60's TV series, The Beverly Hillbillies, and she was tailor-made for the role. 2023 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. At her death, she was survived by son Danny Bourgeois, three grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, one brother and other extended family members. [quote]Guys, Jack Haley replaced Buddy as Tin Man. [August 2014]. Elly May was gorgeous but was happier playing with her numerous pets including chimpanzees or "rasslin' fellas" rather than smooching them. Wholesome blonde actress Donna Douglas, who played pretty tomboy Elly May Clampett on the hit 1960s sitcom "The Beverly Hillbillies" and starred opposite Elvis Presley in the 1966 film "Frankie and Johnny," has died at age 81, her family said on Friday. She was interred at Westminster Presbyterian Cemetery in Mifflintown, Pennsylvania, USA. No. She is survived by him, by three grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, one brother and other extended family members, Smith said. ", Smith described Douglas as a "very good Christian lady. Raymond Bailey pissed them off occasionally but that was because he was very professional and didn't like dicking around on set. Unlike Lovely Howell, there was never anything even vaguely charming or attractive about her. He and his The Beverly Hillbillies (1962) co-star, Donna Douglas, had a lot in common. ", The show was not only assailed by critics, but by the network president who put it on the air: "I HATED it," Michael Dann confided much later. Kulp was "loved?" Did Irene establish the award in her will or did her heirs do that? 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. It doesn't appear he ever played another role at all. Donna Douglas was an American actress and singer, best known for her performance as 'Elly May Clampett' in the series 'The Beverly Hillbillies. Good lord As a child, I saw Ninotchka on the late movies and was certain Ina Claire was the same woman who played Mrs Drysdale. Early life. The family became rich from the oil, and moved to Beverly Hills in an opulent mansion. Bea was also the mother of Jack Bannon, who was a regular on "Lou Grant" and did several bit parts on the Henning shows. The show was a success due to its excellent writing and directing. Nancy married Charles M. Dacus in 1951, a few weeks before she launched her acting career. Baer was born Maximilian Adalbert Baer Jr. in Oakland, California, on December 4, 1937, the son of boxing champion Max Baer and his wife Mary Ellen Sullivan. When she died, didn't her estate fund theater scholarships? Well no one will be talking about me 40 some years after I die. 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. Thanks for posting r75. And Kulp was loved, too. 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. I heard that Buddy Ebsen got mad at Nancy Kulp because Kulp's campaign claimed that ALL of her co-stars on The Beverly Hillbillies were supporting bid for election. And Douglas came through it. Following her acting career, Douglas became a real estate agent, a Gospel singer and inspirational speaker, and authored books for children and . Ryan had a continuing role, as a nurse, in the Dr. Kildare film series, starring Lew Ayres. But the truth is that Buddy Ebsen was originally cast as the Scarecrow and Ray Bolger as the Tin Man. Two observations: In the first few seasons, Mr. Drysdale was calm reasonable banker. 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. It's rumored that she always wanted to make vittles while dressed in just her granny panties. Net Who is Cody Martin Linley? The work itself and the fame it brought meant more to her than a paycheck. While she had small roles on three movies prior, her only starring role on the big screen was . I think he just didn't agree with her politics. 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