Menu
Donna Douglas

Donna Douglas

Known For Acting
Birthday Sep 26, 1933
Died Jan 02, 2015 (81)
Birthplace Pride Louisiana USA
Popularity 0.5 (history)
Updated Aug 09, 2025
Entry Date Apr 13, 2024
Links TMDb IMDb
Biography

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia 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). Following her acting career, Douglas became a real estate agent ... , gospel singer, inspirational speaker, and author of books for children and adults. Although Douglas was an active actress in the 1960s, she was still relatively unknown when selected from among 500 young actresses to work alongside veteran actor and dancer Buddy Ebsen on The Beverly Hillbillies. This series ran for nine consecutive seasons, beginning in 1962 and ending in 1971. Continually typecast as a result of her Hillbillies role, Douglas decided to focus on her career as a gospel singer. During the 1966 summer hiatus of The Beverly Hillbillies, Douglas made her only starring feature film appearance, cast as Frankie in Fred de Cordova's Frankie and Johnny (1966) alongside Elvis Presley. The film proved popular but it did little to advance Douglas' big-screen career. With the 1973 death of Hillbillies co-star Irene Ryan, and Max Baer Jr.'s refusal to participate, Douglas joined Nancy Kulp and Buddy Ebsen in 1981 as the only original cast members to appear in the reunion movie, Return of the Beverly Hillbillies. Douglas was a guest star on a number of other television programs and the subject of paper dolls, dolls, coloring books, and various toys during the height of the show's popularity. In a 2003 interview with "Confessions of a Pop Culture Addict", she summed up her views on the role: "Elly May was like a slice out of my life. She is a wonderful little door opener for me because people love her, and they love the Hillbillies. Even to this day it's shown every day somewhere. But, as with any abilities, she may open a door for you, but you have to have substance or integrity to advance you through that door." In 1992, Douglas and Baer attended Buddy Ebsen's 84th birthday celebration in Beverly Hills, California. In 1993, Douglas, Ebsen, and Baer reunited on The Jerry Springer Show, and for a final time in a CBS-TV television special, The Legend of The Beverly Hillbillies. In December 2010, Mattel released a new collection of three Barbies called the Classic TV Collection. These dolls were Samantha Stephens (from Bewitched, played by Elizabeth Montgomery), Jeannie (from I Dream of Jeannie, played by Barbara Eden) and Elly May Clampett.

Known For

Filmography

The Twilight Zone: A 60th Anniversary Celebration

The Twilight Zone: A 60th Anniversary Celebration

2019

as Janet Tyler (archive footage)

The Return of the Beverly Hillbillies

The Return of the Beverly Hillbillies

1981

as Elly May Clampett

Frankie and Johnny

Frankie and Johnny

1966

as Frankie

Lover Come Back

Lover Come Back

1961

as Deborah, Peter's Secretary

Bells Are Ringing

Bells Are Ringing

1960

as Party guest

Career

Career

1959

as Marjorie Burke

Li'l Abner

Li'l Abner

1959

as Dogpatch Girl

North by Northwest

North by Northwest

1959

as Woman on Sidewalk (uncredited)

No data available

No data available

No data available

Organization Category Movie
Television Credits

The Beverly Hillbillies

as Elly May Clampett

Episodes: 274

First Aired: Sep 26, 1962

Cain's Hundred

as Edie

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 19, 1961

The Nanny

as Donna Douglas

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Nov 03, 1993

The Twilight Zone

as Janet Tyler

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Oct 02, 1959

Thriller

as Laura Bellman

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 13, 1960

The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!

as Ellie Mae

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 04, 1989

The Detectives

as Sandra Hoyle

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Oct 16, 1959

The Twilight Zone

as Debutante

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Oct 02, 1959

McMillan & Wife

as Rita

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 29, 1971

Adam-12

as Nina Draper

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 21, 1968

Route 66

as Dana

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Oct 07, 1960

Surfside 6

as Amy Faris

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Oct 06, 1960

Love, American Style

as Gloria

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 29, 1969

Love, American Style

as Annabelle

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 29, 1969

Mister Ed

Episodes: 3

First Aired: Jan 05, 1961

Project U.F.O.

Episodes: 2

First Aired: Feb 19, 1978

Pete and Gladys

Episodes: 2

First Aired: Sep 19, 1960

77 Sunset Strip

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Oct 10, 1958

E! True Hollywood Story

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Aug 21, 1996

Surfside 6

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Oct 06, 1960

Night Gallery

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Dec 16, 1970

Sam Benedict

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 15, 1962

The Aquanauts

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 14, 1960

Lock-Up

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 28, 1959

The Jack Benny Program

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Oct 28, 1950

The Bob Hope Show

as Self

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Apr 09, 1950

Popularity Metrics

Popularity History


Year Month Avg Max Min
2024 6 10 18 4
2024 7 14 29 6
2024 8 9 36 3
2024 9 6 12 2
2024 10 5 10 2
2024 11 4 7 2
2024 12 4 6 2
2025 1 6 14 2
2025 2 3 7 1
2025 3 3 6 1
2025 5 1 2 1
2025 6 1 1 1
2025 7 0 0 0
2025 8 2 8 0
2025 9 0 0 0
2025 10 0 0 0

Trending Rank


Year Month Avg Rank Max Rank
No trending metrics available.

Return to Top