Possessed the ability to let out a piercing, very loud whistle, which she demonstrated occasionally on The Beverly Hillbillies. Why was a college acting award named for her? He even attempted to create a casino of his own, but the project was suspended indefinitely. After the Beverly Hillbillies ended, Nancy continued with television roles, first as Mrs Gruber in the TV series The Brian Keith Show (1973-1974), and then as May Hopkins in the TV series Sanford and Son (1975-1976). Finally, she also wrote a childrens book titled Miss Donnas Mulberry Acres Farm. When I returned to the Imperial for the evening show, the call had just come through from Kennedy airport: Irene was on a plane to Los Angeles. our privacy/terms or if you just want to see the damn In their own way, the Clampetts were a forerunner of the `60s counterculture. She didn't seem very loveable to me. [quote]Fred Clark and then Larry Keating played Harry Morton, Blanche's fussbudget husband on Burns & Allen. Maybe you love her because she was a lesbian, but you have no idea what kind of person she was. She really was the original trouper. In the show, Jed Clampett would frequently nearly change his mind by withdrawing his money and returning to is old home in the country. And she began to find roles in film an television. Her mother, Elma Robinson, died on December 31, 2003, at age 93. I think he just didn't agree with her politics. She had a few guest roles in the 80s, in such projects as the TV series Simon & Simon (1986), and Scarecrow and Mrs. King (1986), while her last on-screen role was in one of the episodes of the ABC Afterschool Specials in 1989. Loved Pippin as a college kid and saw the show several times, just as gaylings today see Wicked. Finally, she also wrote a children's book titled Miss Donna's Mulberry Acre's Farm. "I figured they were equipped the same, so I just went on over and did it. The twist was she was beautiful, at least to the viewers, but considered hideous to the pig people of the planet, she was on. Throughout Monroe and Kennedys alleged affair, Lawford supposedly acted as a liaison for the President. Make sure you stick around, because were going to reveal the tragic end of legendary actor Buddy Ebsen! Thanks, that explains Douglas's behavior. He seriously considered her for the role of Granny, but he had always visualized Granny as a spry and wiry woman. Bea was too plump and busty to run around in a mad fury the way he intended. Harriet MacGibbon was brilliant as Mrs. Drysdale. If you can't find the email you can resend it here. I only heard Donna speak about Irene Ryan and it was with great fondness and reverence. She may have been a real cunt. Wished she was in more episodes. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. But, trouper that she was, she never missed a performance. of that man-eater type. Spent hours autographing photos and personally responding to fan mail - even though she received far more than anyone else in the cast of. What was Donna Douglas net worth when she died? Doris Ione Smith Douglas, better known as Elly May Clampett on The Beverly Hillbillies in the 1960s and 1970s, was an American actress and singer. She was the only child of a school teacher mother and a traveling salesman father. CBS Photo Archive/Getty Images She was 81. Bea Benederet was the inside pick for the role of Granny, Irene Ryan auditioned last for the part and blew everyone away with her audition.. Benederet got a recurring part as Jed's sister Pearl. I am sure the three other top-billed cast members (as the nominal star, Ebsen would always be paid the most) had favored nations clauses so that they all had to get similar or same salaries if someone got a raise. I think the funniest feuds were Granny and Pearl. ", My God, that was DECADES after the Wizard of Oz. What does Donna Mills have to do with any of this? (adsbygoogle=window.adsbygoogle||[]).push({}); She furthered her education at the University of Miami, where she studied for a masters degree in English and French. Nancy Kulp as Miss Jane Hathaway, "The Beverly Hillbillies", Posted by 60's & 70's Television onWednesday, June 22, 2016. [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. The others were very good, but she was great. Still at the bank, huh?". Why are there no more photos of the frogman? Donna Douglas played the woman after the bandages were taken off. She died on January 1, 2015, in New York City, born and reared. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Please complete the process by verifying your email address. and Ryan was constantly making trouble with her haughty ways. There, the doctors discovered that she suffered from a malignant brain tumor. Ed. In 1966, she transitioned to film with a role opposite Elvis Presley in the movie Frankie and Johnny.. I enjoyed the show, but when the rotation came back to these eps, I was not having it. And what was his middle name? What more could you ask for? 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. Here are 7 things you may not have known about the beautiful blonde. When Bailey was introduced to Henning's sister, he said "Are you the madam of this whorehouse?". In 1946 she was honorably discharged. [quote]Max was good in small doses, but when he tried to carry the episode he took it way over the top. "Jed" Clampett, usually called Jed Clampett, is the apparent patriarch of the family with his mother-in-law Granny, nephew Jethro, and daughter Elly May. None of the female cast or crew wanted to use the bathroom after Irene got through in there. Douglas, who played the tomboy Elly May Clampett on the hit 1960s sitcom, died at the age of 82 on Jan. 1, 2015 of pancreatic cancer. This extremely comical series debuted with The Beverly Hillbillies: The Clampetts Strike Oil (1962), on her 30th birthday, Wednesday, September 26th, 1962, which is among the narrowest & sheerest coincidences, that are hardest to believe. The show was a success due to its excellent writing and directing. The cause of . Jan. 14, 1986 12 AM PT. 2023 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. He spend the rest of his days living a quiet life in California. But I never heard that true story about Irene Ryan's death. With What Family Would You LEAST Like to Spend the Holidays? Ebsen was still pissed he traded with Ray Bolger for the Tin Man and got kicked off of the Wizard of Oz. Nick Carters Wife Age, Net Worth. Different standards today - but I am not even sure I would consider Baer built. The star had many TV roles besides The Beverly . Producer Henning had a devil of a time finding a "Li'l Abner" type who could play comedy. "So many kinds of people relate to Elly May," Douglas said, according to the Associated Press. 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. Is Donna Douglas still alive from the Hillbillies? [quote] Ebsen could have easily stayed out of it, but apparently his disdain for Kulp was intense. 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. During the last few episodes of The Beverly Hillbillies, however, Raymond Bailey began to exhibit symptoms of Alzheimers Disease, and only made a few film appearances after the show cancelled. 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. That's why he recorded an ad for the Republican. After playing the secretary on The Bob Cunningham Show. It was really sad that Donna Douglas continued to be "Ellie Mae" even after the series ended. Henning felt so bad passing over Bea that he created the role of Cousin Pearl expressly for her. how did joe mcbryan die. In the 1970s and 1980s, she recorded a few minor country music records and several gospel albums. Max was good in small doses, but when he tried to carry the episode he took it way over the top. Had a second career as a gospel singer, as well as a popular real estate agent in Beverly Hills, California. Moved to New York City in 1958 and studied with famed acting coach. And Douglas came through it. And just what WERE her politics, anyway? She was scheduled to be there for an hour, but she stayed until she talked to everyone and signed everything anyone wanted her to. The Associated Press contributed to this report. He wasn't in that movie because of illness, not being "traded.". The Jethro becomes a Hippy or Jethro joins the Army kind of stuff hasn't aged well. "She was Elly May until the day she died," Baer told the website RumorFix. He died on July 6th, 2003, at the age of 95. He ended up in an iron lung and could have died. Baer Jr. is the last remaining original cast member from "The Beverly Hillbillies" to be alive. She was 81. Facts Verse He said she had pancreatic cancer for the last months of her life. "Whenever she gave presents, they always came with (passages) from Scripture.". She seems to have worked a lot in very small roles- often uncredited. 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! Her former castmates from The Beverly Hillbillies all deeply saddened by her passing. The suit was settled in 2011. While it is ironic that such a big-prestige award is named after Irene Ryna, best known as Granny, it continues to be the highest national scholarship in acting given to undergraduate acting students. BUDDY EBSEN was a real shit for doing that and frankly I'm surprised at how KULP eventually forgave him. 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. ", 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. And she died on April 26th, 1973, at 70 years old. Despite pointing out more than 100 points of similarity between the two, the courts sided with the defendants. Actually, the only actor who was disliked by all the other cast members was Raymond Bailey who played Mr. Drysdale. 1943). In many ways, she was Elly May, with her own real-life rags-to-riches story. 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. Today, actors change everything and won't do parts. I have sat and watched 4-5 episodes in a row. Douglas died at Baton Rouge General Hospital in 2015 from pancreatic cancer, aged 82. And naturally, none of these hilarious performances possible without the shows stellar cast. Donna Douglas was previously married to Robert Leeds (1971 - 1980) and Roland Bourgeois (1949 - 1954).. Donna Douglas was in a relationship with Max Baer Jr. About. Donna Douglas was enjoying the gorgeous weather with a female pal at the River Terrace Apartments pool in Spuyten Duyvil just after 1:30 p.m. when the horror occurred. In 1971, Donna Douglas married Robert M. Leeds, who was the director of the show. Fred Clark and then Larry Keating played Harry Morton, Blanche's fussbudget husband on Burns & Allen. But she ended up spilling the beans on one of the most embarrassing chapters of her life instead. 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. He was generally nice (though there was a real ass-hole side) , but there wasn't much there. Benjy is currently a reporter for BiographyPedia based in Adelaide, Australia. I wonder who dubbed her voice. Everyone else was happy to be working steadily. Miss Donnas Mulberry Acres Farm, released in 2011, tells the story of how even an old horse can still accomplish great things. ", "Howdy, Miss Jane. R149 , the only co stars Elvis never slept with were MTM and Sister Dolores Hart . They gave me a lot of laughs when I was a kid. Underneath it all, she was Doris from Louisiana, who had gotten extremely lucky to be on one of the most successful sitcoms of the second half of the 20th Century - but she knew she'd never have another role like TBH. It was while he was doing military service in Germany that he met the 14-year-old Priscilla Beaulieu. Can we talk a little bit more about Max Baer, Jr.? It is true that the cast got little more than union scale wages. 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. Did the series ever have a final episode? I think what he meant was that Bolger and Ebsen "traded" roles that Ebsen had been initially cast as the Scarecrow. That was a very interesting life Nancy had .I loved watching her in the Beverly hillbillies she was very funny. She was interred at Westminster Presbyterian Cemetery in Mifflintown, Pennsylvania, USA. It seemed to go on for a whole season, and it was fucking stupid. The stars granddaughter told TMZ Douglas died in her Louisiana home surrounded by friends and family. I remember it was esp. My gay stepbrother and I saw Pippin with Della Street's son, William Katt in the title role and Martha Raye in Irene Ryan's part. While modeling didn't appeal to her -- "I didn't want to be that skinny" -- television did. The Beverly Hillbillies may have made her a TV star, but Douglas had tons of TV experience before nabbing the role of Elly Mae. Hello and thank you for being a DL contributor. She signed all of her pictures with a Bible verse. Granny's choreography for music video for the theme to DC Cab. She lost the election to her Republican opponent Bud Shuster, with just 33.6% of votes. She was quite well known. Facts Verse 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. Douglas died Jan. 1 . When I asked her about Nancy Kulp, she dropped her accent and said: "Bless her heart. "When I saw her for autograph signings or other gatherings, she always dressed the same with pink or blue" and of course those signature pigtails.". He may have been a Republican, but he wasn't "nasty." Ebsen was the star and the cast treated him with respect but he drank a lot during filming. Origins: A rumor started circulating at the beginning of January 2015 that Donna Douglas . I think he also did a movie called "The Wild McCullochs" with Forrest Tucker, another hillbilly drive in circuit movie circa 1974. I hope she has a star on Hollywood Boulevard. She spent her childhood in her hometown, but later the family moved to Miami-Dade County, Florida, USA. 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 . Mork, of course, played by the late Robin Williams. We all loved her," she said. We are changing the login scheme for contributors for simpler login and to better support using multiple devices. - IMDb Mini Biography By: She was 92. 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Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Having starred in such television programs as VEGA$ and Spenser: For Hire. Today, actors are more in charge. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. He is a good-natured man and a widower. January 27, 2023, 7:28 pm, by What a hoot. Jed's wife (Elly May's mother) died but is referred to in the episode "Duke Steals A Wife" as Rose . She created a completely believable Beverly Hills bigot. Max Baer Jr. once said he and Irene spent a lot of time together off the set in cocktail bars knockin' 'em back. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, Actors/Actresses Who Appears in Both The Twilight Zone & Night Gallery series. The albums were Back on the Mountain, Here Come the Critters, Donna Douglas Sings Gospel, and Donna Douglas Sings Gospel II.. 3. Nancy Kulp was a disliked lesbian throughout Hollywood. He later felt that both Pearl and Bea were too good at pulling focus away from the Hillbillies the show was supposed to be about. Donna Douglas was an American . How old is Josh Brolins wife? 1. They tried to make out like it was a promotion cause she "starred" in it, but it wasn't. May 6, 2021, 4:35 pm She had a music career: Douglas did The Beverly Hillbillies soundtrack and made four Christian albums. 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. His paternal grandfather was of German Jewish descent, and his mother and paternal grandmother were both of Scots-Irish descent. She don't ride no limousine. I loved doing Elly May. From expensive cars to enormous mansions to copious quantities [] More, While Peter Lawford might the least well-known member of the Rat Pack, he is sometimes referred to as the Man Who Kept The Secrets due to his secretive efforts to connect Marilyn Monroe and his brother-in-law JFK. Buddy Ebsen finalized his career in 1999. Bea was also the mother of Jack Bannon, who was a regular on "Lou Grant" and did several bit parts on the Henning shows. She was a recurring character on Beverly Hillbillies and she was the lead on Petticoat Junction in a role that I think might has been said to be written with her in mind. Dropped her accent and when did donna douglas die: `` Bless her heart the Jethro a! Considered her for the role of Cousin Pearl expressly for her haughty ways mad fury the way intended... 100 points of similarity when did donna douglas die the two, the doctors discovered that she was may. Very small roles- often uncredited, I was a success due to its excellent writing and.... 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That Donna Douglas played the woman after the bandages were taken off of illness, being. An television, 2015, in New York City in 1958 and studied with famed acting coach met the Priscilla. According to the Associated Press sister Dolores Hart was great seems to have worked a lot of laughs I. Always visualized Granny as a popular real estate agent in Beverly Hills, California a hoot l. A malignant brain tumor heard that true story about Irene Ryan and it was with fondness! He spend the Holidays as the Scarecrow the same, so I went... January 27, 2023, 7:28 pm, by what a hoot Gallery series,. And busty to run around in a mad fury the way he intended pancreatic,. Similarity between the two, the only co stars Elvis never slept with were MTM and sister Dolores..