DONNA DOUGLAS 'Beverly Hillbillies' Star DEAD AT 81 [Ellie Mae]

TMZ | 01/02/2015

[BunnySlippers]

Donna Douglas -- who famously portrayed Elly May Clampett on the legendary 60s TV series "The Beverly Hillbillies" -- passed away Thursday at her home in Louisiana with friends and family by her side.

Douglas' granddaughter confirmed the death to TMZ.

Donna starred on "The Beverly Hillbillies" for all nine seasons and even returned for the 1981 reunion TV movie.

[Sarah Barracuda]

Damn..very sad..she was a really good actress..loved the Beverly Hillbillies..RIP Ellie Mae

[rdl6989]

You could be right. I’ve always thought Ernest from Scared Stupid was based on Ernest T Bass.

[blueunicorn6]

Didn’t she do a movie version of Frankie And Johnny?

[Old Teufel Hunden]

"According to IMDB, she and Buddy Ebsen were both Republicans and very good friends."

Not only that, Nancy Kulp (Mr. Drysdale's secretary Jane Hathaway) was a big time liberal and Buddy and her would have "discussions" on the set all the time. She ran for Congress in the 80's from Pennsylvania and Buddy Ebsen cut adds for her Republican opponent. She lost and never forgave him for actively campaigning against her.

[Old Teufel Hunden]

"CBS thought that the show was not sophisticated enough for the "hip" audience it wanted to attract."

In the grand scheme of things it didn't matter much anyways. Irene Ryan (Granny) died shortly after the show ended. I can't imagine them going on without Granny or God forbid replacing her.

[henkster]

Personally, I thought Lori Saunders as Bobbi Jo Bradley on Petticoat Junction was one of the hottest things on TV. I would have definitely climbed that tree next to the water tower...

[vladimir998]

Damn. There goes another part of my childhood.

This is happening more and more of course - things and people I grew up with disappearing from this world. It’s the nature of things, but I admit that I hate it!

[henkster]

Nancy Kulp looked like a lib, for sure....

[Mathews]

He shore wuz a math whiz. Knew his gozintas and take-a-ways real good.

[NCC-1701]

She was indeed. However, her voice was dubbed for some reason.

[Pearls Before Swine]

Too sad. She was “forever young” in my memory.

[jennings2004]

Two of us....as luck would have it, I was able to meet and talk to Barbara Eden...the outfit she had on didn’t leave much to imagine about...:)

[WKUHilltopper]

Wow! She was 81? I would have guessed early or mid 70s.

[Old Teufel Hunden]

"Nancy Kulp looked like a lib, for sure...."

She's one of those you look at and when you find out she's a lib you say thank God she's on the other side...

[eyedigress]

She was a looker.

Granny....

[Diana in Wisconsin]

My little sister and I always loved Elly Mae and her 'Critters.'

[xp38]

Yep with Elvis. It was released in 1966.

[newfreep]

“naught times naught is naught and carry the naught”

[skeeter]

Ms Jane, on the other hand, wasn't.

Nancy Kulp never forgave Buddy Ebson for opposing her campaign for congress in PA's 9th district. I guess he wasn't as impressed with her lesbian bona fides.

[Jack023]

I was sooooooooooo in love with her!