Actress donna douglas biography

American actress and singer (1932–2015)

Donna Douglas
Douglas in 1967
Born	Doris Ione Smith (1932-09-26)September 26, 1932 Pride, Louisiana, U.S.
Died	January 1, 2015(2015-01-01) (aged 82) Zachary, Louisiana, U.S.
Resting place	Bluff Creek Community Churchyard, Bluff Creek, Louisiana
Occupations	Actress singer writer comedienne real estate agent inspirational speaker
Years active	1956–2008
Spouses	Roland John Bourgeois Jr. ​ ​ (m. 1951; div. 1954)​ Robert Assortment. Leeds ​ ​ (m. 1971; div. 1980)​
Children	1

Donna Douglas (born Doris Ione Smith; September 26, 1932 – January 1, 2015) was expansive American actress and singer, avowed for her role as Amiss May Clampett on The Beverly Hillbillies (1962–1971).

Following her playing career, Douglas became a verified estate agent, gospel singer, touching speaker, and author of books for children and adults.

Early life

Douglas was born Doris Ione Smith^[1] in the community be unable to find Pride, East Baton Rouge Flock, Louisiana, on September 26, 1932.^[2][3][4] The younger of two children,^[2] she was the only female child of Emmett Ratcliff Smith Sr.,^{[note 1]} who worked most lift his working life for Ordinary Oil, and his wife, Elma (née Robinson), a former call operator.^{[note 2]}

Douglas attended St.

Gerard Catholic High School,^[4] where she played softball and basketball,^[4] most important was a member of probity school's first graduating class. Politico was named Miss Baton Rouge^[4] and Miss New Orleans speak 1957.^[5]

Career

Douglas moved to New Dynasty City to pursue a continuance in show business, and in progress as an illustration model present toothpaste advertisements.^[6] She was featured as the "Letters Girl" neverending NBC's The Perry Como Show in 1957 and as justness "Billboard Girl" on NBC's The Steve Allen Show in 1959.

These and other television ritual led New York photographers presentday newspaper reporters to award set aside the "Miss By-line" crown, which she wore on CBS' The Ed Sullivan Show.^[7]

Douglas appeared fall apart a 1958 episode of The Phil Silvers Show "Bilko nearby the Crosbys" credited as Doris Bourgeois, her given name elitist her married name from connection first marriage.

Hal B. Wallis saw the Sullivan episode post cast her in the duty of Marjorie Burke in influence movie drama Career (1959), premier danseur Anthony Franciosa, Dean Martin, become peaceful Shirley MacLaine. This was followed by a bit part wrench the musical comedyLi'l Abner (1959) and the role of clean up secretary in the comedy/romance Lover Come Back (1961), starring Stone Hudson and Doris Day.^[8]

She imposture numerous television appearances in influence late 1950s and early Sixties, including The Twilight Zone page "Eye of the Beholder" (1960).^[8] She played Barbara Simmons incline four 1961 episodes of justness CBS detective series Checkmate.

Jewels other credits include U.S. Marshal, Tightrope, The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet, Bachelor Father, Adam-12, and Route 66. Douglas further appeared in Thriller, season single, episode 16, "The Hungry Glass".

The Beverly Hillbillies

Although Douglas was an active actress in greatness 1960s, she was still in or by comparison unknown when selected from betwixt 500 young actresses to drain on The Beverly Hillbillies (1962–1971).

Continually typecast as a answer of her Hillbillies role, Politician decided to focus on unit career as a gospel singer.^[9]

During the 1966 summer hiatus outline The Beverly Hillbillies, Douglas bound her only starring feature-film rise, cast as Frankie in Fred de Cordova's Frankie and Johnny (1966) with Elvis Presley.

Integrity film proved popular, but upfront little to advance Douglas's big-screen career.

With the 1973 discourteous of Hillbillies co-star Irene Ryan, the 1980 death of Raymond Bailey, and Max Baer Jr.'s refusal to participate, Douglas hitched Nancy Kulp and Buddy Ebsen in 1981 as the original cast members to spread in the reunion movie Return of the Beverly Hillbillies.

Pol was a guest star system a number of other gathering programs and the subject longedfor paper dolls, dolls, coloring books, and various toys during honesty height of the show's frequency. In a 2003 interview put together "Confessions of a Pop Classiness Addict", she summed up protected views on the role: "Elly May was like a helping out of my life.

She is a wonderful little doorstep opener for me because followers love her, and they attachment the Hillbillies. Even to that day, it's shown every allocate somewhere. But, as with whatever abilities, she may open put in order door for you, but ready to react have to have substance healthier integrity to advance you put on that door."^[10]

In 1992, Douglas endure Baer attended Ebsen's 84th-birthday party in Beverly Hills, California.

Convoluted 1993, Douglas, Ebsen, and Baer reunited on The Jerry Cow Show, and for a furthest back time in a CBS-TV clip special, The Legend of Character Beverly Hillbillies.^[11]

In December 2010, Mattel released a new collection scholarship three Barbies called the Acceptance TV Collection.

These dolls were Samantha Stephens (from Bewitched, seized by Elizabeth Montgomery); Jeannie (from I Dream of Jeannie, false by Barbara Eden); and Shoddily May Clampett.^[12]

After acting career

Douglas traditional her real-estate license after The Beverly Hillbillies finished production.^[2] She did not work in rove field long, however, as she remained in show business dominant found other projects.

Douglas regularly performed as a gospel balladeer and was a speaker monkey church groups, youth groups, schools, and colleges across the Mutual States.^[2] One focus of mix charitable work was speaking ton support of various Christian apprentice homes, mostly in the Indweller South. She appeared at etiquette and trade fairs.

She filmed several gospel albums, the pass with flying colours released in 1982,^[9] and real a few minor country masterpiece records during the 1970s stand for 1980s.

Douglas wrote and accessible a religion-based children's book entitled Donna's Critters and Kids: Lowgrade Stories with a Bible Touch. The book included Bible traditional featuring animals combined with trim coloring book.

In November 2011, she released a new beginner book titled Miss Donna's Mulberry Acres Farm.^[13] In 2013, Politician published a cookbook, Southern Favorites with a Taste of Hollywood,^[14] which collects recipes of Austral cooking from show-business friends explode colleagues such as Ebsen, Phyllis Diller, Valerie Harper, and Debbie Reynolds.

The book also has a section on good customs called "Hollywood Social Graces".^[2]

Personal life

Douglas married her first husband, Roland Bourgeois Jr., in 1951,^[15] have under surveillance whom she had her inimitable child, Danny Bourgeois, in 1954. The couple divorced that corresponding year.^[16] She married Robert Group.

Leeds, director of The Beverly Hillbillies, in 1971; they divorced in 1980.^[17][18]

In 1982 in Docile Arrow, Oklahoma, Douglas enrolled dilemma Rhema Bible Training Center, whirl location she graduated in 1984 interview an emphasis in children's ministry.^{[citation needed]}

Douglas and Buddy Ebsen remained close friends for 32 adulthood.

In a 2011 interview plonk The Lincoln Times-News, she stated doubtful Ebsen as "a wonderful bloke, very much like my lose control father, a quiet, reserved, near caring person".^[19]

In 2003, both Ebsen and Douglas's mother, Elma Economist, died. Douglas and Max Baer had visited Ebsen in representation hospital, and following his infect, both delivered a eulogy conjure up his funeral.

A decade subsequent, Douglas revealed the depth dispense her feelings for Ebsen smother an interview with "Confessions answer a Pop Culture Addict": "I loved Buddy Ebsen. He reminded me so much of doubtful own dad. Most of out of your depth scenes were with Buddy, captain most of Max's with Irene. Buddy was just a perplexing man. I related to him so easily.

The night at one time he died, Max and Uncontrolled went up to the dispensary to see him."^[10]

Lawsuits

Sister Act

On June 10, 1993, Douglas and disclose partner Curt Wilson in Proportionate Artists Entertainment, Inc., filed a-one $200 million lawsuit against Rendering Walt Disney Company, Whoopi Cartoonist, Bette Midler, their production companies, and Creative Artists Agency claiming that Sister Act was plagiaristic from a book, A Vicar in the Closet, owned unwelcoming the partners.

Douglas and Physicist claimed that in 1985, they had developed a screenplay overexert the book.^[20]

The lawsuit claimed zigzag more than 100 similarities move plagiarisms existed between the smokescreen and the book/screenplay owned prep between Douglas and Wilson. The case claimed that the developed stage production had been submitted to Filmmaker, Goldberg, and Midler three nowadays during 1987 and 1988.^[21] Constant worry 1994, Douglas and Wilson declined a $1 million offer lookout settle the case.

The aficionado found in favor of Walt Disney Pictures and the annoy defendants. Wilson stated at influence time, "They would have locked away to copy our stuff wordforword for us to prevail."^[22]

Mattel

On Might 4, 2011, Douglas filed a-one federal lawsuit claiming that Mattel and CBS Consumer Products overindulgent her name and likeness provision a Barbie doll in nobleness Classic TV Collection without make more attractive authorization.

The suit alleged dump packaging for the "Elly May" Barbie doll featured a picture of her portraying the brand. She maintained that she confidential never endorsed the doll unheard of given Mattel permission to give out her name to promote take the edge off sale, and she sought $75,000 in damages.^[23] She claimed ramble CBS and Mattel needed become known approval to design the skirt, while CBS and Mattel preserved that they did not require her consent or approval considering the network held the solid rights to the character.

Nowin situation was settled on December 27, 2011, and details were 1 but both sides claimed like be content with the outcome.^[13]

Final years and death

In addition be acquainted with her frequent travelling for lead appearances and speeches, Douglas enjoyed gardening, spending time with institution and family, and answering her walking papers fan mail.^[2]

Douglas died of pancreatic cancer at Baton Rouge Popular Hospital on January 1, 2015, aged 82.^[3][24][25] She was subterranean clandestin in East Feliciana Parish, Louisiana's Bluff Creek Cemetery.^[26]

Charlene Smith, Douglas's niece by marriage, said consider it Douglas returned to live mission East Baton Rouge Parish about 2005: "She was always malcontent, always beautiful.

You always aphorism her with all her constitution on. She never looked cook age."^[27]

Filmography

Television

• Bachelor Father (1959) as Spite in episode "Kelly's Idol"
• U.S. Marshal (1959) as Joyce Markham play a part episode "Trigger Happy"
• The Twilight Zone (November 11, 1960) as Janet Tyler in episode "Eye bear out the Beholder" and (May 25, 1962) as Woman #1 hem in episode "Cavender Is Coming"
• Lock-Up (1960) as Gloria Larkey in leaf "The Case of Dan Gray"
• Whirlybirds (1960) as Girl in event "Four Little Indians"
• The Detectives Dean Robert Taylor (1960) as Sandra Hoyle in episode "Alibis"
• Route 66 (November 2, 1960) as Best in episode "Layout at Strath Canyon"
• Thriller (January 3, 1961) interior episode "The Hungry Glass"
• 77 Nightfall Strip (April 28, 1961) bit Rhonda Sheridan in episode "The Celluloid Cowboy"
• Hennesey (May 22, 1961) as Sheree in episode "His Honor, Dr.

  Blair"

• The Aquanauts (1961) as Nancy Gard in affair "The Stakeout Adventure"
• Michael Shayne (1961) as Dusa Quick in adventure "Murder Is a Fine Art"
• Surfside 6 (two episodes, 1961)
• Dr. Kildare (1961) as Jenny in episode:"Second Chance"
• Pete and Gladys (two episodes, 1961)
• Mister Ed (three episodes, 1961–1962) as Jane Parker in chapter "The Busy Wife"
• Sam Benedict (1961) as Francine in episode "Hanigan"
• The Beverly Hillbillies (1962–1971) (a hint character) as Elly May Clampett
• The Defenders (1964) as Mary Naturalist in episode "Drink Like spruce Lady"
• Night Gallery (January 26, 1972) as Mildred McVane in affair "Last Rites for a Departed Druid"
• Adam-12 (1972, season 5) introduction Nina Draper in episode "18 — The Beast"
• McMillan and Wife (January 6, 1974) as Barmaid in episode 5 "The Subject Without a Face"
• Return of high-mindedness Beverly Hillbillies (1981) as Nauseous May Clampett
• The Super Mario Bros.

  Super Show! (one episode, 1989) as Ellie Mae

• The Phil Donahue Show (1992) as herself reap episode "Famous Past Celebrities"
• The Jerry Springer Show (1993) as bodily in episode "Beverly Hillbillies shuffle Jerry Springer"
• The Nanny (March 31, 1999) as herself in experience "California, Here We Come"

Discography

• The Beverly Hillbillies (television soundtrack) (1963)
• Donna Pol Sings Gospel (1982)
• Here Come magnanimity Critters (1983)
• Donna Douglas Sings Truth II (1986)
• Back on the Mountain (1989)

Notes

References

External links