Donna Douglas was a renowned actress, writer, and vocalist from the United States. She was a highly gifted individual who achieved recognition in multiple areas of the arts. Douglas gained widespread popularity for her portrayal of Elly May Clampett in the TV show The Beverly Hillbillies.
Donna Douglas Quick Facts
Name: Donna Douglas
Date of birth: September 26, 1932
Gender: Female
Place of birth: East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana, USA
Date of death: January 1, 2015
Star sign: Libra
Occupation: Actress, singer, author
Early Life
Doris Ione Smith, famously known as Donna Douglas, was born on September 26, 1932, in Pride, East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana. She was the youngest of two children and the only daughter of Emmett Ratcliff Smith Sr. and Elma (née Robinson). Emmett worked for Standard Oil for the majority of his career, while Elma was a former telephone operator.
In 1957, Douglas graduated from St. Gerard Catholic High School, where she participated in softball and basketball and was part of the school’s inaugural graduating class. Additionally, she was crowned both Miss Baton Rouge and Miss New Orleans.
Career
Donna Douglas relocated to New York City to launch a career in the entertainment industry. She began her journey by working as a model for toothpaste commercials. In 1957, she gained recognition as the “Letters Girl” on The Perry Como Show on NBC, and in 1959, she appeared as the “Billboard Girl” on The Steve Allen Show, also on NBC.
These appearances caught the attention of photographers and journalists in New York, who bestowed upon her the title of “Miss By-line,” which she proudly displayed on The Ed Sullivan Show on CBS.
In the 1958 episode of The Phil Silvers Show titled “Bilko and the Crosbys,” Douglas appeared under her married name from her first marriage, Doris Bourgeois.
After watching the Sullivan incident, Hal B. Wallis decided to give her a chance by offering her the part of Marjorie Burke in the 1959 film Career. The movie featured Anthony Franciosa, Dean Martin, and Shirley MacLaine.
She then played a small part in the musical comedy Li’l Abner (1959) and played a secretary in the romantic comedy Lover Come Back (1961), which starred Rock Hudson and Doris Day.
During the late 1950s and early 1960s, she appeared on television numerous times, such as in “Eye of the Beholder” (1960), an episode of The Twilight Zone. She portrayed Barbara Simmons in four episodes of the CBS detective show Checkmate in 1961.
Additionally, she had roles in U.S. Marshal, Tightrope, The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet, Bachelor Father, Adam-12, and Route 66. Douglas was also featured in season one, episode 16 of Thriller, titled “The Hungry Glass”.
Donna Douglas is most famous for playing the role of Elly May Clampett on the popular TV show “The Beverly Hillbillies,” which was on air from 1962 to 1971. The series centered around the Clampett family, who became extremely wealthy after striking oil on their property in the Ozark Mountains and relocating to Beverly Hills.
Elly May, portrayed by Douglas, was a rough and tumble-girl who had a strong passion for animals, a characteristic that connected with viewers and solidified her as a fan-favorite character.
Donna Douglas’ genuine Southern charisma and tomboyish demeanor, which closely resembled Elly May’s character, were the main reasons for her selection out of a pool of 500 actresses.
Growing up in Pride, Louisiana, where she spent her formative years climbing trees and engaging in athletic activities, made her perfectly suited for the role. The show gained immense popularity and consistently ranked in the Top 10, eventually becoming the most-watched program on television.
Personal Life
In 1951, Donna Douglas wed her first husband, Roland Bourgeois Jr. Together, they welcomed their only child, Danny Bourgeois, in 1954. However, the pair ended their marriage in the same year. In 1971, she tied the knot with Robert M. Leeds, who was the director of The Beverly Hillbillies. Nevertheless, they separated in 1980.
Cause of Death
On January 1, 2015, at the age of 82, Donna Douglas passed away from pancreatic cancer at Baton Rouge General Hospital. She was laid to rest at Bluff Creek Cemetery in East Feliciana Parish, Louisiana.
According to Charlene Smith, who is Douglas’s niece through marriage, Douglas relocated to East Baton Rouge Parish in approximately 2005.
“She was always happy, always beautiful. You always saw her with all her makeup on. She never looked her age.”
