Donna Douglas of ‘Beverly Hillbillies’ Passes Away at 81

Photo via Wikipedia

Donna Douglas, the actress who brought smiles to the faces of millions of Americans as Elly May Clampett on The Beverly Hillbillies television show, passed away on New Year’s day at age 81. Ms. Douglas’ niece, Charlene Smith, says that her aunt died surrounded by friends and family at her home in Zachary, LA. Smith also confirmed that the cause of her aunt’s death was pancreatic cancer.

Douglas, whose birth name was Doris Smith, was born in Pride, LA in 1933. She won the titles of “Miss Baton Rouge” and “Miss New Orleans” in 1957. Throughout the 1960’s she appeared in all nine seasons of The Beverly Hillbillies, a CBS comedy about a backwoods Tennessee family who moves to Beverly Hills after striking it rich when they discover oil on their property.

Photo via Wikipedia

Over the course of her 50 year acting career Ms. Douglas made numerous appearances on shows such as The Twilight Zone and Mr. Ed. She also starred opposite Elvis Presley in the film Frankie and Johnny and most recently appeared in the Christian family film Chronicles of Life from Purety Productions.

After her run on The Beverly Hillbillies, Ms. Douglas enjoyed a successful real estate career in Los Angeles in the 70’s and 80’s. She also recorded two gospel albums and authored a children’s book called Donna’s Critters and Kids: Children’s Stories With a Bible Touch.

Recently Ms. Douglas had been enjoying speaking to local church groups in Louisiana, as she had become very active in the Christian community in the later decades of her life. She was known for including a favorite Bible verse, Proverbs 3:5-6, whenever she signed an autograph. It reads,

English Standard Version (ESV)

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.

6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

Donna Douglas of ‘Beverly Hillbillies’ Passes Away at 81