CBS News – Actress Donna Douglas died Thursday, her family confirms to CBS affiliate WAFBin Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She was 81.
Douglas died at her home in Zachary, Louisiana, surrounded by family. Her niece, Charlene Smith, said Douglas battled pancreatic cancer.
Douglas was probably best known as Elly May Clampett on “The Beverly Hillbillies,” which ran from 1962-1971 on CBS. She portrayed that character in all 274 episodes of the show and brought back the role in a 1981 TV movie reboot of the series.
Born on Sept. 26, 1933, the Louisiana native was named “Miss Baton Rouge” and dubbed “Miss New Orleans” in 1957. She moved to New York to pursue a career in entertainment, landing a gig as as the “Letters Girl” on NBC’s “The Perry Como Show” in 1957 and as the “Billboard Girl” on NBC’s ” The Steve Allen Show” two years later.
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 Johnny” with Elvis Presley. She was chosen from a reported 500 young actresses to work on “The Beverly Hillbillies,” which followed a Tennessee family who moved to Beverly Hills after making it rich after striking oil on their property.
She also performed as a gospel singer, releasing her first album in 1982. Douglas published a couple of children’s books, too — with the most recent coming out in 2011.
She was married twice — first to Roland Bourgeois from 1949 – 1954 and then to Robert M. Leeds from 1971 – 1980. She had a son with her first husband.
