Net Worth Ranker
What Was Donna Douglas’ Net Worth?
At the time of her passing on January 1, 2015, Donna Douglas, the actress celebrated for her role as Elly May Clampett on “The Beverly Hillbillies,” had a net worth of approximately $500,000 [1]. This figure represents the culmination of her earnings from a multifaceted career that spanned acting, singing, and writing [1].
Early Career and “The Beverly Hillbillies”
Donna Douglas, born Doris Ione Smith on September 26, 1932, in Pride, Louisiana, embarked on her entertainment journey after being crowned “Miss Baton Rouge” and “Miss New Orleans” in 1957 [1]. Following this recognition, she moved to New York City, initially working as a model in toothpaste commercials and appearing on prominent television shows like “The Perry Como Show” and “The Steve Allen Show” [1]. Her early film credits include roles in “Career,” “Li’l Abner,” and “Lover Come Back,” alongside appearances in television series such as “The Twilight Zone,” “Checkmate,” “The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet,” and “Adam 12” [1].
Douglas’s breakthrough role arrived with “The Beverly Hillbillies,” which aired from 1962 to 1971 and reached the top spot in U.S. television ratings during its first two seasons [1]. Despite her previous acting experience, Douglas was relatively unknown when she was selected for the role of Elly May Clampett from a pool of 500 actresses [1]. During a break from the series in the summer of 1966, she starred in her first and only leading film role as Frankie in “Frankie and Johnny,” opposite Elvis Presley [1]. Although the film was commercially successful, it did not significantly advance her big-screen career [1]. In 1981, she reunited with Nancy Kulp and Buddy Ebsen for the reunion movie “Return of the Beverly Hillbillies,” following the deaths of co-stars Irene Ryan in 1972 and Raymond Bailey in 1980 [1]. Further appearances included a reunion with Ebsen and Baer on “The Jerry Springer Show” in 1993 and a CBS television special, “The Legend of The Beverly Hillbillies” [1]. In 2010, Mattel released a Barbie doll representation of Elly May Clampett as part of The Classic TV Collection [1].
Career Ventures After “The Beverly Hillbillies”
Following the conclusion of “The Beverly Hillbillies,” Donna Douglas pursued various career paths, including obtaining a real estate license [1]. However, she soon returned to the entertainment industry, focusing on gospel music and public speaking at churches, youth groups, schools, and colleges across the United States [1]. She dedicated herself to charitable work, particularly benefiting children in the American South [1]. Douglas released several gospel albums starting in 1982 and recorded country music records during the 1970s and 1980s [1]. She also authored a Christian children’s book, “Donna’s Critters and Kids: Children’s Stories with a Bible Touch,” combining Bible stories with animal themes and a coloring book [1]. In 2013, she published a cookbook titled “Southern Favorites with a Taste of Hollywood,” featuring recipes from her show-business acquaintances, including Valerie Harper, Phyllis Diller, and Debbie Reynolds [1]. These diverse endeavors contributed to Donna Douglas’ net worth.
Legal Disputes
Donna Douglas was involved in two notable legal cases. In June 1993, she, along with her partner Curt Wilson from Associated Artists Entertainment Inc., filed a lawsuit against Disney, Whoopi Goldberg, Bette Midler, their production companies, and the Creative Artists Agency, alleging that the film “Sister Act” plagiarized a book called “A Nun in the Closet” [1]. Douglas and Wilson claimed to have developed a screenplay from the book and asserted that over 100 similarities and instances of plagiarism existed between the movie and their screenplay [1]. They alleged that the screenplay had been submitted to Disney, Goldberg, and Midler multiple times between 1987 and 1988 [1]. Despite declining a $1 million settlement offer in 1994, the judge ultimately ruled in favor of Disney and the other defendants [1]. In May 2011, Douglas filed a lawsuit against Mattel for using her name and likeness without permission for the Elly May Clampett Barbie doll, seeking $75,000 in damages [1]. The case was settled on December 27, 2011, with confidential terms, though both parties expressed satisfaction with the outcome [1]. These legal battles, while potentially impacting her finances, are not detailed enough to provide specific figures related to her net worth.
Personal Life and Final Years
Donna Douglas’s personal life included two marriages. Her first marriage was to Roland Bourgeois Jr. in 1949, with whom she had one child before their divorce in 1954 [1]. In 1971, she married Robert M. Leeds, who directed her on “The Beverly Hillbillies,” but they divorced in 1980 [1]. Donna Douglas passed away on January 1, 2015, at Baton Rouge General Hospital due to pancreatic cancer at the age of 82 [1]. Her net worth of $500,000 at the time of her death reflects a career marked by success in television, film, music, and authorship [1]. While specific details regarding her income from each of these ventures are not publicly available, her lasting legacy as Elly May Clampett and her contributions to entertainment and charitable causes remain significant.
