Donna Douglas, best known for her role as Elly May Clampett on The Beverly Hillbillies, has died, TMZ and other outlets reported on Friday, Jan. 2. She was 81 years old.
Family members reportedly confirmed her death to both TMZ and local news station WAFB in Louisiana, where Douglas lived and died.
Born in Pride, La., in 1933, Douglas made her first appearances on screen in the late 1950s. Throughout her career, she had parts on the TV series Mister Ed and Twilight Zone, as well as in the movie Frankie and Johnny in 1966.
Her most famous role, however, was as Elly May, whom she played for nine seasons from 1962 to 1971. She also later reprised the role in a TV movie, The Return of the Beverly Hillbillies.
