Donna Douglas (born Doris Ione Smith; September 26, 1932 – January 1, 2015) was an American actress and singer, known for her role as Elly May Clampett on The Beverly Hillbillies (1962–1971).

Following her acting career, Douglas became a real estate agent, gospel singer, inspirational speaker, and author of books for children and adults.

Douglas was born Doris Ione Smith[1] in the community of Pride, East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana, on September 26, 1932.

[2][3][4] The younger of two children,[2] she was the only daughter of Emmett Ratcliff Smith Sr.,[note 1] who worked most of his life for Standard Oil, and his wife, Elma (née Robinson), a former telephone operator.

[5] Douglas moved to New York City to pursue a career in show business, and started as an illustration model for toothpaste advertisements.

These and other television appearances led New York photographers and newspaper reporters to award her the "Miss By-line" crown, which she wore on CBS' The Ed Sullivan Show.

Hal B. Wallis saw the Sullivan episode and cast her in the role of Marjorie Burke in the movie drama Career (1959), starring Anthony Franciosa, Dean Martin, and Shirley MacLaine.

This was followed by a bit part in the musical comedy Li'l Abner (1959) and the role of a secretary in the comedy/romance Lover Come Back (1961), starring Rock Hudson and Doris Day.

[8] She made numerous television appearances in the late 1950s and early 1960s, including The Twilight Zone episode "Eye of the Beholder" (1960).

In 1993, Douglas, Ebsen, and Baer reunited on The Jerry Springer Show, and for a final time in a CBS-TV television special, The Legend of The Beverly Hillbillies.

[17][18] In 1982 in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, Douglas enrolled at Rhema Bible Training Center, where she graduated in 1984 with an emphasis in children's ministry.

In a 2011 interview with The Lincoln Times-News, she described Ebsen as "a wonderful man, very much like my own father, a quiet, reserved, and caring person".

"[10] On June 10, 1993, Douglas and her partner Curt Wilson in Associated Artists Entertainment, Inc., filed a $200 million lawsuit against The Walt Disney Company, Whoopi Goldberg, Bette Midler, their production companies, and Creative Artists Agency claiming that Sister Act was plagiarised from a book, A Nun in the Closet, owned by the partners.

"[22] On May 4, 2011, Douglas filed a federal lawsuit claiming that Mattel and CBS Consumer Products used her name and likeness for a Barbie doll in the Classic TV Collection without her authorization.

[13] In addition to her frequent travelling for celebrity appearances and speeches, Douglas enjoyed gardening, spending time with friends and family, and answering her fan mail.