Donna Douglas - #94

Donna Douglas, who played Elly May in 'The Beverly Hillbillies,' dies

She was number 94 on the list.

Donna Douglas, who starred as Elly May Clampett in the 1960s sitcom "The Beverly Hillbillies," died in Louisiana on Thursday.

Her niece told the Associated Press that Douglas died in Baton Rouge, La., near her hometown of Zachary, and a spokeswoman for the East Baton Rouge Parish coroner's office also confirmed her death to the Los Angeles Times.

 

The Beverly Hillbillies were: Donna Douglas as Elly May Clampett, Irene Ryan as Granny (holding the Australian televion industry's award, the "Logie"), Max Baer Jr. as Jethro Bodine and Buddy Ebsen as Jed Clampett.

 Donna Douglas as Elly May Clampett and Buddy Ebsen as Jed Clampett in "The Beverly Hillbillies" episode titled "Hair-Raising Holiday." It aired for the first time on Oct. 2, 1963.

The closing credits featured Max Baer Jr., Irene Ryan, Donna Douglas and Buddy Ebsen waving goodbye.

The cause of death was pancreatic cancer, Charlene Smith said. Her age was variously reported as 81 or 82.

Douglas played Elly May, the naive but lovable daughter of Jed Clampett, who lived to take care of her "critters" in the famed CBS sitcom, which ran from 1962 to 1971. "The Beverly Hillbillies" chronicled the fish-out-of-water tale of the Clampetts' move from the Ozarks to Beverly Hills after the family struck oil.

Douglas starred in one of the most iconic scenes in the science-fiction series The Twilight Zone.

Douglas' longtime agent, Jacqueline Stander, described the actress as a "country angel."

"She was a sweetheart," Stander said. "She used to go around and talk at churches and stuff the last few years of her life, and just speak of God and love.”

Douglas had been living in Louisiana for a number of years, and spent the last few years of her life making personal appearances in the area, Stander said.

"Last time Donna and I spoke she was fine and just as spry and of God as she usually is. I always got a kick talking with her. She was Elly May, just an older version and as sweet as can be," she told The Times.

Douglas attended St. Gerard Catholic High School, where she played softball and basketball,[4] and was a member of the school's first graduating class. Douglas was named Miss Baton Rouge[4] and Miss New Orleans in 1957.

Douglas moved to New York City to pursue a career in show business, and started as an illustration model for toothpaste advertisements. She was featured 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 in 1959. 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.

Douglas appeared in a 1958 episode of The Phil Silvers Show "Bilko and the Crosbys" credited as Doris Bourgeois, her given name and her married name from her first marriage.

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.

She made numerous television appearances in the late 1950s and early 1960s, including The Twilight Zone episode "Eye of the Beholder" (1960). She played Barbara Simmons in four 1961 episodes of the CBS detective series Checkmate. Her other credits include U.S. Marshal, Tightrope, The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet, Bachelor Father, Adam-12, and Route 66. Douglas also appeared in Thriller, season one, episode 16, "The Hungry Glass".

Filmography

Career (1959) as Marjorie Burke

Li'l Abner (1959) as Chorus Dancer (uncredited)

Bells Are Ringing (1960) as Party Guest (uncredited)

Strangers When We Meet (1960) as Neighbor (uncredited)

Lover Come Back (1961) as Deborah

Frankie and Johnny (1966) as Frankie

Chronicles of Life Trials (2013) as Marjorie (final film role)



Television

Bachelor Father (1959) as Alice in episode "Kelly's Secret"

U.S. Marshal (1959) as Joyce Markham in episode "Trigger Happy"

The Twilight Zone (November 11, 1960) as Janet Tyler in episode "Eye of the Beholder" and (May 25, 1962) as Woman #1 in episode "Cavender Is Coming"

Lock-Up (1960) as Gloria Larkey in episode "The Case of Dan Gray"

Whirlybirds (1960) as Girl in episode "Four Little Indians"

The Detectives Starring Robert Taylor (1960) as Sandra Hoyle in episode "Alibis"

Route 66 (November 2, 1960) as Model in episode "Layout at Glen Canyon"

Thriller (January 3, 1961) in episode "The Hungry Glass"

77 Sunset Strip (April 28, 1961) as Rhoda Sheridan in episode "The Celluloid Cowboy"

Hennesey (May 22, 1961) as Sheree in episode "His Honor, Dr. Blair"

The Aquanauts (1961) as Nancy Gard in episode "The Stakeout Adventure"

Michael Shayne (1961) as Dusa Quick in episode "Murder Is a Fine Art"

Surfside 6 (two episodes, 1961)

Dr. Kildare (1961) as Jenny in episode:"Second Chance"

Pete and Gladys (two episodes, 1961)

Mister Ed (three episodes, 1961–1962) as Jane Parker in episode "The Busy Wife"

Sam Benedict (1961) as Francine in episode "Hanigan"

The Beverly Hillbillies (1962–1971) (a main character) as Elly May Clampett

The Defenders (1964) as Mary Andrews in episode "Drink Like a Lady"

Night Gallery (January 26, 1972) as Mildred McVane in episode "Last Rites for a Dead Druid"

Adam-12 (1972, season 5) as Nina Draper in episode "18 — The Beast"

McMillan and Wife (January 6, 1974) as Barmaid in episode 5 "The Man Without a Face"

Return of the Beverly Hillbillies (1981) as Elly May Clampett

The Super Mario Bros. Super Show! (one episode, 1989) as Ellie Mae

The Jerry Springer Show (1993)

The Nanny (March 31, 1999) as herself in episode "California, Here We Come"

Mario Cuomo obit

Mario Cuomo, former New York governor, dead at 82

He was not on the list.

Former New York Gov. Mario Cuomo -- who rose from the Depression-era streets of Queens to serve three times as governor and whose passionate keynote address at the 1984 Democratic political convention vaulted him onto the national political scene -- died Thursday. He was 82.

Cuomo had been hospitalized recently to treat a heart condition. His family said he passed away, at home, from "natural causes due to heart failure."

Cuomo was governor for three terms, from 1983 to 1995.

He was married to his wife, Matilda, for more than six decades. They had five children, including current New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who was sworn in for his second term Thursday, and Chris Cuomo, host of CNN's "New Day."

Asked once how he wanted to be remembered, Mario Cuomo replied: "One of the simple things I wanted to achieve is -- I want to be governor. I want to be the hardest working there ever was. And I want, when it's over -- and I figured on four years at first -- I want people to say, now, there was an honest person."

Cuomo and his wife, Matilda, celebrate his upset victory over Koch in the Democratic gubernatorial primary in 1982. Koch, who had been leading in most polls right up to election eve, immediately pledged his support to Cuomo as he faced shocked supporters.

Cuomo burst onto the national political stage with his keynote address at the 1984 Democratic National Convention.

To say he was a powerful speaker would be an understatement.

A Queens native, Cuomo was born in New York City, in the apartment above his father's grocery store. After a brief shot at a career in minor league baseball, he pursued a law degree and graduated at the top of his class at St. John's University School of Law.

Although the allure of public service was strong, Cuomo's early attempts at seeking political office ended in defeat.

His first electoral success came in 1978 as running mate to former Gov. Hugh Carey. Four years later, Carey stepped aside, and Cuomo entered the race and won.

He held the governorship for three terms, winning two more handily by emphasizing lower taxes, balanced budgets, public education and affirmative action. He was a strong opponent of the death penalty.

In 1993, Cuomo passed up the opportunity to be appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court, choosing instead to run for a fourth term as governor. He lost in 1994.

Having fun in the face of defeat, Cuomo made a popular commercial for Doritos, which also starred Ann Richards, who lost the Texas governorship the same year.

President Barack Obama praised Cuomo for his faith in God and championing of progressive values in a statement issued by the White House.

"His own story taught him that as Americans, we are bound together as one people, and our country's success rests on the success of all of us, not just a fortunate few," the President said.

Cuomo announced Bill Clinton's nomination for President at the 1992 Democratic Convention.

"It was Mario Cuomo's great gift and our good fortune that he was both a sterling orator and a passionate public servant. His life was a blessing," Clinton said in a statement.

Jon Favreau, a former speechwriter for President Barack Obama, praised Cuomo's 1984 address as one of his all-time favorite speeches.

"Used to read it constantly for inspiration," he tweeted.

"Our country and our region lost a giant today with the passing of Governor Mario Cuomo," New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie said in a statement. "He was a strong, eloquent leader who loved New York and its people. As an Italian-American, he was also a role model for future generations that anything was possible through hard work and education."

The Rev. Al Sharpton remembered the former governor as "the last liberal giant of New York politics."

"He was a philosopher at heart that always saw the bigger picture. Even when we would engage in debate I felt he was playing chess while I was playing checkers," he said. "Mario, you have earned it and your place in history is secure. You can now sleep with the greats."

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio has ordered flags flying in the city that were lowered to half staff in honor of slain NYPD officers Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu to remain lowered for 30 days to honor Cuomo's memory.

He commended his humanity in a statement:

"Mario Cuomo was a man of unwavering principle who possessed a compassion for humankind that was without equal."

George Edwin Patterson obit

 Wellingtons Singer George Patterson Has Died

He was not on the list.

Patterson was a singer, musician and psychologist. He was also a member of the pop folk group The Wellingtons. He left his musical career for medicine in the early 70s, opening the Patterson Therapy Center in Toluca Lake, California.

He was born in August of 1940 in Urbana, Illinois.

The group performed the title songs for several television programs in the 1950s and 1960s, including Gilligan's Island and Davy Crockett. They also appeared regularly on the televised music show Shindig!

The Wellingtons were founded by all three members, George Patterson, Ed Wade, and Kirby Johnson. The group, originally called The Lincolns, recorded for Kapp Records. After changing their name, the Wellingtons were signed by Walt Disney to record the theme song for Disney's The Wonderful World of Color. For Disneyland Records, they recorded numerous theme songs, including The Ballad of Davy Crockett for the mini-series Davy Crockett. The Wellingtons can be heard singing "The Ballad of Davy Crockett" in the soundtrack for the movie Fantastic Mr. Fox.

Gilligan's Island producer Sherwood Schwartz had his pilot episodes rejected twice. Before resubmitting a reworked pilot, he decided to use a new theme song. Working with composer George Wyle he developed a folk song that told the back story of the castaways, and hired The Wellingtons to sing it. The song was a hit. The Wellingtons appear in a second season (1965–66) episode as a rock group called "The Mosquitoes." Not only is the insect-named moniker a play on The Beatles, but the members of the fictitious group are named Bingo, Bango, Bongo and Irving in a reverse play on the names John, Paul, George and Ringo.

The Wellingtons appeared as regulars on the variety television show Shindig! on their own and as backup singers to visiting acts.

They also provided studio backing vocals on recordings by such artists as Annette Funicello, Jan and Dean, and others.

The group traveled with actor Donald O'Connor for six and a half years and toured with The Supremes and Stevie Wonder. The final member of the group still living is founder Ed Wade, who is now an attorney. Kirby Johnson died in 1999 and Patterson in 2015.

The group  also provided studio backing vocals on recordings by such artists as Annette Funicello, Jan and Dean, and others.

Joined by Les Brown Jr., the son of band leader, Les Brown Sr., the Wellingtons also portrayed the fictional band, The Mosquitoes in a second season episode, performing songs they had written themselves. Not much is known about their later years, but the single members eventually parted ways. Les Brown Jr. became an actor and director; he is the uncle of Jeff 'Swampy' Marsh of "Phineas And Ferb" fame. George Patterson got  a PH.D. in Counseling Psychology working in private practice in Toluca Lake, California. He was married with three grown children. 

Actor

Soundtrack

Bradley Cooper, Rachel McAdams, and Emma Stone in Aloha (2015)

Aloha

5.4

performer: "The Wonderful World of Color"

2015

 

Tom Hanks and Emma Thompson in Saving Mr. Banks (2013)

Saving Mr. Banks

7.5

performer: "Wonderful World of Color"

2013

 

Some Jerk with a Camera (2011)

Some Jerk with a Camera

7.6

TV Series

performer: "Wonderful World of Color (Main Title)"

2013

1 episode

 

The Neighbors (2012)

The Neighbors

6.9

TV Series

performer: "The Ballad of Davy Crockett"

writer: "The Ballad of Davy Crockett" (uncredited)

2013

1 episode

 

Bert Newton and Catriona Rowntree in 20 to 1 (2005)

20 to 1

5.8

TV Series

performer: "The Ballad of Gilligan's Isle"

2010

1 episode

 

George Clooney, Bill Murray, Meryl Streep, Jason Schwartzman, Owen Wilson, Eric Chase Anderson, and Wallace Wolodarsky in Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009)

Fantastic Mr. Fox

7.9

performer: "The Ballad of Davy Crockett"

2009

 

Mila Kunis, Ashton Kutcher, Danny Masterson, Wilmer Valderrama, Topher Grace, and Laura Prepon in That '70s Show (1998)

That '70s Show

8.1

TV Series

performer: "The Ballad Of Gilligan's Island"

1999

1 episode

 

Shindig! (1964)

Shindig!

7.9

TV Series

performer: "Flowers on the Wall"

performer: "Go Ahead and Cry", "Shout"

performer: "Ride the Wild Surf", "In the Chapel in the Moonlight" ...

1964–1966

33 episodes

 

Hollywood a Go Go (1964)

Hollywood a Go Go

7.8

TV Series

performer: "Rock & Roll Music", "If I Had a Hammer", "Hukilau"

performer: "I'll Never Find Another You"

performer: "A Summer Song", "If I Fell in Love with You", "Heartache and Heartbreak"

1965

3 episodes