The Beverly Hillbillies: Elly May Clampett’s Strange Return

Donna Douglas played Elly Mae Clampett on The Beverly Hillibillies for all nine seasons and 274 episodes of the very popular CBS sitcom. The show ran from 1962 until 1971 and was a top 20 show for eight seasons.

She returned to her beloved role in the disappointing reunion movie The Return of the Beverly Hillbillies in 1981, joining Buddy Ebsen and Nancy Kulp.

Douglas later appeared as Elly May in The Legend of the Beverly Hillbillies, a mockumentary-style tribute that included in-character appearances by Buddy Ebsen, Max Baer Jr., Eva Gabor, Eddie Albert, Louis Nye, and Larry Pennell.

That was aired the same year as the disappointing release of the feature film starring Jim Varney, Cloris Leachman, Dabney Coleman, and Lily Tomlin.

Douglas has returned to her signature just one more time, in a very unlikely show. She appeared as Elly May in the live-action portion of an episode of The Super Mario Bros. Super Show! in 1989. Here are her two clips: