Doris Ione Smith was born on September 26, 1932, in Pride, Louisiana. She grew up in the Deep South with dreams as big as the Mississippi sky.
She was a cheerleader, football queen and carnival queen while in high school in Baton Rouge and won the title of Miss New Orleans in 1957 and Miss Baton Rouge in 1958. After becoming the hot-pepper-eating championship and touring television stations in the area to demonstrate her pepper-eating talents, she made the big decision to go to New York.
“I had never been north of Shreveport at the time and didn’t know what Broadway was.”
So, at 20, she left home with only $35. She had a suitcase and was bound for New York City. She was determined to chase a career in show business.
Most know Doris as Donna Douglas, the radiant Southern beauty whose wide-eyed innocence and warm heart made her one of television’s most beloved icons.
She passed on January 1, 2015, at age 82. Her legacy lives on not only in reruns of a classic sitcom. It also lives in the lives she touched through faith, generosity, and unwavering kindness.
She began as an illustration model for toothpaste ads—her fresh-faced charm soon catching the attention of television producers.
By 1957, she was the “Letters Girl” on The Perry Como Show. By 1959, she became the “Billboard Girl” on The Steve Allen Show. Her wholesome appeal earned her the affectionate title “Miss By-line,” and a crown she proudly wore on The Ed Sullivan Show—a moment that changed her life.
Producer Hal B. Wallis saw that broadcast and cast her in Career (1959), starring Dean Martin, Anthony Franciosa, and Shirley MacLaine. Though her role was small, it opened doors.
She appeared in Li’l Abner (1959). She starred in Lover Come Back (1961) with Rock Hudson and Doris Day. She made memorable guest spots on The Twilight Zone, such as the sympathetic nurse in the iconic “Eye of the Beholder.” She also appeared on Checkmate, Route 66, Adam-12, and Thriller. These roles proved she was far more than just a pretty face.
But it was in 1962 that destiny called. Donna Douglas was cast as Elly May Clampett. She was the sweet, animal-loving, barefoot beauty from the Ozarks in The Beverly Hillbillies.
Overnight, she became a household name. With her gentle drawl, golden curls, and genuine warmth, she turned a comic archetype into a figure of endearing sincerity. For nine seasons, she charmed millions, embodying a kind of pure-hearted optimism that resonated deeply in a rapidly changing America.
When the show ended in 1971, Donna chose a different path. She stepped away from Hollywood, returning to her roots in faith and family. She became a licensed real estate agent. She was also a Gospel singer and an inspirational speaker. She became a devoted author, writing children’s books like Cindy and the Prince. She also wrote spiritual guides that reflected her deep Christian convictions.
She founded the Donna Douglas Christian Academy and traveled the country sharing messages of hope, often saying, “God has a plan for every life.”
Donna was married twice, first to Roland John Bourgeois from 1951 to 1954, a union she called a “mistake,” though she was eternally grateful for their son. Then, from 1971 to 1980, she was married to Robert M. Leeds, who had directed approximately 50 episodes of The Beverly Hillbillies
Even in her final years, she remained active, gracious, and full of light—until pancreatic cancer claimed her on New Year’s Day, 2015.
At Bluff Creek Cemetery, nestled among the pines of her native Louisiana, her grave is simple and serene—a quiet return to the land that shaped her. No Hollywood marquee, no flashing cameras—just the rustle of leaves and the memory of a woman who stayed true to herself, no matter how bright the spotlight.
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Doris certainly accomplished a lot more in her life than I knew about. Elly May was an endearing character she portrayed so convincingly that it didn’t seem like she was role playing. She was Elly May. 🙂
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