‘The Beverly Hillbillies’ Cast: Interesting Facts About the Clamp Family
In the pilot episode of this beloved rags-to-riches sitcom, hay hiker Jed Clampett becomes an overnight millionaire when an oil-rich swamp is discovered on the property his. With his newfound wealth, he moves his family from their bungalow in the Ozarks to a mansion in Beverly Hills, and out-of-water fish thefts ensue – and thus The Beverly The Hillbillies and the cast or their memorable characters were born. (Fun fact: Adjusted for inflation, the $25 million minimum payment the CLAMP family was given for their land would be equivalent to about $254 million today.)
When the film came out in 1962, it was panned by critics. But viewers disagreed and CLAMPetts quickly rose to the top of the Nielsen ratings. At the peak of its nine-season run, about 60 million viewers tuned in each week – nearly a third of the US population at the time. Even the theme song “The Ballad of Jed Clampett” was a huge success, reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country chart.
More than 60 years later, the show continues to reach new audiences through streaming services. So come and hear a story… about the actors who made this film a beloved classic.
Beverly Hillbillies cast and surprising facts
Here, get to know the cast of The Beverly Hillbillies, find out what they’re currently working on, and learn some fun trivia along the way.
After finding fame performing in vaudeville with his sister, Buddy Ebsen forged a career in film and television, including roles in Davy Crockett, Rawhide, The Twilight Zone and Breakfast at Tiffany’s. He is famous for his eccentric, exuberant dancing style, which Walt Disney used as inspiration for animating Mickey Mouse in Disney’s Silly Symphonies and creating the original prototype of cartoon. Disney equestrian cartoon.
After playing the family patriarch on The Beverly Hillbillies, Ebsen spent eight seasons as a full-time detective for Barnaby Jones – a role he later turned into a guest role in the 1993 film adaptation of The Beverly Hillbillies. Ebsen died of pneumonia on July 6, 2003, at the age of 95.
Ebsen was the first Tin Man in The Wizard of Oz. But a few days after filming, Ebsen had a severe reaction to the aluminum powder makeup and was rushed to the emergency room in respiratory distress. He recovered after two weeks in the hospital – but by then the studio had replaced him with actor Jack Haley.
An aspiring actress at age 14, Irene Ryan dropped out of high school and lied about her age to join a California securities firm. She continued performing in comedy, cabaret and variety shows before starting a popular radio show, “Tim and Irene,” with her then-husband Tim Ryan.
Just 60 years old when she played Grandma Moses, Ryan had to use makeup to look older. She says she is rarely recognized on the street – until people hear her talking and recognize her unmistakable voice.
After falling ill during a 1973 Broadway performance of Pippin — a role that earned her a Tony nomination — Ryan flew home to California, where she was diagnosed with a brain tumor. She died a few months later at the age of 70.
With no heirs left, Ryan left his estate to the Irene Ryan Foundation, which has awarded scholarships to student actors since 1972. To this day, the foundation awards 16 regional scholarships and two National Scholarship every year.
A former pageant queen from Louisiana – where she was crowned “Miss Baton Rouge” and “Miss New Orleans” – Donna Douglas was a relative newcomer to Hollywood when she was cast to play Jed’s daughter , Clampett. Douglas credits her upbringing as a Southern tomboy with helping her land the role – especially when she was asked to milk a goat during her audition!
After The Beverly Hillbillies ended, Douglas felt she was being given provocative roles that did not align with her personal beliefs. She took a step back from acting, earned her real estate license, and recorded several gospel albums. Douglas died on January 1, 2015 of pancreatic cancer.
In 2010, Mattel released the Classic Barbie Doll Collection based on Samantha from Bewitched, Jeannie from I Dream of Jeannie, and Elly May Clampett. But Douglas wasn’t excited about her Barbie moment — she sued Mattel for illegally using her likeness.