Donna Douglas, 'Beverly Hillbillies' actress, dies at 81

Donna Douglas, who was best known for her role as Elly May Clampett on "The Beverly Hillbillies" TV show, has died. She was 81.

Family members said Douglas passed away Thursday surrounded by her friends and family at her Louisiana home. She died of pancreatic cancer, Douglas' cousin said.

Douglas began her career with beauty pageants before turning to acting. She was named Miss Baton Rouge and Miss New Orleans.

She appeared in all nine seasons of the iconic 1960's TV show, "The Beverly Hillbillies," about a backwoods Ozark family who moved to Beverly Hills after striking it rich from oil found on their land.

When Douglas left the show, she became a successful real estate agent in Los Angeles, recorded country and gospel music albums and wrote a book for children.

Most recently, she spent a lot of her time speaking to church groups in her home state of Louisiana.

"I always got a kick talking with her. She was Elly Mae, just an older version and as sweet as can be," Douglas' manager Jackie Stander said.

Douglas was married twice - to Roland John Bourgeois Jr. until 1954 and The Beverly Hillbillies director Robert M. Leeds. They divorced in 1980. She is survived by her son Danny P. Bourgeois.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.