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Tag: Max Baer Jr

  • Donna Douglas Remembered by Last Surviving ‘Beverly Hillbillies’ Cast Member, Max Baer Jr.

    Donna Douglas, who played tomboy Elly May Clampett on the hit 1960s sitcom The Beverly Hillbillies, is remembered by the only living original cast member, Max Baer Jr., as being “Elly May until the day she died.”

    Baer Jr. played Elly May’s cousin, Jethro, in the series and says she always attended events dressed the part.

    “She was Elly May until the day she died,” Baer told the website RumorFix. “When I saw her for autograph signings or other gatherings, she always dressed the same with pink or blue and of course those signature pigtails.”

    Baer Jr. said he last saw his former costar in January 2013 at an autograph signing in Los Angeles and said he was unaware that she had been battling pancreatic cancer for the past several months.

    “But she was a very private person — nothing like me,” he said.

    Douglas died Thursday in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, near her hometown of Zachary, at the age of 82. According to her neice, Charlene Smith, the cause of death was pancreatic cancer.

    Smith described her aunt as a “very good Christian lady. We all loved her,” she said. “Whenever she gave presents, they always came with (passages) from Scripture.”

    Hailing from Pride, Louisiana, Douglas was a former Miss Baton Rouge and Miss New Orleans. Married twice, she returned to her home state to be near her only child, son Danny Bourgeois, after her days in Hollywood came to an end.

    She is is also survived by three grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, one brother and other extended family members, Smith said.

    The series, which ran from 1962 to 1971, also starred the late Buddy Ebsen and Irene Ryan.

    “I’m the last man standing. All the actors, producers — everybody on the show is gone,” said Baer Jr.

  • Elly May Clampett: Actress Donna Douglas Dies at 81

    Elly May Clampett was one of the main characters on the TV show The Beverly Hillbillies, which ran from 1962 to 1971. Donna Douglas, the actress who played Elly May, died on New Year’s Day at the age of 81.

    According to a report from TMZ, Douglas died at her home in Louisiana with her family members and close friends by her side.

    Douglas’s granddaughter confirmed her passing.

    In addition to her role as Elly May Clampett, Douglas appeared in several other TV series, including Mr. Ed, The Twilight Zone, The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet, Adam 12, and Route 66. She starred alongside Elvis Presley in Frankie and Johnny.

    Still it was The Beverly Hillbillies for which she remained the most famous. Elly May Clampett was constantly bringing home her ‘critters,’ much to the ire of Granny (played by the late Irene Ryan). She was good at convincing her Pa, Jed Clampett (played by the late Buddy Ebsen) to go along with just about all of her crazy shenanigans. She and her cousin Jethro Bodine (played by Max Baer, Jr.) managed to drive poor Granny to drink from her ‘special bottle of medicine.’ Max Baer, Jr. is the only regular cast member of The Beverly Hillbillies who is still living.

    Donna Douglas was involved in two rather high-profile lawsuits throughout the years. The first–in the 1990s–was filed stating Disney stole the idea for the film Sister Act from her. She lost the case. And in 2011, she sued Mattel for creating a Barbie doll with the likeness of Elly May Clampett without her permission. That case was settled out of court.

    Were you a fan of The Beverly Hillbillies? Was Elly May Clampett your favorite character? She is now likely resting in the big Beverly Hills mansion in the sky, along with Jed Clampett, Granny Clampett, and even their friends from the bank, (Jed was, after all, a millionaire) Mr. Drysdale and Miss Jane.

  • Max Baer, Jr. of ‘Beverly Hillbillies’ Suing CBS

    Max Baer, Jr. is the former actor best known as Jethro Bodine on The Beverly Hillbillies–a popular TV show that ran from 1962 to 1971. Jethro–or Max–claims CBS is undermining his plan to create a ‘restaurant empire,’ and it’s all because of one rib joint in Des Moines, Iowa.

    TMZ reports that Max Baer, Jr. previously made a deal with CBS that allowed him to develop a chain of Beverly Hillbillies themed restaurants, casinos and hotels. He claims he had the exclusive right to use the ‘Jethro’ character, as well as other themes from the show that featured a family of hillbillies who moved into a Beverly Hills mansion.

    Who doesn’t remember Granny Clampett (played by the late Irene Ryan), Jed Clampett (played by the late Buddy Ebsen), and rest of the Beverly Hillbillies characters–most especially the antics that took place throughout their mansion and in their cement (pronounced see-ment) pool? Baby boomers would no doubt love to see such a chain of restaurants serving Granny’s famous possum stew.

    Alas, CBS has thrown a wrench into Max Baer, Jr.’s plans to do just that. It seems they also cut another deal with the owners of Jethro’s–that aforementioned rib joint in Des Moines. They allegedly allowed the owner of that restaurant to use the ‘Jethro’ character. Baer says the character is ‘his and his alone’ to use.

    Bruce Gerleman owns the Jethro’s chain of restaurants. He said during a recent interview that the company isn’t named as a defendant in the lawsuit, and that his loyal customers have nothing to worry about.

    “We own the name, we own the trademark, it will always be Jethro’s BBQ in Des Moines, Iowa,” he said.

    Under the agreement between Max Baer, Jr. Baer and CBS, the actor has spent up to $1 million in efforts to develop his business, according to the lawsuit. Baer also has paid royalties to CBS for merchandise, including revenue from themed slot machines at and even a brand of BBQ sauce.

    A CBS spokeswoman told Philly.com that the network has made great efforts over the years to try to amicably resolve the issue with Baer and will continue to do so.

    If you ask fans of The Beverly Hillbillies, all would no doubt say they’d love to see Jethro Bodine succeed in this business. His character on the show never succeeded at much of anything, aside from irritating his Granny and his Uncle Jed. Yes, Jethro deserves his time to shine.

    Maybe a new Beverly Hillbillies theme song will be created about the present situation.

    “Come and listen to a story ’bout a man named Max…”

    Do you think Max Baer, Jr. stands a chance against CBS in his lawsuit?

  • Max Baer Jr Sues CBS in ‘Jethro’s BBQ’ Squabble

    Max Baer Jr. is accusing CBS of making a secret deal with a small BBQ restaurant chain to allow it to “capitalize upon and exploit virtually every element” of the series for which he’s famous.

    Baer Jr., who you probably know as Jethro Bodine on The Beverly Hillbillies, has filed a lawsuit against the network. According to Baer Jr., CBS entered into a clandestine agreement with Jethro’s BBQ, a chain restaurant located in Iowa. According to the lawsuit, Jethro’s BBQ “inextricably incorporated the elements (of the show) into their menus, food, how they prepare the food, the decor, their logos, artwork, website, public interviews, and advertising” for year before CBS found out about it in 2008.

    He alleges that when CBS found out, instead of notifying him and working out some licensing arrangement, the network simply settled with the restaurant by allowing them to operate after making some minor changes.

    Baer Jr. claims that his rights to the Jethro Bodine character have been undermined.

    From the Des Moines Register:

    Baer and CBS reached a “broad” licensing agreement in 1991 that gave the actor rights to develop motel, casino, restaurant and other properties using “Beverly Hillbillies” themes, Freis said. Jethro’s BBQ essentially dilutes the “Jethro” brand that Baer has rights to, he said.

    Under the licensing agreement, Baer has spent upwards of $1 million in efforts to develop hillbilly-themed businesses, according to the lawsuit. The actor has also paid royalties back to CBS for merchandise, including revenue from themed slot machines and a brand of BBQ sauce, the lawsuit said.

    Jethro’s BBQ fans have nothing to fear, says owner Bruce Gerleman.

    “We own the name, we own the trademark, it will always be Jethro’s BBQ in Des Moines, Iowa,” he told the Des Moines Register.

    Post by Jethro's BBQ.

    But Baer Jr.’s attorney hasn’t ruled out legal action against the restaurant itself.

    Max Baer Jr. lawsuit against CBS