Settlement in Elly Mae Clampett Barbie doll suit
NEW ORLEANS — The actress who played pigtailed, critter-loving Elly May Clampett on "The Beverly Hillbillies" has settled her lawsuit over a Barbie doll that uses the character's name and likeness.
Actress Donna Douglas, who lives in a Baton Rouge suburb, settled with CBS and toymaker Mattel on Tuesday. Douglas' lawsuit sought at least $75,000 from CBS Consumer Products Inc. and Mattel Inc., claiming they needed her approval to design the doll. Details of the settlement were confidential.
"She was happy with the result," said one of Douglas' attorneys, Charles von Simson.
The doll, released in late 2010, is dressed in jeans with a rope belt. Its long, blonde hair is a curly mop with loose, long pigtails — a style that Douglas still sometimes wears. The package includes a photo of her and a promotional description of the doll names Douglas, the lawsuit said.
CBS and Mattel said in court documents that they didn't need her OK because the network holds exclusive rights to the character.
"The matter was settled to mutual satisfaction," said Lori Mince, an attorney for New York-based CBS and the El Segundo, Calif., toymaker. She said that was about all she could say under terms of the settlement.
Douglas was in all nine seasons of the comedy about a backwoods family that strikes oil and moves to Beverly Hills.
Von Simson said Douglas still makes regular public appearances.
"She's very active in her church. What she does these days is, she makes appearances at church functions and as her personal ministry, talks about her Elly Mae role," he said.
The Bridge-Logos Foundation, a religious publishing house, released "Miss Donna's Mulberry Acres Farm," a children's book by Douglas, in November.