The Last Clampett: Where Is The Surviving Cast Member Of The Beverly Hillbillies TV Show Now?

Few classic sitcoms hold a place in American pop culture quite like The Beverly Hillbillies. The story of the simple, oil-rich Clampett family moving from the Ozarks to a lavish Beverly Hills mansion captivated audiences for nine seasons on CBS, running from 1962 to 1971. As of today, December 18, 2025, the show remains a touchstone of mid-century television, but the beloved ensemble cast has largely passed into history, leaving behind a legacy of iconic characters and surprising post-show careers.

The central question for many fans of the classic TV era is: who is still alive from the core cast? The answer is a poignant one, as only one principal actor remains to carry the torch for the Clampett clan and their wealthy neighbors. This article takes a deep dive into the full biography of the main cast, exploring their lives, their unforgettable roles, and the surprising paths they took after the show ended.

The Complete Beverly Hillbillies Cast: Biographies and Legacies

The success of The Beverly Hillbillies rested entirely on the chemistry and talent of its main ensemble, who perfectly embodied the culture clash between the down-home Ozark folk and the sophisticated residents of Beverly Hills. Here is a look at the core cast, their characters, and their life details.

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• Buddy Ebsen (Jed Clampett)
  • Born: April 2, 1908, Belleville, Illinois
  • Died: July 6, 2003 (aged 95), Torrance, California
  • Role: The calm, wise, and kind-hearted patriarch who accidentally strikes oil on his land.
  • Legacy: Ebsen had a long and storied career, originally being cast as the Tin Man in The Wizard of Oz before a severe reaction to the aluminum dust forced him to withdraw. After The Beverly Hillbillies, he starred in another long-running hit, the detective series Barnaby Jones, from 1973 to 1980. He was one of the longest-living major cast members.
• Irene Ryan (Daisy May "Granny" Moses)
  • Born: October 17, 1902, El Paso, Texas
  • Died: April 26, 1973 (aged 70), Santa Monica, California
  • Role: Jed's feisty, shotgun-toting mother-in-law, a self-proclaimed doctor who was fiercely protective of her family.
  • Legacy: A seasoned vaudeville and radio performer, Ryan was actually only five years older than Buddy Ebsen, the actor who played her son-in-law. She received two Emmy Award nominations for her role. Shortly before her death, she returned to her roots on Broadway in the musical Pippin. Her cause of death was glioblastoma (a malignant brain tumor) and arteriosclerotic heart disease.
• Donna Douglas (Elly May Clampett)
  • Born: September 26, 1932, Pride, Louisiana
  • Died: January 1, 2015 (aged 81), Zachary, Louisiana
  • Role: Jed's beautiful, tomboyish daughter who loved her "critters" and was often mistaken for a mermaid by the locals.
  • Legacy: A former beauty queen, Douglas struggled with typecasting after the show ended, though she did star opposite Elvis Presley in the film Frankie and Johnny (1966). Later in life, she pursued a career in gospel singing, motivational speaking, and real estate, and was known for her deep Christian faith. She died of pancreatic cancer.
• Max Baer Jr. (Jethro Bodine)
  • Born: December 4, 1937, Oakland, California
  • Status: The last surviving principal cast member (as of 2025).
  • Role: Jed's dimwitted, yet lovable nephew, known for his multiple, often absurd, career aspirations (fry cook, brain surgeon, international playboy).
  • Legacy: Baer Jr. is the son of boxing champion Max Baer. His post-show career is arguably the most surprising, focusing on producing, directing, and a long-term business endeavor tied to the show's theme. His recent status is the key to the show's current relevance.
• Raymond Bailey (Milburn Drysdale)
  • Born: May 6, 1904, San Francisco, California
  • Died: April 15, 1980 (aged 75), Irvine, California
  • Role: The greedy, perpetually anxious president of the Commerce Bank of Beverly Hills, whose sole mission was to keep the Clampett fortune in his bank.
  • Legacy: A prolific character actor in Hollywood, Bailey appeared in dozens of films and TV shows before landing his signature role as Mr. Drysdale. He retired from acting after the show due to health issues.
• Nancy Kulp (Miss Jane Hathaway)
  • Born: August 28, 1921, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
  • Died: February 3, 1991 (aged 69), Palm Desert, California
  • Role: Mr. Drysdale's loyal, no-nonsense, and highly educated secretary, often referred to as "The Lady Executive."
  • Legacy: Kulp was a respected actress who, after the show, ran for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives in Pennsylvania in 1984 (unsuccessfully). She later taught acting and was known for her political activism.

The Singular Legacy of Max Baer Jr. (Jethro Bodine)

While the rest of the main cast is remembered for their on-screen work and traditional post-show lives, Max Baer Jr.'s path has been a fascinating and unique deviation. After the series ended, Baer, like many of his co-stars, was heavily typecast as the lovable, simple-minded Jethro Bodine. Rather than fighting the image, he decided to embrace it, leveraging the character's enduring popularity into a career as a successful entrepreneur, producer, and director.

Baer's first major success behind the camera came in 1974 when he wrote, produced, and directed the independent blockbuster Macon County Line, a low-budget film that became one of the highest-grossing independent movies of its time. He followed this with other projects, but his most ambitious and long-running endeavor has been his effort to capitalize on the Beverly Hillbillies brand itself.

Jethro's Grand Vision: The Nevada Casino Project

For decades, Max Baer Jr. has been working to develop a massive, themed resort and casino in Northern Nevada, initially envisioned as "Jethro Bodine's Beverly Hillbillies Mansion & Casino." The project has faced numerous regulatory, legal, and financial hurdles, but Baer has remained persistent in his efforts to bring the Clampett world to life as a destination resort.

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This business focus is what has kept Baer's name in the news well into his late 80s. While the casino project's status has been a continuous saga of appeals and developments, his commitment to the venture highlights his shrewd business sense—a trait his on-screen character, Jethro, could only dream of possessing. As of May 2024, Baer was photographed in Las Vegas, still active and managing his various ventures, making him the only principal cast member whose life continues to make headlines in the 21st century.

The Impact of The Beverly Hillbillies on Television History

The nine-year run of The Beverly Hillbillies (1962–1971) was a period of incredible ratings success, despite the show being largely panned by critics. The series regularly topped the Nielsen ratings, with its first two seasons ranking number one overall. This success paved the way for a wave of other rural-themed comedies created by producer Paul Henning, including Petticoat Junction and Green Acres, which formed a shared television universe in the 1960s.

The show's theme song, "The Ballad of Jed Clampett," performed by bluegrass artists Flatt & Scruggs, was a massive hit, becoming the first TV theme song to ever reach number one on the Billboard country music charts. The show's influence can be seen in everything from its merchandising success to the fact that it remains a widely syndicated classic, introducing new generations to Jed, Granny, Elly May, and Jethro.

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The series was abruptly cancelled in 1971 as part of CBS's infamous "rural purge," where the network dropped all of its country-themed shows in an effort to attract a younger, more urban demographic. Despite this sudden end, the show’s enduring popularity is a testament to the actors' performances and the simple, heartwarming message of family triumphing over pretension. The legacy of the original cast, especially Max Baer Jr.'s unique post-Hollywood career, ensures that the Clampetts' move to Beverly Hills remains one of television's most memorable moments.