The Last Clampett Standing: Where Are The Cast Of The Beverly Hillbillies Now In 2025?

The Beverly Hillbillies remains one of the most culturally significant and highest-rated television shows in history, a classic sitcom that ran from 1962 to 1971, following the sudden fortune of the Clampett family. As of December 2025, the show’s legacy is preserved by just one surviving principal cast member, whose decades-long business venture continues to make headlines.

The tale of Jed Clampett, Granny, Elly May, and Jethro Bodine moving from their humble cabin to a Beverly Hills mansion after striking oil—"black gold, Texas tea"—captured the hearts of millions. Today, fans often search for updates on the beloved actors who brought the Clampetts and their city-slicker neighbors, the Drysdales, to life. This is a complete look at the cast, their biographies, and the surprising, sometimes tragic, paths they took after the show ended.

The Main Cast: Complete Biographies and Fates

The core of The Beverly Hillbillies was the four members of the Clampett family. Their chemistry and comedic timing are what cemented the show’s place in television history. Here are the full biographies of the main cast members.

• The Chilling True Story 5 Key Facts About Richard Evonitz The Serial Killer Who Kidnapped Kara Robinson Chamberlain Xpjje

• Buddy Ebsen (Jed Clampett)
  • Role: Jed Clampett (The Patriarch)
  • Full Name: Christian Ludolf Ebsen Jr.
  • Born: April 2, 1908, in Belleville, Illinois, U.S.
  • Died: July 6, 2003 (Age 95), in Torrance, California, U.S.
  • Cause of Death: Respiratory failure/pneumonia.
  • Post-Hillbillies Career: Ebsen had one of the most successful post-sitcom careers, starring as the titular private detective in the long-running series Barnaby Jones (1973–1980). He was also famously the original choice for the Tin Man in The Wizard of Oz but had to leave the production due to a severe allergic reaction to the aluminum dust makeup.
• Irene Ryan (Daisy "Granny" Moses)
  • Role: Granny (The Feisty Matriarch)
  • Full Name: Irene Ryan
  • Born: October 17, 1902, in El Paso, Texas, U.S.
  • Died: April 26, 1973 (Age 70), in Santa Monica, California, U.S.
  • Cause of Death: Glioblastoma (a malignant brain tumor) and arteriosclerotic heart disease.
  • Post-Hillbillies Career: Ryan received two Emmy nominations for her role as Granny. After the show, she transitioned to Broadway, starring in the musical Pippin, where she earned a Tony Award nomination. She suffered a stroke while performing in Pippin shortly before her death.
• Donna Douglas (Elly May Clampett)
  • Role: Elly May Clampett (The Beautiful, Naive Daughter)
  • Full Name: Donna Douglas
  • Born: September 26, 1933, in Pride, Louisiana, U.S.
  • Died: January 1, 2015 (Age 82), in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, U.S.
  • Cause of Death: Pancreatic cancer.
  • Post-Hillbillies Career: Douglas was a singer of gospel music, a children’s book author, and a real estate agent. She spent her later years giving speeches and appearing at Christian and fan conventions, often wearing her signature Elly May pigtails.
• Max Baer Jr. (Jethro Bodine)
  • Role: Jethro Bodine (Jed's Dimwitted Cousin)
  • Full Name: Maximilian Adelbert Baer Jr.
  • Born: December 4, 1937, in Oakland, California, U.S.
  • Status: Last Surviving Principal Cast Member (Age 88 as of 2025).
  • Post-Hillbillies Career: Baer Jr. shifted focus entirely to producing and directing. His 1974 film, Macon County Line, was a massive independent box-office success, holding a profit record for decades. His life's work since the 1980s has been focused on a single, ambitious business venture.

Max Baer Jr.: The Last Clampett Standing and His $50 Million Empire

As the sole surviving principal cast member, Max Baer Jr.'s life after The Beverly Hillbillies has been the subject of continuous interest, particularly his transformation from actor to shrewd, multi-millionaire businessman. His estimated net worth is reported to be around $50 million, largely due to his entrepreneurial efforts rather than his acting salary.

Baer Jr. is the only cast member who secured the licensing and merchandising rights to the "Jethro Bodine" character and, more broadly, the Beverly Hillbillies brand from CBS for certain business ventures. This strategic move is the foundation of his wealth.

For over two decades, Baer Jr. has been working to build a massive, themed resort in Northern Nevada: Jethro Bodine's Beverly Hillbillies Mansion & Casino. The project, which has faced numerous legal and logistical hurdles, including disputes over signage and zoning, is the 88-year-old's passion project. While the physical construction has been a slow, decades-long process, his persistent efforts to capitalize on the nostalgia of the classic sitcom through licensing and real estate remain his defining post-acting legacy in 2025.

• 5 Shocking Facts About Anna Congdon Penn State Sweetheart To Nfl Fiances Social Media Firestorm Cc90e

The Drysdales: Key Supporting Cast & Their Post-Show Lives

No discussion of the Clampetts is complete without their perpetually anxious banker, Milburn Drysdale, and his loyal, bookish secretary, Miss Jane Hathaway. These characters provided the perfect comedic foil to the hillbillies' country innocence.

• Raymond Bailey (Milburn Drysdale)
  • Role: Milburn Drysdale (The Greedy Banker)
  • Full Name: Raymond Thomas Bailey
  • Born: May 6, 1904, in San Francisco, California, U.S.
  • Died: April 15, 1980 (Age 75), in Irvine, California, U.S.
  • Cause of Death: Heart attack/heart failure.
  • Post-Hillbillies Career: Bailey retired from acting after The Beverly Hillbillies ended, having appeared in over 100 films and television shows throughout his career. His character, Mr. Drysdale, is remembered as the quintessential greedy, yet sympathetic, modern man.
• Nancy Kulp (Miss Jane Hathaway)
  • Role: Miss Jane Hathaway (The Brainy Secretary)
  • Full Name: Nancy Jane Kulp
  • Born: August 28, 1921, in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, U.S.
  • Died: February 3, 1991 (Age 69), in Palm Desert, California, U.S.
  • Cause of Death: Cancer.
  • Post-Hillbillies Career: After the show, Kulp pursued a career in politics, running for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives in Pennsylvania in 1984, though she was unsuccessful. Her headstone is famously engraved with her iconic character's name: "Miss Jane Hathaway."

Lesser-Known Facts and Lasting Legacy of the Sitcom

The success of The Beverly Hillbillies was unprecedented, becoming one of the most-watched shows in television history during its nine-year run. The series, along with *Petticoat Junction* and *Green Acres*, formed a trilogy of rural-themed sitcoms created by Paul Henning.

Unbelievable Rating Records

In its first season, The Beverly Hillbillies achieved a stunning feat: it became the first new series in television history to finish the year as the number one rated show. It held the top spot for its first two seasons, a clear testament to the public's immediate love for the Clampetts.

• The Unseen Story Jessica Simpsons Battle For Privacy And Body Image In A Digital Age Mlvqa

The Theme Song’s Unique Success

The show's theme song, "The Ballad of Jed Clampett," was not only a memorable part of the show but also a commercial hit. Performed by the famous bluegrass duo Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs, the song reached number one on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart in 1962, a rare achievement for a TV theme.

The Real Beverly Hillbillies Mansion

The iconic mansion used for exterior shots of the Clampett's new home is a real residence located in Bel-Air, California. It was owned by Arnold Kirkeby, and the same house was also used in the 1993 film adaptation. The owners often received fan mail addressed to the Clampetts for years.

The Cast’s Close Bonds

Despite their on-screen differences, the cast members were known to be close friends. Buddy Ebsen (Jed Clampett) and Donna Douglas (Elly May) remained particularly close throughout their lives, often appearing together at fan events long after the show’s cancellation. This genuine affection contributed to the show's warm, family-oriented atmosphere.

The enduring popularity of The Beverly Hillbillies, even over six decades later, is a tribute to the timeless humor and the unforgettable characters created by the talented ensemble cast. While most of the Clampett clan has passed on, their legacy continues through reruns and the unique entrepreneurial spirit of the last surviving member, Max Baer Jr., who is still working to bring Jethro's brand back to life in Nevada.