The Last Clampett: Where Is The 'Beverly Hillbillies' Show Cast Now In 2025?

Decades after the Clampett family first struck oil and moved to Beverly Hills, the classic CBS sitcom The Beverly Hillbillies remains an iconic piece of American television. As of December 10, 2025, the show’s legacy is carried by a single surviving principal cast member, Max Baer Jr., whose own life post-Jethro Bodine has been as unique and entrepreneurial as the show's premise. The story of what happened to Jed, Granny, Elly May, and the Drysdale's is a poignant look back at a golden era of television, marked by immense success and, ultimately, the passage of time.

The core cast—Buddy Ebsen, Irene Ryan, Donna Douglas, and Max Baer Jr.—became household names, defining the genre of "rural sitcoms." While the Clampetts' oil fortune was fictional, the show’s success was very real, consistently ranking as one of the most-watched programs on television throughout the 1960s. This article provides a comprehensive, up-to-date look at the lives and legacies of the beloved actors who brought the Clampett family and their associates to life.

The Clampett Family and Associates: A Complete Biography and Status Report

The success of The Beverly Hillbillies, which ran from 1962 to 1971, rested on the shoulders of six main actors. Here is a detailed look at the lives and final status of the principal cast members.

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Buddy Ebsen (Jed Clampett)

• Role: Jed Clampett, the kind-hearted, wealthy patriarch.
• Born: April 2, 1908 (Christian Ludolf Ebsen Jr.)
• Died: July 6, 2003 (Age 95)
• Legacy: Ebsen was a versatile performer, originally a dancer (famously almost cast as the Tin Man in The Wizard of Oz). After The Beverly Hillbillies, he starred in another highly successful series, the detective drama Barnaby Jones, solidifying his status as a television legend across multiple genres. He also pursued painting and writing later in life.

Irene Ryan (Daisy "Granny" Moses)

• Role: Granny, Jed's feisty, shotgun-toting mother-in-law.
• Born: October 17, 1902 (Jessie Irene Noblitt)
• Died: April 26, 1973 (Age 70)
• Legacy: A veteran of vaudeville and radio, Ryan's portrayal of Granny was the comedic heart of the show, earning her two Emmy nominations. After the series ended, she successfully transitioned to Broadway, starring in the musical Pippin, for which she received a Tony Award nomination shortly before her death.

Donna Douglas (Elly May Clampett)

• Role: Elly May Clampett, the beautiful, tomboyish daughter who loved her "critters."
• Born: September 26, 1932 (Doris Ione Smith)
• Died: January 1, 2015 (Age 82)
• Legacy: Douglas was a former Miss New Orleans who modeled before landing the iconic role. Post-show, she focused on her Christian faith, becoming a gospel singer and children's book author, often performing and giving motivational speeches. She was the last of the core Clampett family members to pass away.

Max Baer Jr. (Jethro Bodine)

• Role: Jethro Bodine, Jed’s naive, dim-witted nephew.
• Born: December 4, 1937 (Maximilian Adelbert Baer Jr.)
• Status: Alive (Age 88 as of December 2025)
• Legacy: Baer is the only surviving principal cast member. Following the show, he became a successful producer and director, notably for the hit film Macon County Line and Ode to Billy Joe. His entrepreneurial focus has been on licensing the Jethro Bodine character for a unique business venture in Nevada.

Raymond Bailey (Milburn Drysdale)

• Role: Milburn Drysdale, the greedy, high-strung banker obsessed with the Clampett fortune.
• Born: May 6, 1904 (Raymond Thomas Bailey)
• Died: April 15, 1980 (Age 75)
• Legacy: A World War II veteran, Bailey was a prolific character actor with over 100 film and TV credits before landing his most famous role as the head of the Commerce Bank of Beverly Hills.

Nancy Kulp (Miss Jane Hathaway)

• Role: Miss Jane Hathaway, Mr. Drysdale’s highly educated, long-suffering secretary and a devoted friend to the Clampetts.
• Born: August 28, 1921 (Nancy Jane Kulp)
• Died: February 3, 1991 (Age 69)
• Legacy: Kulp was a character actress who brought a dry wit and sharp intelligence to the role of the "Bird Watcher" Miss Jane. She later taught acting and ran unsuccessfully for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives in Pennsylvania.

The Last Hillbilly Standing: Max Baer Jr.'s $7 Million Entrepreneurial Saga

While the rest of the main cast has passed on, Max Baer Jr. has carved out a fascinating, decades-long career as an entrepreneur, forever tied to his character Jethro Bodine. His ambition was to capitalize on the show’s immense popularity by building a themed resort and casino in Nevada.

Baer’s main focus has been the development of a project often referred to as "Jethro's Casino" or a *Beverly Hillbillies*-themed resort. This ambitious venture, which began in the 1990s, aimed to include a hotel, casino, and an RV park, all themed around the Clampett family and their famous Beverly Hills mansion.

The journey has been fraught with legal and logistical challenges. Baer has faced numerous hurdles, including land purchases, licensing issues, and legal battles. At one point, he had secured a gaming license through his company, Max Baer Productions, Ltd., and had purchased a building in Carson City, Nevada, to relaunch the project.

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In a recent twist that highlights the complexity of his business life, Max Baer Jr. filed a lawsuit claiming he was defrauded out of $7 million by various partners in connection with the development. Despite these setbacks, the licensing and the concept have remained active, demonstrating Baer’s unwavering commitment to the project, proving that the actor is far savvier in business than the six-grade-educated Jethro he played.

The Enduring Legacy of the Rural Sitcom Empire

The lasting impact of The Beverly Hillbillies extends far beyond its cast; it redefined a genre and created a television empire. The show was the brainchild of writer and producer Paul Henning, who drew inspiration from his own camping trips to the Ozarks.

Henning created what is now known as the "rural sitcom trilogy," which included The Beverly Hillbillies, followed by the equally popular series Petticoat Junction and Green Acres. All three shows shared a similar fish-out-of-water premise and occasionally featured crossover episodes, cementing their place in TV history.

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The show’s theme song, "The Ballad of Jed Clampett," was a groundbreaking element. It was performed by the bluegrass duo Flatt & Scruggs and was the first television theme song to reach No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart, injecting authentic folk music into mainstream pop culture.

Today, the show's relevance continues through syndication and streaming. Reruns are a staple on classic TV networks, and the series has recently been added to platforms like the Roku Channel, proving that the simple, good-natured humor of the Clampetts still resonates with modern audiences. The central conflict—the clash between the simple, honest values of the Appalachian mountains and the superficiality of Beverly Hills—is a timeless theme that ensures the show’s survival for future generations.

Key Entities and Topical Authority: The Beverly Hillbillies Universe

To fully appreciate the show's depth, it helps to understand the key entities that formed the world of the Clampetts:

• The Oil Strike: The initial discovery that led to the family's $25 million fortune and their move from the Ozarks to California.
• The Beverly Hillbillies Mansion: The lavish, 17-room Bel-Air home where the Clampetts lived, which they hilariously mistook for a cement pond and a fancy cabin.
• The Commerce Bank of Beverly Hills: The institution where Jed Clampett deposited his fortune, making Milburn Drysdale the most stressed-out banker in television history.
• Filmways: The production company responsible for creating the "rural trilogy" of shows.
• Jethro's Six-Year Education: The running gag of Jethro's limited education (six years of schooling) which he constantly tried to parlay into a new career path, from brain surgeon to double-naught spy.
• The Critters: Elly May's beloved collection of wild and exotic animals, including chimpanzees and coyotes, which she kept around the mansion.

The enduring appeal of The Beverly Hillbillies lies in its heart, its humor, and the incredible chemistry of its cast. While only Max Baer Jr. remains to carry the torch, the legacy of Jed, Granny, Elly May, and Jethro is permanently cemented in television history, continuing to entertain audiences with tales of their "fancy living" in their new home.