‘Beverly Hillbillies’ actress settles lawsuit over Barbie doll

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An actress on the long-running ‘Beverly Hillbillies’ television show has reached a settlement in a lawsuit with toy giant Mattel and CBS Consumer Products Inc. over a Barbie doll modeled on her features and using her character’s name.

Donna Douglas, who played beautiful tomboy Elly May Clampett on the show, sued the companies alleging that she never gave permission for the Barbie, which sported a gingham shirt and her trademark pigtails tied with ribbons.

The companies counter-argued that they did not need her approval since they owned exclusive rights to the character.

A lawyer for Douglas told the Associated Press that a settlement had been reached. Although the terms were confidential, the lawsuit had originally asked for at least $75,000 in compensation.

Douglas played Elly May for the entire nine seasons of ‘Beverly Hillbillies,’ which ran on CBS from 1962 to 1971 and followed the comic misadventures of a poor family that moves to Beverly Hills after discovering oil on their land.

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— Shan Li