donna douglas barbie
The actress who played critter-loving bombshell Elly May Clampett in the hit 1960s television series "The Beverly Hillbillies" is suing Mattel over its "Elly May Barbie" doll.
Donna Douglas' federal lawsuit, filed in Louisiana, claims the toymaker is "engaging in the unauthorized use of (her) name, likeness, image and attributes" as Elly May.
Douglas never gave Mattel permission to market the doll or use her endorsement to promote it, according to court papers. Yet, the suit says, a photo of Douglas in character as Elly May is used in the packaging, and Mattel boasts in promotional material that the doll "captures the essence of the classic '60s TV character and show."
Mattel said throught a spokesman that the company "licensed the rights to 'Beverly Hillbillies' for this product through the appropriate channels." Douglas' attorney, Philip J. Shaheen, did not respond to requests for comment.
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