One of the most beloved characters on The Beverly Hillbillies was Elly May Clampett, played by Donna Douglas. On screen, Elly May seemed completely comfortable surrounded by animals—from dogs and rabbits to raccoons and even exotic creatures.
But filming those scenes was far from easy.
Elly May’s character famously treated animals as if they were members of the family. In many episodes, she carried them around the mansion, spoke to them, and even brought them to dinner. The result was hilarious television.
Behind the scenes, however, the animals required a professional Hollywood trainer.
Many of the animals used on the show were trained by Frank Inn, one of the most famous animal trainers in television history. His job was to make sure the animals behaved on camera and responded to cues during filming.
Still, chaos sometimes broke out.
Animals occasionally wandered off set, refused to follow commands, or simply behaved like animals. According to crew members, scenes involving multiple animals could take hours to film.
Despite the challenges, those moments became some of the show’s most memorable scenes. Elly May’s love of animals helped make her one of the most unique characters in 1960s television.