The actress who played Elly May Clampett in the hit television series The Beverly Hillbillies is suing toy manufacturer Mattel, claiming the company used her name and likeness for a Barbie doll without her authorisation.
The federal suit filed in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, says packaging for the Elly May Barbie doll features a photo of Donna Douglas portraying the character.
Ms Douglas, 77, says she never endorsed the doll or gave Mattel permission to use her name to promote its sale before introducing the doll in December 2010.
Mattel was not available for comment.
From 1962 to 1971, Douglas appeared in all 274 episodes of the CBS comedy show about a poor family which moves to Beverly Hills after striking oil.
Douglas lives in Zachary, near Baton Rouge, and continues to make public appearances and undertake speaking engagements in connection with the show, according to one of her lawyers, Charles von Simson.
“Depending on their age, people remember the show immediately and they remember her,” he said. “It’s something she gets a lot of fan interest from.”
Mr Von Simson said Mattel made other “nostalgia dolls” of TV characters, including Barbara Eden’s from I Dream Of Jeannie and the late Elizabeth Montgomery’s from Bewitched.