The Best Beverly Hillbillies Guest Stars, Ranked

The magic of "The Beverly Hillbillies" was that it resonated with viewers who had no connection either to the rural Ozarks or to the wealthy Southern California set. Starring veteran actor Buddy Ebsen (did you know he got his start as a song-and-dance man?), the long-running sitcom mined its laughs from the Clampett family's efforts to adjust to their nouveau riche lifestyle while still maintaining their down-home country values. The show ran for nine seasons, and it might have lasted even longer if the major networks hadn't unceremoniously jettisoned their rural-themed programming in favor of edgier fare like "All in the Family" and "Good Times."

The hit show proved a popular venue for jobbing actors and celebs to appear as guests over the years, either as themselves or in roles that allowed them to bring out their funny side. You probably forgot that a lot of stars appeared on "The Beverly Hillbillies;" from a famous cowboy to musicians, comedians, and even a major sports figure. It was hard to trim down the best of list to just 10, but we managed, as you'll see (dissenting opinions welcomed, though not necessarily agreed with).

"The Beverly Hillbillies" theme song, "The Ballad of Jed Clampett," became an instant hit, reaching the #1 spot on Billboard's hot country charts in 1963. The performers behind the catchy tune were bluegrass icons Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs. The duo (that's Flatt on the guitar and Scruggs on the banjo) went on to appear as themselves in seven episodes of the show, with the premise being that they were old friends of the Clampett family and former suitors of Cousin Pearl.

Character actors are the backbone of theater, movies, and television. They may not get top billing or major awards, but they're both essential and memorable. That's why we have to add Kathleen Freeman to this list. The veteran performer ("The Blues Brothers," "Home Improvement," "DuckTales," and dozens more) not only guested in six episodes, she also played three different parts: Mabel Johnson, Agnes, and Flo Shafer. Not everyone boasts that kind of versatility, but Freeman pulled it off effortlessly.

Rob Reiner's "Beverly Hillbillies" turn is arguably the best appearance of a then-unknown actor who went on to stardom. In a two-episode arc, Reiner played Mitch, one member of a group of hippies who convince Jethro to join in their college's protests. At the time, he was better known as the son of comedian and Hollywood icon Carl Reiner, playing bit parts in various projects. It was only a few years later that a little show called "All in the Family" sent his career flying just as high as his famous father's.

Joining the fun for two memorable episodes was Soupy Sales as 2nd Lieutenant Lance Bradford, nephew of the bank president's wife, Mrs. Drysdale. Mugging for laughs came easily to Sales, the famous comedian and kids' show host whose pie-in-the-face shtick became his legacy (he also created a scandal when Sales encouraged his young viewers to mail him the "green pieces of paper" from their parents' wallets). Though Sales' "Beverly Hillbillies" role didn't involve any pie-throwing, the comedian did convince Jethro to put all of his allowance into his uncle's bank.

Cute and perky Elly May Clampett (Donna Douglas) had plenty of suitors — of many varieties — during the run of the hit show. One of the most memorable was Professor P. Caspar Biddle, a bird enthusiast devoted to saving the California condor. He was played in two episodes of "The Beverly Hillbillies" by Wally Cox, famous for his mousy, bookish roles as well as for voicing Underdog in the original cartoons. Proving that nice guys sometimes do win, Elly May refuses to break a date with Professor Biddle when a handsome movie actor comes a-wooing.

Leo Durocher had nothing to prove when he guest-starred as himself in Season 1's "The Clampetts and the Dodgers," during which he considered signing Jethro as a pitcher. Durocher had already secured his place in baseball history as a World Series-winning Yankees shortstop and the manager of the L.A. Dodgers. But "The Lip" not only held his own as an actor, he also proved a good sport as he took two pratfalls into the Clampetts' pool. Alas, Jethro could only throw well if he greased the ball with possum fat, so Durocher sadly couldn't make him an offer.

Always ready for her close-up, screen legend Gloria Swanson ("Sunset Boulevard") appeared as herself in Season 5's aptly-titled "The Gloria Swanson Story." The Clampett family discovers the iconic starlet is about to move away from Hollywood and convinces her to make one more silent film (co-starring them, of course). Swanson was equal parts glamorous and gracious as she interacted with the starstruck clan, and her performance in the film-within-a-show was a throwback to the early days of cinema too.

Comedic character actor Phil Silvers excelled at playing fast-talking con men, most notably as the Army wheeler-dealer Sgt. Bilko on "The Phil Silvers Show." Silvers brought his signature style to the "Beverly Hillbillies" world as Shifty "Honest John" Shafer, always looking for ways to get his hands on Jed Clampett's money. He appeared in six episodes, including the ones in which the hillbilly family traveled to New York and Washington, D.C. Always a scene-stealer, Silvers did not disappoint here.

Some celebrity cameos are little more than self-promotional appearances. But the best are those in which the famous face actually plays a character. So it was with Sammy Davis Jr. The celebrated entertainer made his appearance in a three-part plotline in which the Clampetts are duped into thinking they've bought Central Park. But rather than having Davis Jr. come on as himself, he was cast as police officer Sgt. Patrick Muldoon — complete with dodgy Irish accent and a crooning of "Too-Ra-Loo-Ra-Loo-Ral." It was a clever bit of casting for an actor known for defying racial stereotypes.

Our pick for "The Beverly Hillbillies" best guest star is the incomparable John Wayne, who appeared in Season 5's "The Indians Are Coming." The Clampetts get into a land dispute with an indigenous tribe, and Granny keeps wishing for the legendary Western star to step in. By the time Wayne actually shows up in the last two minutes, all she can say is, "Where was ya when I needed ya, John?" (via YouTube). The Duke takes the top spot for both his good humor and for his salary demand: Reportedly, all he wanted was a fifth of bourbon.