Buddy Ebsen

Known for ActingBorn 1908-04-02Died 2003-07-06Belleville, Illinois, USA

Christian Ludolf "Buddy" Ebsen Jr. (April 2, 1908 – July 6, 2003) was an American actor and dancer, whose career spanned seven decades, including the role of Jed Clampett in the CBS television sitcom The Beverly Hillbillies (1962–1971) and the title character in the television detective drama Barnaby Jones (1973–1980), also on CBS. The SAG-AFTRA records also show him as Frank "Buddy" Ebsen. A performer for seven decades, he had starring roles as Jed Clampett in the long-running television series "The Beverly Hillbillies" and as the title character in the 1970s detective series "Barnaby Jones". Ebsen was cast as the original Tin Man in 1939 film "The Wizard of Oz", but fell ill, reacting to the aluminum dust in his makeup, and was forced to drop out of the film. Ebsen made his television debut on an episode of The Chevrolet Tele-Theatre in 1949. This led to television appearances in: Stars Over Hollywood, Gruen Guild Playhouse, four episodes of Broadway Television Theatre, Schlitz Playhouse of Stars, Corky and White Shadow, the H.J. Heinz Company's Studio 57, Screen Directors Playhouse, two episodes of Climax!, Tales of Wells Fargo, The Martha Raye Show, Playhouse 90, Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse, Johnny Ringo, two episodes of Bonanza, three episodes of Maverick (in which he portrayed assorted homicidal villains), and 77 Sunset Strip. Ebsen received wide television exposure when he played Georgie Russel, a role based on a historical person and companion to frontiersman Davy Crockett, in the Disneyland television miniseries Davy Crockett (1954–1955). In the 1958–1959 season, Ebsen co-starred in the 26-episode half-hour NBC television adventure series Northwest Passage. This series was a fictionalized account of Major Robert Rogers, a colonial American fighter for the British in the French and Indian War. Ebsen played the role of Sergeant Hunk Marriner; Keith Larsen played Rogers. In 1960, Ebsen appeared in episodes of the television series Rawhide, in the episodes "The Pitchwagon" and Tales of Wells Fargo, which he reprised in episodes of both series during 1962 in the roles of different characters. Also in 1960, Ebsen played in season 4 episode 30 of Have Gun, Will Travel called "El Paso Stage", as a corrupt marshal. From 1961 to 1962, Ebsen had a recurring role as Virge Blessing in the ABC drama series Bus Stop, the story of travelers passing through the bus station and diner in the fictitious town of Sunrise, Colorado. Robert Altman directed several episodes. Arthur O'Connell had played Virge Blessing in the earlier film version on which the series was loosely based. Ebsen also appeared as "Mr. Dave" Browne, a homeless hobo, on The Andy Griffith Show opposite Ron Howard, and as Jimbo Cobb in The Twilight Zone episode "The Prime Mover" (season 2, episode 21) in 1961.Read more

Movies & web series

Bus Stop

Walt Disney Treasures - Davy Crockett

Thunder in God's Country

Disney Family Album

The Critical List

Judy Garland: By Myself

Davy Crockett Goes to Congress

Reading Rainbow

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz: 50 Years of Magic

The Twilight Zone

The Legend of the Beverly Hillbillies

Kraft Salutes Disneyland's 25th Anniversary

The Paradise Connection

Vacation Playhouse

Disneyland: U.S.A.

Audrey Hepburn: Remembered

Chevron Theatre

Night Gallery

Silver City Bonanza

Under Mexicali Stars

The Wonderful World of Disney

The Yellow Rose

King of the Hill

The Carol Burnett Show

The Andy Griffith Show

Breakfast at Tiffany's

The Ed Wynn Show

Bonanza

That's Entertainment!

Mission of Danger

That's Entertainment! III

The Dean Martin Show

Studio 57

The Wizard of Oz

Northwest Passage

Have Gun, Will Travel

Hawaii Five-O

CBS Summer Playhouse

Barnaby Jones

Rawhide

Fire on the Mountain

Davy Crockett's Keelboat Race

NBC Salutes the 25th Anniversary of the Wonderful World of Disney

77 Sunset Strip

The Bastard

That's Dancing!

Burke's Law

Dinah!