Buddy Ebsen

Personal Info

Known For

Acting

Known Credits

132

Gender

Male

Birthday

1908-04-02

Day of death

2003-07-06 (95 years old)

Place of Birth

Belleville, Illinois, USA

Buddy Ebsen

Biography

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.

Known For

  • The Mike Douglas Show

    The Mike Douglas Show

  • Bonanza

    Bonanza

  • Bonanza

    Bonanza

  • The Andy Griffith Show

    The Andy Griffith Show

  • King of the Hill

    King of the Hill

  • The Carol Burnett Show

    The Carol Burnett Show

  • Tony Awards

    Tony Awards

  • Tony Awards

    Tony Awards

  • Tony Awards

    Tony Awards

  • Have Gun, Will Travel

    Have Gun, Will Travel

  • Have Gun, Will Travel

    Have Gun, Will Travel

  • Hawaii Five-O

    Hawaii Five-O

  • The Beverly Hillbillies

    The Beverly Hillbillies

  • Maverick

    Maverick

  • Maverick

    Maverick

  • Maverick

    Maverick

  • The Twilight Zone

    The Twilight Zone

  • Climax!

    Climax!

  • Climax!

    Climax!

  • Rawhide

    Rawhide

  • Rawhide

    Rawhide

  • Matt Houston

    Matt Houston

  • Reading Rainbow

    Reading Rainbow

  • Cannon

    Cannon

  • Barnaby Jones

    Barnaby Jones

  • Dinah!

    Dinah!

  • The Steve Allen Show

    The Steve Allen Show

  • Night Gallery

    Night Gallery

  • 77 Sunset Strip

    77 Sunset Strip

  • The Wizard of Oz

    The Wizard of Oz

  • Gunsmoke

    Gunsmoke

  • Gunsmoke

    Gunsmoke

  • Gunsmoke

    Gunsmoke

  • Hardcastle and McCormick

    Hardcastle and McCormick

  • Omnibus

    Omnibus

  • Adventures in Paradise

    Adventures in Paradise

  • Checkmate

    Checkmate

  • The Danny Kaye Show

    The Danny Kaye Show

  • Alias Smith and Jones

    Alias Smith and Jones

  • Studio 57

    Studio 57

  • Bronco

    Bronco

  • The Barbara Stanwyck Show

    The Barbara Stanwyck Show

  • The Dean Martin Show

    The Dean Martin Show

  • Riverboat

    Riverboat

  • Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse

    Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse

  • Johnny Ringo

    Johnny Ringo

  • Lock-Up

    Lock-Up

  • Burke's Law

    Burke's Law

  • Black Saddle

    Black Saddle

  • The Yellow Rose

    The Yellow Rose

  • The Beverly Hillbillies

    The Beverly Hillbillies

  • Finder of Lost Loves

    Finder of Lost Loves

  • Breakfast at Tiffany's

    Breakfast at Tiffany's

  • Vacation Playhouse

    Vacation Playhouse

  • Bus Stop

    Bus Stop

  • Davy Crockett and the River Pirates

    Davy Crockett and the River Pirates

  • CBS Summer Playhouse

    CBS Summer Playhouse

  • Attack

    Attack

  • Between Heaven and Hell

    Between Heaven and Hell

  • Banjo on My Knee

    Banjo on My Knee

  • Captain January

    Captain January

  • Chevron Theatre

    Chevron Theatre

  • The Interns

    The Interns

  • Tony Orlando and Dawn

    Tony Orlando and Dawn

  • Frontier Rangers

    Frontier Rangers

  • Smash-Up on Interstate 5

    Smash-Up on Interstate 5

  • Broadway Melody of 1938

    Broadway Melody of 1938

  • James Stewart: A Wonderful Life

    James Stewart: A Wonderful Life

  • The Kid From Texas

    The Kid From Texas

  • The Paradise Connection

    The Paradise Connection

  • The Tiny Tree

    The Tiny Tree

  • Broadway Melody of 1936

    Broadway Melody of 1936

  • Tom Sawyer

    Tom Sawyer

  • Davy Crockett Goes to Congress

    Davy Crockett Goes to Congress

  • Sing Your Worries Away

    Sing Your Worries Away

  • Parachute Battalion

    Parachute Battalion

  • Fire on the Mountain

    Fire on the Mountain

  • Davy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier

    Davy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier

  • The Bastard

    The Bastard

  • Kraft Salutes Disneyland's 25th Anniversary

    Kraft Salutes Disneyland's 25th Anniversary

  • Davy Crockett, Indian Fighter

    Davy Crockett, Indian Fighter

  • Utah Wagon Train

    Utah Wagon Train

  • The Return of the Beverly Hillbillies

    The Return of the Beverly Hillbillies

  • Schlitz Playhouse of Stars

    Schlitz Playhouse of Stars

  • The Wonderful World of Disney

    The Wonderful World of Disney

  • The Wonderful World of Disney

    The Wonderful World of Disney

  • Leave Yesterday Behind

    Leave Yesterday Behind

  • Davy Crockett

    Davy Crockett

  • The Daughters of Joshua Cabe

    The Daughters of Joshua Cabe

  • Red Garters

    Red Garters

  • The Andersonville Trial

    The Andersonville Trial

  • Judy Garland: By Myself

    Judy Garland: By Myself

  • The Girl of the Golden West

    The Girl of the Golden West

  • Northwest Passage

    Northwest Passage

  • Gunslinger

    Gunslinger

  • That's Dancing!

    That's Dancing!

  • General Electric Theater

    General Electric Theater

  • The Critical List

    The Critical List

  • The Ed Wynn Show

    The Ed Wynn Show

  • Mission of Danger

    Mission of Danger

  • Night People

    Night People

  • Davy Crockett at the Alamo

    Davy Crockett at the Alamo

  • Corky and White Shadow

    Corky and White Shadow

  • Hollywood Hobbies

    Hollywood Hobbies

  • Fury River

    Fury River

  • Yellow Jack

    Yellow Jack

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

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

  • The One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band

    The One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band

  • That's Entertainment!

    That's Entertainment!

  • Four Girls in White

    Four Girls in White

  • Working Tra$h

    Working Tra$h

  • Television: The First Fifty Years

    Television: The First Fifty Years

  • Rodeo King and the Senorita

    Rodeo King and the Senorita

  • Audrey Hepburn: Remembered

    Audrey Hepburn: Remembered

  • The Horror at 37,000 Feet

    The Horror at 37,000 Feet

  • Mail Order Bride

    Mail Order Bride

  • That's Entertainment! III

    That's Entertainment! III

  • Under Mexicali Stars

    Under Mexicali Stars

  • The Wonderful Wizard of Oz: 50 Years of Magic

    The Wonderful Wizard of Oz: 50 Years of Magic

  • Disney Family Album

    Disney Family Album

  • Disneyland: U.S.A.

    Disneyland: U.S.A.

  • Born to Dance

    Born to Dance

  • Stone Fox

    Stone Fox

  • Silver City Bonanza

    Silver City Bonanza

  • Pioneers of Primetime

    Pioneers of Primetime

  • They Met in Argentina

    They Met in Argentina

  • Thunder in God's Country

    Thunder in God's Country

  • The President's Plane Is Missing

    The President's Plane Is Missing

  • Walt Disney Treasures - Davy Crockett

    Walt Disney Treasures - Davy Crockett

  • The Legend of the Beverly Hillbillies

    The Legend of the Beverly Hillbillies

  • Davy Crockett's Keelboat Race

    Davy Crockett's Keelboat Race

  • My Lucky Star

    My Lucky Star