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Buddy Ebsen

Known For
Acting

Known Credits
134

Gender
Male

Birthday
April 2, 1908 (118 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

Acting

2005Pioneers of Primetimeas
2004Judy Garland: By Myselfas Self - Actor (voice)
1999Television: The First Fifty Yearsas Jed Clampett (archive footage)
1997King of the Hillas Chet Elderson (voice)
1994That's Entertainment! IIIas (archive footage)
1994Burke's Lawas Louie Pike
1993The Beverly Hillbilliesas Barnaby Jones
1993Audrey Hepburn: Rememberedas Self (archive footage)
1993The Legend of the Beverly Hillbilliesas
1990Working Tra$has Vandevere Lodge
1990The Wonderful Wizard of Oz: 50 Years of Magicas Self (archive footage)
1987CBS Summer Playhouseas Buddy Tucker
1987Stone Foxas Grandpa
1987James Stewart: A Wonderful Lifeas Self (archive footage)
1985That's Dancing!as From 'Born to Dance' (archive footage)
1984Finder of Lost Lovesas Walter Lewis
1984Disney Family Albumas Narrator
1983The Yellow Roseas Toat Gilmore
1983Hardcastle and McCormickas
1983Reading Rainbowas Self - Narrator (voice)
1982Matt Houstonas Roy Houston
1981Fire on the Mountainas John Vogelin
1981The Return of the Beverly Hillbilliesas Jed Clampett
1980Kraft Salutes Disneyland's 25th Anniversaryas Self
1979The Paradise Connectionas Stuart Douglas
1978NBC Salutes the 25th Anniversary of the Wonderful World of Disneyas Self
1978The Critical Listas Charles Sprague
1978The Bastardas Benjamin Edes
1978Leave Yesterday Behindas Doc
1976Tom Sawyeras Muff Potter
1976Smash-Up on Interstate 5as Al Pearson
1975The Tiny Treeas Squire Badger (Narrator) (voice)
1974Tony Orlando and Dawnas Self
1974Dinah!as Self
1974That's Entertainment!as (archive footage) (uncredited)
1973The President's Plane Is Missingas Vice President Kermit Madigan
1973The Horror at 37,000 Feetas Glenn Farlee
1973Barnaby Jonesas Barnaby Jones
1972The Daughters of Joshua Cabeas Joshua Cabe
1971Cannonas Barnaby Jones
1971Alias Smith and Jonesas
1970Night Galleryas
1970The Andersonville Trialas Dr. John Bates
1968Hawaii Five-Oas Professor Ambrose Pierce
1968The One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Bandas Calvin Bower
1967The Carol Burnett Showas Self
1965The Dean Martin Showas
1964Mail Order Brideas Will Lane
1963The Danny Kaye Showas Self
1963Vacation Playhouseas
1962The Beverly Hillbilliesas Jed "JD" Clampett
1962The Internsas Dr. Sidney Wohl
1961The Mike Douglas Showas Self
1961Breakfast at Tiffany'sas Doc Golightly
1961Bus Stopas
1961Bus Stopas Virge Blessing
1961Fury Riveras Sergeant Hunk Marriner
1961Gunslingeras Jed Spangler
1960The Andy Griffith Showas David Browne
1960The Barbara Stanwyck Showas Dr. Mark Carroll
1960Checkmateas Pete O'Mara
1960Mission of Dangeras Hunk Marriner
1959Adventures in Paradiseas Ben Curtis
1959Johnny Ringoas Sample
1959The Twilight Zoneas Jimbo Cobb
1959Lock-Upas
1959Riverboatas Niles Cox
1959Bonanzaas Cactus Murphy
1959Bonanzaas Sheriff Jesse Sanders
1959Black Saddleas Gurney Rhodes
1959Rawhideas George Stimson
1959Rawhideas Will Kinch
1959Frontier Rangersas Sergeant Hunk Marriner
195877 Sunset Stripas Baxter Kellogg
1958Westinghouse Desilu Playhouseas
1958Broncoas
1958Northwest Passageas Sergeant Hunk Marriner
1957Maverickas
1957Maverickas Nero Lyme
1957Maverickas Sheriff Scratch Madden
1957Have Gun, Will Travelas Bram Holden
1957Have Gun, Will Travelas Marshal Elmo Crane
1956Disneyland: U.S.A.as Self - George Russel
1956Between Heaven and Hellas Pvt. Willie Crawford
1956Attackas Tolliver
1956Davy Crockett and the River Piratesas George Russel
1956The Steve Allen Showas Self - Northwest Passage
1956Tony Awardsas Self - Host
1956Tony Awardsas Self - Host / Presenter / Performer
1956Tony Awardsas Self - Presenter
1956Corky and White Shadowas Sheriff Matthew Brady
1955Davy Crockett's Keelboat Raceas George Russel
1955Gunsmokeas Drago
1955Gunsmokeas Hannibal
1955Gunsmokeas Quimby
1955Davy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontieras George Russel
1955Davy Crockett at the Alamoas George Russel
1955Davy Crockett Goes to Congressas George Russel
1954Davy Crockett, Indian Fighteras George Russel
1954Davy Crockettas George Russel
1954Walt Disney Treasures - Davy Crockettas George Russell (archive footage)
1954The Wonderful World of Disneyas
1954The Wonderful World of Disneyas George Russel
1954Climax!as Ben
1954Climax!as Gaffney
1954Studio 57as
1954Night Peopleas M/Sgt. Eddie McColloch
1954Red Gartersas Ginger Pete
1953General Electric Theateras Pa Jericho
1952Omnibusas
1952Chevron Theatreas
1951Utah Wagon Trainas 'Snooper' Trent
1951Schlitz Playhouse of Starsas Rainspout Jones
1951Rodeo King and the Senoritaas Muscles Benton
1951Thunder in God's Countryas Happy Hooper
1951Silver City Bonanzaas Gabe Horne
1950Under Mexicali Starsas Homer Oglethorpe
1950The Bob Hope Showas Self
1949The Ed Wynn Showas Self
1942Sing Your Worries Awayas Tommy Jones
1941Parachute Battalionas Jeff Hollis
1941They Met in Argentinaas Duke Ferrel
1939The Wizard of Ozas Tin Man (singing voice) (uncredited)
1939Hollywood Hobbiesas Self (uncredited)
1939The Kid From Texasas 'Snifty'
1939Four Girls in Whiteas Express, an Orderly
1938My Lucky Staras Buddy
1938Yellow Jackas Jellybeans
1938The Girl of the Golden Westas Alabama
1937Broadway Melody of 1938as Peter Trot
1936Banjo on My Kneeas Buddy
1936Born to Danceas 'Mush' Tracy
1936Captain Januaryas Paul Roberts
1935Broadway Melody of 1936as Ted

Production

1979The Paradise Connection...Producer