Buddy Ebsen
Acting
Born: April 2, 1908 · Belleville, Illinois, USA
Died: July 6, 2003 (aged 95)
Highest Rated
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 Wizard of Oz
1939
Breakfast at Tiffany's
1961
The Twilight Zone
1959
King of the Hill
1997
The Beverly Hillbillies
1993
Bonanza
1959
The Andy Griffith Show
1960
Hawaii Five-O
1968
Attack
1956
The Beverly Hillbillies
1962
Davy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier
1955
Gunsmoke
1955
Photos (5)
Movies (55)
The Wizard of Oz
Tin Man (singing voice) (uncredited)
Breakfast at Tiffany's
Doc Golightly
The Beverly Hillbillies
Barnaby Jones
Davy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier
George Russel
That's Entertainment! III
(archive footage) (uncredited)
That's Entertainment!
(archive footage) (uncredited)
That's Dancing!
From 'Born to Dance' (archive footage)
Night People
M/Sgt. Eddie McColloch
Davy Crockett and the River Pirates
George Russel
Attack
Tolliver
Mail Order Bride
Will Lane
The One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band
Calvin Bower
Captain January
Paul Roberts
Born to Dance
'Mush' Tracy
Between Heaven and Hell
Pvt. Willie Crawford
The Horror at 37,000 Feet
Glenn Farlee
The Return of the Beverly Hillbillies
Jed Clampett
Parachute Battalion
Jeff Hollis
Davy Crockett Goes to Congress
George Russel
Frontier Rangers
Sergeant Hunk Marriner
Broadway Melody of 1938
Peter Trot
The Tiny Tree
Squire Badger (Narrator) (voice)
Four Girls in White
Express, an Orderly
The President's Plane Is Missing
Vice President Kermit Madigan
The Andersonville Trial
Dr. John Bates
Fire on the Mountain
John Vogelin
Broadway Melody of 1936
Ted
Working Tra$h
Vandevere Lodge
Davy Crockett at the Alamo
George Russel
Pioneers of Primetime
2005
They Met in Argentina
Duke Ferrel
Yellow Jack
Jellybeans
The Interns
Dr. Sidney Wohl
Red Garters
Ginger Pete
Stone Fox
Grandpa
Tom Sawyer
Muff Potter
Banjo on My Knee
Buddy
The Daughters of Joshua Cabe
Joshua Cabe
Silver City Bonanza
Gabe Horne
The Kid From Texas
'Snifty'
Under Mexicali Stars
Homer Oglethorpe
Rodeo King and the Senorita
Muscles Benton
The Girl of the Golden West
Alabama
My Lucky Star
Buddy
Mission of Danger
Hunk Marriner
Utah Wagon Train
'Snooper' Trent
Davy Crockett, Indian Fighter
George Russel
The Paradise Connection
Stuart Douglas
Fury River
Sergeant Hunk Marriner
Thunder in God's Country
Happy Hooper
Leave Yesterday Behind
Doc
Smash-Up on Interstate 5
Al Pearson
Davy Crockett's Keelboat Race
George Russel
Sing Your Worries Away
Tommy Jones
Walt Disney Treasures - Davy Crockett
George Russell (archive footage)
TV Shows (55)
King of the Hill
Chet Elderson (voice) · 1 eps
The Andy Griffith Show
David Browne · 1 eps
Hawaii Five-O
Professor Ambrose Pierce · 1 eps
Bonanza
Cactus Murphy · 1 eps
Bonanza
Sheriff Jesse Sanders · 1 eps
The Twilight Zone
Jimbo Cobb · 1 eps
Have Gun, Will Travel
Marshal Elmo Crane · 1 eps
Have Gun, Will Travel
Bram Holden · 1 eps
Maverick
1 eps
Maverick
Nero Lyme · 1 eps
Maverick
Sheriff Scratch Madden · 1 eps
The Beverly Hillbillies
Jed "JD" Clampett · 274 eps
Climax!
Ben · 1 eps
Climax!
Gaffney · 1 eps
Rawhide
George Stimson · 1 eps
Rawhide
Will Kinch · 1 eps
Cannon
Barnaby Jones · 1 eps
Barnaby Jones
Barnaby Jones · 178 eps
Night Gallery
1 eps
Gunsmoke
Hannibal · 1 eps
Gunsmoke
Quimby · 1 eps
Gunsmoke
Drago · 1 eps
Matt Houston
Roy Houston · 22 eps
Adventures in Paradise
Ben Curtis · 1 eps
Omnibus
1 eps
The Dean Martin Show
3 eps
77 Sunset Strip
Baxter Kellogg · 1 eps
Hardcastle and McCormick
1 eps
Alias Smith and Jones
2 eps
Studio 57
1 eps
Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse
1 eps
Checkmate
Pete O'Mara · 1 eps
Bronco
1 eps
The Barbara Stanwyck Show
Dr. Mark Carroll · 1 eps
Lock-Up
1 eps
Black Saddle
Gurney Rhodes · 1 eps
Finder of Lost Loves
Walter Lewis · 1 eps
Burke's Law
Louie Pike · 1 eps
Riverboat
Niles Cox · 1 eps
Johnny Ringo
Sample · 1 eps
Bus Stop
1 eps
Bus Stop
Virge Blessing · 1 eps
The Wonderful World of Disney
1 eps
The Wonderful World of Disney
George Russel · 3 eps
The Yellow Rose
Toat Gilmore · 2 eps
Gunslinger
Jed Spangler · 1 eps
CBS Summer Playhouse
Buddy Tucker · 1 eps
General Electric Theater
Pa Jericho · 1 eps
Davy Crockett
George Russel · 5 eps
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
Rainspout Jones · 1 eps
The Bastard
Benjamin Edes · 2 eps
Corky and White Shadow
Sheriff Matthew Brady · 17 eps
Northwest Passage
Sergeant Hunk Marriner · 26 eps
Disney Family Album
Narrator · 20 eps
The Critical List
Charles Sprague · 2 eps
Self / Appearances (19)
The Mike Douglas Show
Self · 1 eps
Tony Awards
Self - Host · 1 eps
Tony Awards
Self - Presenter · 1 eps
Tony Awards
Self - Host / Presenter / Performer · 1 eps
The Carol Burnett Show
Self · 1 eps
Dinah!
Self · 1 eps
The Steve Allen Show
Self - Northwest Passage · 1 eps
The Bob Hope Show
Self · 1 eps
Reading Rainbow
Self - Narrator (voice) · 1 eps
The Danny Kaye Show
Self · 3 eps
Tony Orlando and Dawn
Self · 1 eps
Hollywood Hobbies
Self (uncredited)
Audrey Hepburn: Remembered
Self (archive footage)
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz: 50 Years of Magic
Self (archive footage)
James Stewart: A Wonderful Life
Self (archive footage)
Judy Garland: By Myself
Self - Actor (voice)
NBC Salutes the 25th Anniversary of the Wonderful World of Disney
Self
Disneyland: U.S.A.
Self - George Russel
Kraft Salutes Disneyland's 25th Anniversary
Self