Christian Ludolf "Buddy" Ebsen Jr. was an American actor and dancer whose illustrious career spanned an impressive seven decades. He is most famously known for his starring roles in the CBS television sitcom The Beverly Hillbillies, where he played Jed Clampett, and the title character in the television detective drama Barnaby Jones.
Born on April 2, 1908, Ebsen had a remarkable career that began in the late 1940s with his television debut on an episode of The Chevrolet Tele-Theatre. He went on to appear in numerous television shows, including Stars Over Hollywood, Gruen Guild Playhouse, Broadway Television Theatre, Schlitz Playhouse of Stars, and many more.
Ebsen was initially cast as the original Tin Man in the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz, but unfortunately, he was forced to drop out of the production due to a severe allergic reaction to the aluminum dust in his makeup. Despite this setback, he continued to thrive in the entertainment industry, making his television debut in 1949.
In the 1950s, Ebsen gained widespread recognition for his role as Georgie Russel in the Disneyland television miniseries Davy Crockett, which was based on the life of frontiersman Davy Crockett. He also co-starred in the NBC television adventure series Northwest Passage, playing the role of Sergeant Hunk Marriner.
Throughout the 1960s, Ebsen appeared in numerous television shows, including Rawhide, Tales of Wells Fargo, and Have Gun, Will Travel. He also had a recurring role in the ABC drama series Bus Stop, playing the character Virge Blessing. In addition, he made guest appearances on popular shows such as The Andy Griffith Show and The Twilight Zone.
Ebsen's impressive career spanned an incredible seven decades, earning him a place as one of the most beloved and respected actors in the entertainment industry.
