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Personal Info
Known For
Acting
Birthday
April 2, 1908
Died
July 6, 2003
Place of Birth
Belleville, Illinois, USA
Also Known As
- Christian Ludolf Ebsen, Jr.
Buddy Ebsen
0.9 Popularity
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
0.0
Pioneers of Primetime
2005
7.5
Self - Actor (voice)
Judy Garland: By Myself
2004
🎬
0.0
Jed Clampett (archive footage)
Television: The First Fifty Years
1999
7.4
Chet Elderson (voice)
King of the Hill
1997
7.0
(archive footage)
That's Entertainment! III
1994
6.7
Louie Pike
Burke's Law
1994
6.3
Barnaby Jones
The Beverly Hillbillies
1993
7.2
Self (archive footage)
Audrey Hepburn: Remembered
1993
🎬
0.0
The Legend of the Beverly Hillbillies
1993
3.6
Vandevere Lodge
Working Tra$h
1990
Credits
Pioneers of Primetime
2005
0.0
Judy Garland: By Myself
as Self - Actor (voice)
2004
7.5
🎬
Television: The First Fifty Years
as Jed Clampett (archive footage)
1999
0.0
King of the Hill
as Chet Elderson (voice)
1997
7.4
That's Entertainment! III
as (archive footage)
1994
7.0
Burke's Law
as Louie Pike
1994
6.7
The Beverly Hillbillies
as Barnaby Jones
1993
6.3
Audrey Hepburn: Remembered
as Self (archive footage)
1993
7.2
🎬
The Legend of the Beverly Hillbillies
1993
0.0
Working Tra$h
as Vandevere Lodge
1990
3.6
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz: The Making of a Movie Classic
as Self (archive footage)
1990
8.3
CBS Summer Playhouse
as Buddy Tucker
1987
6.3
Stone Fox
as Grandpa
1987
5.0
James Stewart: A Wonderful Life
as Self (archive footage)
1987
6.0
That's Dancing!
as From 'Born to Dance' (archive footage)
1985
7.0
Finder of Lost Loves
as Walter Lewis
1984
5.7
Disney Family Album
as Narrator
1984
10.0
The Yellow Rose
as Toat Gilmore
1983
6.0
Hardcastle and McCormick
1983
6.4
Reading Rainbow
as Self - Narrator (voice)
1983
8.3
Matt Houston
as Roy Houston
1982
6.2
Fire on the Mountain
as John Vogelin
1981
7.0
The Return of the Beverly Hillbillies
as Jed Clampett
1981
4.8
Kraft Salutes Disneyland's 25th Anniversary
as Self
1980
0.0
The Paradise Connection
as Stuart Douglas
1979
0.0
NBC Salutes the 25th Anniversary of the Wonderful World of Disney
as Self
1978
0.0
The Critical List
as Charles Sprague
1978
0.0
The Bastard
as Benjamin Edes
1978
5.8
Leave Yesterday Behind
as Doc
1978
4.9
Tom Sawyer
as Muff Potter
1976
5.2
Smash-Up on Interstate 5
as Al Pearson
1976
5.4
The Tiny Tree
as Squire Badger (Narrator) (voice)
1975
6.0
Tony Orlando and Dawn
as Self
1974
3.5
Dinah!
as Self
1974
6.7
That's Entertainment!
as (archive footage)
1974
7.4
The President's Plane Is Missing
as Vice President Kermit Madigan
1973
6.2
The Horror at 37,000 Feet
as Glenn Farlee
1973
4.9
Barnaby Jones
as Barnaby Jones
1973
6.9
The Daughters of Joshua Cabe
as Joshua Cabe
1972
4.9
Cannon
as Barnaby Jones
1971
6.6
Alias Smith and Jones
1971
7.0
Night Gallery
1970
7.8
The Andersonville Trial
as Dr. John Bates
1970
6.7
Hawaii Five-O
as Professor Ambrose Pierce
1968
7.1
The One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band
as Calvin Bower
1968
6.0
The Carol Burnett Show
as Self
1967
7.7
The Dean Martin Show
1965
7.3
Mail Order Bride
as Will Lane
1964
6.6
The Danny Kaye Show
as Self
1963
6.3
🎬
Vacation Playhouse
1963
7.0
The Beverly Hillbillies
as Jed "JD" Clampett
1962
6.9
The Interns
as Dr. Sidney Wohl
1962
5.4
The Mike Douglas Show
as Self
1961
5.4
Breakfast at Tiffany's
as Doc Golightly
1961
7.6
Bus Stop
1961
0.0
Fury River
as Sergeant Hunk Marriner
1961
5.5
Gunslinger
as Jed Spangler
1961
6.0
The Andy Griffith Show
as David Browne
1960
7.6
The Barbara Stanwyck Show
as Dr. Mark Carroll
1960
6.2
Checkmate
as Pete O'Mara
1960
4.1
Mission of Danger
as Hunk Marriner
1960
5.0
Adventures in Paradise
as Ben Curtis
1959
5.7
The Twilight Zone
as Jimbo Cobb
1959
8.5
Johnny Ringo
as Sample
1959
5.7
Lock-Up
1959
6.2
Riverboat
as Niles Cox
1959
6.2
Bonanza
as Cactus Murphy
1959
7.5
Bonanza
as Sheriff Jesse Sanders
1959
7.5
Black Saddle
as Gurney Rhodes
1959
6.0
Rawhide
as George Stimson
1959
7.2
Rawhide
as Will Kinch
1959
7.2
Frontier Rangers
as Sergeant Hunk Marriner
1959
3.6
77 Sunset Strip
as Baxter Kellogg
1958
6.7
Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse
1958
5.8
Bronco
1958
5.9
Northwest Passage
as Sergeant Hunk Marriner
1958
6.5
Maverick
1957
6.9
Maverick
as Nero Lyme
1957
6.9
Maverick
as Sheriff Scratch Madden
1957
6.9
Have Gun, Will Travel
as Marshal Elmo Crane
1957
7.3
Have Gun, Will Travel
as Bram Holden
1957
7.3
Disneyland: U.S.A.
as Self - George Russel
1956
8.0
Between Heaven and Hell
as Pvt. Willie Crawford
1956
6.0
Attack
as Tolliver
1956
6.8
Davy Crockett and the River Pirates
as George Russel
1956
6.3
The Steve Allen Show
as Self - Northwest Passage
1956
5.6
Tony Awards
as Self - Host/Presenter/Performer
1956
5.9
Tony Awards
as Self - Presenter
1956
5.9
Tony Awards
as Self - Host
1956
5.9
Corky and White Shadow
as Sheriff Matthew Brady
1956
6.0
Davy Crockett's Keelboat Race
as George Russel
1955
7.0
Gunsmoke
as Hannibal
1955
6.6
Gunsmoke
as Quimby
1955
6.6
Gunsmoke
as Drago
1955
6.6
Davy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier
as George Russel
1955
6.4
Davy Crockett at the Alamo
as George Russel
1955
6.5
Davy Crockett Goes to Congress
as George Russel
1955
10.0
Davy Crockett
as George Russel
1954
6.1
Davy Crockett, Indian Fighter
as George Russel
1954
6.5
Walt Disney Treasures - Davy Crockett
as George Russell (archive footage)
1954
10.0
The Wonderful World of Disney
1954
7.8
The Wonderful World of Disney
as George Russel
1954
7.8
Climax!
as Ben
1954
3.3
Climax!
as Gaffney
1954
3.3
Studio 57
1954
0.0
Night People
as M/Sgt. Eddie McColloch
1954
6.1
Red Garters
as Ginger Pete
1954
4.7
General Electric Theater
as Pa Jericho
1953
6.4
Omnibus
1952
6.0
🎬
Chevron Theatre
1952
10.0
Utah Wagon Train
as 'Snooper' Trent
1951
5.0
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
as Rainspout Jones
1951
7.2
Rodeo King and the Senorita
as Muscles Benton
1951
0.0
Thunder in God's Country
as Happy Hooper
1951
0.0
Silver City Bonanza
as Gabe Horne
1951
0.0
Under Mexicali Stars
as Homer Oglethorpe
1950
0.0
The Bob Hope Show
as Self
1950
7.0
🎬
The Ed Wynn Show
as Self
1949
7.0
Sing Your Worries Away
as Tommy Jones
1942
5.5
Parachute Battalion
as Jeff Hollis
1941
5.5
They Met in Argentina
as Duke Ferrel
1941
3.0
The Wizard of Oz
as Tin Man (singing voice) (uncredited)
1939
7.6
Hollywood Hobbies
as Self (uncredited)
1939
5.3
The Kid From Texas
as 'Snifty'
1939
6.5
Four Girls in White
as Express, an Orderly
1939
6.3
My Lucky Star
as Buddy
1938
5.3
Yellow Jack
as Jellybeans
1938
5.6
The Girl of the Golden West
as Alabama
1938
4.6
Broadway Melody of 1938
as Peter Trot
1937
6.2
Banjo on My Knee
as Buddy
1936
5.5
Born to Dance
as 'Mush' Tracy
1936
6.0
Captain January
as Paul Roberts
1936
6.7
Broadway Melody of 1936
as Ted Burke
1935
6.4