Buddy Ebsen

Christian Ludolf "Buddy" Ebsen Jr.—SAG-AFTRA records also show him as Frank "Buddy" Ebsen.[citation needed]—(April 2, 1908 – July 6, 2003) was an American actor and dancer whose career spanned seven decades. His most famous role was as Jed Clampett in the CBS television sitcom The Beverly Hillbillies (1962–1971); afterwards he starred as the title character in another CBS vehicle, the television detective drama Barnaby Jones (1973–1980).

Originally a dancer, Ebsen began his long career in films in Broadway Melody of 1936 (1935). He danced with child star Shirley Temple in Captain January (1936), was the original choice for the role of the Tin Man in 1939's The Wizard of Oz, but fell ill owing to the aluminum dust in his makeup and was forced to drop out. He appeared with Maureen O'Hara in They Met in Argentina (1941) and June Havoc in Sing Your Worries Away (1942). In Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961), he portrayed Doc Golightly, the much older husband of Audrey Hepburn's character. Before his starring role in The Beverly Hillbillies, Ebsen had a successful television career, the highlight of which was his role as Davy Crockett's sidekick, George Russell, in Walt Disney's Davy Crockett miniseries (1953–54). Read more on Wikipedia.

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