Buddy Ebsen

Biography in: "The Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives". Volume 7, 2003-2005, pages 161-163. Farmington Hills, MI: Thomson Gale, 2007.

Ebsen began writing while still in high school; he also composed songs. He wrote several other books including "Polynesian Concept" (about sailing), "The Other Side of Oz" (an autobiography) and "Sizzling Cold Case" (a mystery based on his Barnaby Jones character). His most successful work was "Kelly's Quest", a romance, which was published in 2001 when the actor was in his 90s.".

He was set to make a cameo appearance on Son of the Beach (2000), but was forced to cancel it due to failing health.

After his final guest-starring role on King of the Hill (1997), he retired from acting at age 91.

Celebrated his 84th birthday at the Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills, California in 1992. Among the guests were Donna Douglas, Max Baer Jr., his widow, Dorothy Knott, Leigh Taylor-Young, Barbara Eden, Fess Parker, Ken Kercheval, Patrick Duffy, Jacklyn Zeman, Kin Shriner, Anthony Geary, Lee Horsley, Steve Allen, Pierce Brosnan, Milton Berle, Norm Crosby, Ray Conniff, Terry Moore, Ruth Warrick, Penny Singleton Joseph Cotten, Lew Ayres, Ann Rutherford, Virginia Mayo, Yvonne De Carlo, Jane Powell and Tony Martin.

Purchased the 4,398 square ft. house in Palos Verdes Estates, California in late 1985 and lived there until his death. The house was sold in 2007.

While filming Barnaby Jones (1973), he was hospitalized with pains in his legs. [2 July 1976].

His former Barnaby Jones (1973) co-star, Lee Meriwether, said he reminded her a lot of Ray MacDonnell, with whom she had a wonderful relationship on All My Children (1970).

An outspoken Republican, he helped defeat Nancy Kulp, his co-star in The Beverly Hillbillies (1962), in her 1984 Democratic congressional bid in Pennsylvania. Ebsen made radio ads for her opponent accusing Kulp of being "too liberal" and not good for the district. The two did not speak for years after the incident, but eventually settled their differences.

After seeing Ebsen in Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961), the creator of The Beverly Hillbillies (1962) wanted him to play family patriarch Jed Clampett. At the time, Ebsen was thinking of retiring, but the producers sent him a copy of the script, and he changed his mind.

Was a spokesperson for the United Way in the late 1960s-early 1970s.

Was good friends with Eddie Albert, where the two began their lifelong friendship from 1956 until Ebsen's own death in 2003. He worked with him on Attack (1956) and The Beverly Hillbillies (1962).

He returned to the stage, making only a few pictures before he got a role in the Disney production of Davy Crockett: King of the Wild Frontier (1955).

Director Norman Foster first recommended Ebsen to Walt Disney to play Davy Crockett, and Disney was "half sold" on the idea. Then Disney saw Fess Parker in the sci-fi film Them! (1954) and cast the strapping actor as the famed frontiersman. Ebsen was crestfallen because he knew how big the picture would be. The next day the studio signed Ebsen on as Crockett's weatherbeaten sidekick, George "Georgie" Russell. The part helped to turn his career around and arguably played a part in Ebsen's getting the role of the equally grizzled and popular Jed Clampett.

Wrote a half dozen plays, five of which were produced, including a farce called Honest John in 1948 and Champagne General in 1973, a Civil War story. Also a part-time songwriter, he became a newly-published author of a romantic novel at the age of 93, titled Kelly's Quest.

In spite of Mayer's warning that he would never get a job in Hollywood again, he was offered the role of the scarecrow in The Wizard of Oz (1939). Ebsen agreed to change roles with Ray Bolger, who was cast as the Tin Man. Ebsen subsequently became ill from the aluminum make-up, however, and was replaced by Jack Haley.

Mayer offered him an exclusive contract in 1938, but Ebsen turned it down.

Two of his dancing partners were Frances Langford in Born to Dance (1936) and Judy Garland in Broadway Melody of 1938 (1937).

They were a little bit taller than Shirley Temple, with whom he danced in Captain January (1936). MGM studio chief Louis B.

In 1935 he and his sister went to Hollywood, where they were signed for the first of MGM's Eleanor Powell movies, Broadway Melody of 1936 (1935). While Vilma retired from stage and screen shortly after this, Buddy starred in two further MGM movies with Powell.

In the 1930s, Disney animators filmed him dancing in front of a grid to "choreograph" Mickey Mouse's dance steps for the Silly Symphony cartoons.

Was initiated into DeMolay at the John M. Cheney Chapter in Orlando, Florida, in 1926. DeMolay is a Masonic youth organization for young men between 12 and 21.

Buddy Ebsen began his career as a dancer in the late 1920s in a Broadway chorus. He later formed a vaudeville act with his sister Vilma Ebsen, which also appeared on Broadway.

Has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 1765 Vine Street in Hollywood, California.