Biography for
Buddy Ebsen More at IMDbPro »

Date of Birth

2 April 1908, Belleville, Illinois, USA

Date of Death

6 July 2003, Torrance, California, USA (complications from pneumonia)

Birth Name

Christian Rudolph Ebsen Jr.

Height

6' 3" (1.91 m)

Mini Biography

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. 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. 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. Mayer offered him an exclusive contract in 1938, but Ebsen turned it down. 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 silver make-up, however, and was replaced by Jack Haley. 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). After this, he became a straight actor, and later won more fame in his own hit series, "The Beverly Hillbillies" (1962) and "Barnaby Jones" (1973).

IMDb Mini Biography By: Stephan Eichenberg

Spouse

Dorothy Knott	(1985 - 6 July 2003) (his death) 1 child
Nancy Wolcott	(1944 - 1985) (divorced) 5 children
Ruth Cambridge	(1936 - 194?) (divorced) 2 daughters

Trade Mark

His unusual, almost surreal dancing and singing style.

Trivia

His first wife, Ruth, was originally Walter Winchell's secretary/Girl Friday.

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.

Attended Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida shortly before starting his film career.

Had surgery on June 10, 1998 to repair an aortic valve in his heart.

Became a best-selling author at the age of 93. [2001]

Originally cast as the Tin Man in The Wizard of Oz (1939), Buddy was hospitalized as a result of inhaling aluminum powder used as part of his make-up. One chorus of "We're Off to See the Wizard" in the movie and soundtrack album retain Ebsen's original vocals as the Tin Man, recorded before he was forced to leave the production. Because of the prolonged hospitalization, he was replaced by Jack Haley (whose reformulated make-up used pre-mixed aluminium dust), and Ebsen's scenes were re-shot using Haley. Footage of Ebsen as the Tin Man still exists, and was included as an extra with the U.S. 50th anniversary video release of The Wizard of Oz (1939).

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.

In 1938 MGM offered him a seven-year contract, starting at $2,000 a week but requiring him to give the studio absolute control over his career. He rejected it. MGM blackballed him and his film career went into eclipse for nearly 20 years, until Walt Disney hired him to play Georgie Russel, Davy Crockett's sidekick, in Davy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier (1955).

Initially wanted to become a doctor. He took premed courses at Rollins College and the University of Florida, but his mother persuaded him into show business.

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, Georgie Russel. The part helped to turn his career around and arguably played a part in Ebsen's getting the role of the equally equally grizzled and popular Jed Clampett.

His father owned a dance studio, and when Ebsen was a young boy insisted that he take dance lessons.

One of his last roles was a gag cameo in The Beverly Hillbillies (1993) in which Jim Varney played Jed. Ebsen showed up as Barnaby Jones.

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, entitled Kelly's Quest.

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. Was inducted into the DeMolay Hall of Fame on June 21st, 1996.

Appeared in three musical film extravaganzas starring tap great Eleanor Powell.

Taught Judy Garland the shim-sham shimmy while they were at MGM.

In the last two years of his life, he recorded his first CD in which he sang some of his own songs.

Set up the Ebsen School of Dance in Pacific Palisades, California. When Buddy was young, his father, a physical fitness advocate, taught dance in West Palm Beach, Florida. This is where Buddy and younger sister Vilma Ebsen learned their craft and they appeared in local and school productions.

Had four sisters - Helga, Norma, Vilma Ebsen and Leslie. He was the middle child.

He and sister Vilma Ebsen performed in vaudeville doing variations on the same theme -- with Vilma playing a dancing instructor who teaches the seemingly uncoordinated country doofas Buddy how to dance. A vaudeville showstopper in such shows as "Whoopee!," "Flying Colors" and "The Ziegfeld Follies of 1934," they were known for a time as "The Baby Astaires."

Fathered two daughters, Elizabeth Ebsen and Alix Ebsen, with his first wife, Ruth. Had five additional children (Susannah, Cathy, Bonnie Ebsen, Kiersten Kiki Ebsen, and Dustin Ebsen) with his second wife, Nancy.

He served in the Coast Guard during WWII as the executive officer on the Pocatello, a submarine chaser in the North Pacific.

Owned a 36-acre ranch in the Santa Monica Mountains.

His "The Beverly Hillbillies" (1962) co-star, Donna Douglas, had a lot in common. Like Buddy, she too is a successful singer (of gospel), is also a character actress, and is also a Republican.

Best remembered by the public for his starring role as Jed Clampett on "The Beverly Hillbillies" (1962) or as the lead role on "Barnaby Jones" (1973).

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

Son Dustin Ebsen is married to Stan Freberg 's daughter Donna.

Almost all of his sisters lived long lives, just like Buddy himself. Both Helga and Norma died in the late 1990s. His sister, Vilma, died in 2007, just four years after her brother's own death.

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

Co-founder of the Beverly Hills Coin Club with an young, unknown actor, Chris Aable.

After he died, his family sent Shirley Temple an invitation to his memorial, but she declined.

His show "Barnaby Jones" (1973) was canceled at the end of the eighth season, because Buddy had decided to retire from acting.

His show "The Beverly Hillbillies" (1962) was canceled at the end of the ninth season, because of the infamous rural purge that axed all shows in 1971.

He had 15 hobbies over his long life: dancing, playing guitar, coin collecting, swimming, golfing, riding horses, sailing, painting, building sailboats, spending time with his family, politics, gardening, fishing, traveling and singing.

Was best friends with: Shirley Temple, Jane Withers, Fess Parker, Dick Van Dyke and Linda Henning.

Before he was a successful actor, he was a successful singer and dancer.

At 12, his family moved to Orlando, Florida, where Ebsen was raised.

Of Danish and Latvian descent.

Remained friends with Lee Meriwether during and after "Barnaby Jones" (1973).

Remained friends with Donna Douglas and Max Baer Jr. during and after "The Beverly Hillbillies" (1962).

Graduated from Orlando High School in Orlando, Florida, in 1926.

Personal Quotes

"You take a blank piece of paper and, whatever you're thinking, you write it down. I'm very satisfied if, in my mind, it increased the value of the paper. That's what writing should do. It should increase the value of the paper."

"There are a lot of mes." -- commenting on having written a romance novel at age 93.

"You get more negative reactions than positive reactions as you go through life, and the big lesson is nobody counts you out but yourself...I never have, I never will."

"'As the twig is bent, so grows the tree.' Often the values of the influences imposed on us by our mothers and fathers, our teachers and certain friends, are not realized until years later, when we, as a sailor does, look back at our wakes to determine the course we have steered that got us to where we are. Today when I look back, then look around me to see with whom I am standing, I fully realize the influence on my life that must be credited to DeMolay."

"I'm used to getting up at dawn and going to the studio to be with my pals on the set. It's my lifestyle and I wouldn't trade it for any other" - when asked why he had returned to the rigors of a weekly show ("Matt Houston" (1982)), at the age of 76. (1984).

Where Are They Now

(April 2001) Published his first novel: "Kelly's Quest." He is writing a novel based on his Barnaby Jones character.

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