Buddy Ebsen, (born Christian Ludolf Ebsen Jr., April 2, 1908 â€" July
6, 2003; also known as Frank "Buddy" Ebsen) 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
(1962â€"1971); afterwards he starred as the title character in the
television detective drama Barnaby Jones (1973â€"1980).Originally a
dancer, Ebsen began his film career in Broadway Melody of 1936. He
also appeared as a dancer with child star Shirley Temple in Captain
January (1936). Ebsen was also chosen to appear in The Wizard of Oz,
originally as the Scarecrow, and before filming began his role was
changed to the Tin Man, but he fell seriously ill during filming due
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 (1953â€"54).A middle child with
four sisters, Buddy Ebsen was born as Christian Ludolf Ebsen Jr., on
April 2, 1908, in Belleville, Illinois. His father, Christian Ludolf
Ebsen Sr., was a Danish choreographer, who once owned a dance studio
and was also a physical fitness advocate, before operating a
natatorium for the local school district, and his mother, Frances
(née Wendt), was a Baltic German (specifically, Latvian)
painter.Ebsen was raised in Belleville until the age of ten when his
family moved to Palm Beach County, Florida. In 1920, Ebsen and his
family relocated to Orlando, Florida. Ebsen and his sisters learned to
dance at a dance studio his father operated in Orlando.
6, 2003; also known as Frank "Buddy" Ebsen) 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
(1962â€"1971); afterwards he starred as the title character in the
television detective drama Barnaby Jones (1973â€"1980).Originally a
dancer, Ebsen began his film career in Broadway Melody of 1936. He
also appeared as a dancer with child star Shirley Temple in Captain
January (1936). Ebsen was also chosen to appear in The Wizard of Oz,
originally as the Scarecrow, and before filming began his role was
changed to the Tin Man, but he fell seriously ill during filming due
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 (1953â€"54).A middle child with
four sisters, Buddy Ebsen was born as Christian Ludolf Ebsen Jr., on
April 2, 1908, in Belleville, Illinois. His father, Christian Ludolf
Ebsen Sr., was a Danish choreographer, who once owned a dance studio
and was also a physical fitness advocate, before operating a
natatorium for the local school district, and his mother, Frances
(née Wendt), was a Baltic German (specifically, Latvian)
painter.Ebsen was raised in Belleville until the age of ten when his
family moved to Palm Beach County, Florida. In 1920, Ebsen and his
family relocated to Orlando, Florida. Ebsen and his sisters learned to
dance at a dance studio his father operated in Orlando.
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