Buddy Ebsen was an American actor and dancer who rose to fame for playing Jed Clampett in the television series The Beverly Hillbillies. He was also known for his performances in the films Breakfast at Tiffany’s and The Diary of Anne Frank. His career spanned more than seven decades and he enjoyed success on both the big and small screens. In this article, we will take a look at the life and career of Buddy Ebsen, as well as his net worth and other facts.
Early Life of Buddy Ebsen
Buddy Ebsen was born Christian Ludolf Ebsen, Jr. on April 2, 1908, in Belleville, Illinois. His parents were Christian Ludolf Ebsen, Sr. and Frances Eileen Ebsen. He had four siblings: Bill, George, Louise and Dorothy. When he was a child, his family moved to Orlando, Florida, and he attended Orlando High School. After graduating, he attended Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida, but dropped out after a year.
In 1928, Ebsen moved to New York City to pursue a career in show business. He began his career as a dancer and was part of the dance team The Beverly Hillbillies, which performed on Broadway and in Hollywood films. Ebsen also appeared in a number of other films, such as Broadway Melody of 1938 and The Wizard of Oz.
Career & Net Worth of Buddy Ebsen
In 1962, Ebsen was cast as Jed Clampett in the television series The Beverly Hillbillies, which ran for nine seasons. He also appeared in the films Breakfast at Tiffany’s and The Diary of Anne Frank. In 1979, he was cast as the title character in the television series Barnaby Jones, which ran for eight seasons.
Throughout his career, Ebsen appeared in numerous television shows, including Murder, She Wrote, The Love Boat, and Matlock. He also appeared in several made-for-television movies, such as The Forgotten Man and The Gambler.
Ebsen was also an accomplished singer and songwriter. He released his debut album, The Other Side of Me, in 1970. He also wrote the song "The Beverly Hillbillies" which was used as the theme song for the television show of the same name.
At the time of his death in 2003, Buddy Ebsen’s net worth was estimated to be $8 million.
Buddy Ebsen was an accomplished actor, dancer,
Biography of Buddy Ebsen
Buddy Ebsen, born Christian Ebsen Jr., was an American actor, dancer, singer, and musician who had a career spanning seven decades. From his early success as the star of The Beverly Hillbillies, to his portrayal of Jed Clampett’s real life uncle, to his portrayal of Barnaby Jones in the famous CBS series, Ebsen had an impressive career.
Early Life
Ebsen was born on April 2, 1908, in Belleville, Illinois. His parents, Christian Ebsen Sr. and Frances Wiltfong, were German Americans whose families had immigrated to the United States. He had three siblings, Gretchen, Frances, and Ernest. As a young boy, he moved with his family to Florida and then eventually to California where he attended schools in Los Angeles.
Career
In the early 1930s, Ebsen began his career in show business as a Broadway dancer. He appeared on a number of Broadway musicals, including the Ziegfeld Follies, Anything Goes, Pal Joey, and Whoopee. Ebsen’s most memorable performance was in the Florenz Ziegfeld/Ethel Merman production of Call Me Madam, where he shared top billing with Merman.
In 1962, Ebsen was cast as Jed Clampett in The Beverly Hillbillies and became a star. The show was an immediate hit and ran for nine seasons. Following the show’s finale in 1971, Ebsen went on to star in the CBS detective drama Barnaby Jones. He played the title role for the show’s entire eight-season run.
During his career, Ebsen also appeared in numerous films, including Davy Crockett and the River Pirates, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, The Catered Affair, The Diary of Anne Frank, and The Sixth Sense.
Net Worth and Death
When he died at the age of 95 in 2003, Buddy Ebsen had an estimated net worth of 60 million dollars. He is remembered as an American cultural icon, a Broadway star, and a true entertainer.