Before Buddy Ebsen became immortalized as Jed Clampett, he nearly wore one of the most famous costumes in Hollywood history—that of the Tin Man in The Wizard of Oz. For a brief period in 1939, Ebsen was cast as the silvery, heart-seeking character in MGM’s legendary musical.
But what should have been a career-defining role became a nightmare. The aluminum dust used in the makeup triggered a severe allergic reaction, coating Ebsen’s lungs and sending him to the hospital in critical condition. He was replaced by Jack Haley, and the story of Ebsen’s near-fatal brush with stardom became one of Hollywood’s most shocking “what-ifs.”
Ebsen recovered, but the incident haunted him for years. Some suggested it permanently weakened his lungs, which is partly why he avoided physically demanding roles later in life. Yet rather than let it derail his career, Ebsen reinvented himself again and again—first as a dancer, then as a character actor, and eventually as the wise patriarch of The Beverly Hillbillies.
The Tin Man story became part of his lore, a reminder of Hollywood’s ruthless pursuit of spectacle at any cost. In interviews, Ebsen spoke candidly about the ordeal, mixing bitterness with relief that he survived. Ironically, his later role as Jed Clampett gave him a different kind of immortality. While Jack Haley’s Tin Man was enshrined in film history, Ebsen’s Jed Clampett became a cultural touchstone for television audiences across the country.
In hindsight, missing out on the Tin Man may have been a blessing. It kept Ebsen available for the role that would define his career—not in silver paint, but in the down-home wisdom of America’s most famous oil-rich farmer.
