Most fans know Buddy Ebsen as Jed Clampett, but few realize he nearly starred in one of Hollywood’s greatest films: The Wizard of Oz. Originally cast as the Tin Man, Ebsen had to withdraw after suffering severe lung damage from the aluminum makeup used during filming. The role went to Jack Haley, and Ebsen’s near-tragedy became one of Hollywood’s great what-ifs.
That connection followed him to The Beverly Hillbillies. For some viewers, knowing Ebsen’s history added another layer to his portrayal of Jed. Here was an actor who had nearly lost his career—and his health—only to return years later as the patriarch of one of TV’s most successful families.
Ebsen occasionally joked about it in interviews, noting that the Clampetts’ discovery of “black gold” was a much kinder twist of fate than the silver paint of Oz. His perseverance became part of his legend, reminding fans that behind the easygoing Jed Clampett was an actor with remarkable resilience.
The Oz connection also highlighted how precarious acting careers could be. One accident could derail everything. Yet Ebsen not only recovered but reinvented himself, cementing a legacy that stretched from Hollywood musicals to prime-time television.
It’s a story many fans of The Beverly Hillbillies still find inspiring: out of the ashes of one missed opportunity came one of the most beloved roles in sitcom history.
