Before he was the billionaire patriarch Jed Clampett, Buddy Ebsen lived a life that sounds like a Hollywood movie script itself. From a penniless dancer to a victim of a near-fatal movie accident, his path to the “Cement Pond” was anything but easy.
1. He Arrived in NYC with Only $26.50
Long before he struck “Black Gold,” Buddy was a starving artist. In 1928, he hopped a train to New York City with nothing but a pair of dancing shoes and less than $30 in his pocket.
He spent months working as a “soda jerk,” flipping ice cream for nickels while auditioning for Broadway shows. His “hoofer” (dancer) style was unique—he was a 6’3″ giant who moved with the grace of a cat, a contrast that eventually made him a star of the Ziegfeld Follies.
2. The “Wizard of Oz” Tragedy: The Role That Almost Killed Him
This is the secret most fans don’t know: Buddy Ebsen was the original Tin Man. He had already recorded the songs and begun filming for the 1939 classic The Wizard of Oz. However, Hollywood’s lack of safety nearly cost him his life.
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The Makeup: To turn him silver, makeup artists coated his skin in aluminum powder.
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The Disaster: Ten days into filming, Ebsen’s lungs cramped shut. He couldn’t breathe and was rushed to an iron lung.
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The Result: While he spent weeks recovering, MGM replaced him with Jack Haley. If you listen closely to the song “We’re Off to See the Wizard,” you can still hear Buddy’s voice in the background vocals—the only part of his performance that wasn’t deleted.
3. A Real-Life War Hero
When his acting career hit a plateau in the 1940s, Ebsen didn’t wait for a handout. He applied for a commission in the U.S. Navy several times but was rejected. Refusing to give up, he joined the U.S. Coast Guard.
He served as a Lieutenant on the USS Pocatello in the North Pacific during World War II. It was this grit and real-world leadership that gave him the “quiet authority” he later used to play Jed Clampett.
4. The Disney “Sidekick” Era
Before the Hillbillies, Buddy found fame as Georgie Russel, the loyal best friend in Disney’s Davy Crockett. He was so popular that Walt Disney himself considered Buddy for the lead role, but eventually chose him as the sidekick because of his warmth and comedic timing. This role saved his career and put him back on Hollywood’s A-list.
From Tragedy to “Texas Tea”
By the time The Beverly Hillbillies premiered in 1962, Buddy Ebsen was 54 years old. He had survived the Great Depression, a near-death experience in Oz, and a World War.
When he finally stepped onto the set as Jed Clampett, he wasn’t just acting—he was a man who knew the value of a dollar and the importance of family. Perhaps that’s why 60 million people tuned in every week to watch him.