Son to a dance studio owner, Ebsen would start early as a dancer. Ebsen became part of the "Stetson Boy Dancers" in Vaudeville and Broadway musicals such as Whoopie. Ebsen was a dancer / hoofer (tap) and danced in many plays as well as movies. Buddy and his sister Vilma formed a dance act and came to Hollywood in 1935. Later his acting parts would be less dancing and would become mainly acting.

   Ebsen was up for the part of the Tin Man in the Wizard of Oz, but had to quit the part due to being allergic to the silver "Fairy Dust" used on the set, this would prove to cause Ebsen health problems later on in his life.

   Buddy had four sisters: rather than the reported one, they were Vilma, Helga, Norma, and Leslie Ebsen. Leslie died in childhood, but Helga and Norma lived into their nineties. Neither Helga and Norma performed with Buddy professionally. Vilma turned 91 earlier this month (feb-2002) and shows no sign of slowing down. Vilma was the only one to perform with Buddy. Both Helga and Norma taught dancing at the Ebsen Studios in Orlando, Florida and Pacific Palisades.

   One of Ebsen's most famous dance teaming's was with Shirley Temple in 1936 movie "Captain January." Buddy Ebsen is most remembered as "Jed Clampett" in the Beverly Hillbilly's and as "Barnaby Jones" in Barnaby Jones. Later in life became a part-time songwriter, as well as a newly-published author of a romantic novel entitled "Kelly's Quest."