Ebsen, Buddy - The late actor of Beverly Hillbillies and Barnaby Jones
By: Dominick A. Miserandino
The day before he turned 94, he's a little bit older and talks with more of a rasp, but the same witty Buddy Ebsen talks about his CD, his acting career and looks back on the past 94 years. Buddy is famous not only for his role as Jed Clampett on the Beverly Hillbillies, but Barnaby Jones and he was also the original actor in the role of the Tin Man in the Wizard of Oz.
DM) I understand that you've re-released a CD of songs that you recorded?
BE) Over the years in show business I've written some songs like my own version of "The Ballad of Jed Clampett" which is on the CD. "Long Talk With That Boy " turned out to be something people liked. "Back Home USA" is a wonderful song about a belief in people and the country. "Howdy" is a very lovely song, and "Angelica" is a song I wrote for my granddaughter. Well, there's all songs like that. They're all very entertaining songs that lasted over 15 years.
DM) Can you tell me more about the song, "Spaceship" which you said at one point can also apply to the events of today?
BE) Oh yes, about eleven years ago when we were having the unpleasantness with Russia, it got to the point where you could almost smell the gunpowder. Well, I wrote a song called, (starts singing) "We're all riding on the same spaceship, ain't it time we started to get along, because the world keeps shrinking and we've got to find a new thinking so the world can spin along." And that was recorded by a gal named Mabel King, and... Larry King, a great commenter, did an hour rave about it and we're hopeful that the song will become a standard.
DM) When did you start writing songs?
BE) In high school, that was a long time ago. I wrote because I had to write. It was important the things I had to say. I wrote them in plain language and I made songs out of them. And the titles are still around today and people are still singing them. And I'm very flattered that the thoughts I had have become very popular. I got to liking writing and I wrote my first novel, "Kelly's Quest" about a girl looking for Mr. Right like most girls do I suppose. I'm very proud of it.
DM) Do you enjoy acting or writing more?
BE) I used to enjoy writing songs more... I enjoy putting words together to improve the value of the paper that you're working on. I enjoy writing something more substantive than songs. Songs will prevail if the melody is catchy and the title is catchy.
DM) And how about your acting career?
BE) Well, they dropped the ball on me now that I'm going to be 94 on April 2nd. When people say, "How does it feel to be 94?" I say, "Well it's just like sitting on the front porch and a pretty girl walks by and your pacemaker opens the garage door". We had a little party last night and I drank a little Coca Cola. I don't drink anything else anymore.
DM) What's the secret to being 94?
BE) Use it or lose it. I'm using what's left of my mind and I enjoy it very much and it seems to keep my mind productive.
DM) What are you doing lately to keep your mind active?
BE) I'm writing another novel.
DM) One question, that I've always wondered. I understand that you were originally cast as the Tin Man in the "Wizard of Oz" however lost the job because you of your allergy to the paint. What was your reaction in losing the part?
BE) Of course I felt badly about it, but the person who got the part Jack Haley was kind enough to say in his acceptance speech for the Academy Award, "I want to thank Buddy Ebsen for not being available to take the part."
DM) What role are you the most proud of?
BE) Well, I have to say of course it's a toss up between Jed Clampett and Barnaby Jones. They're both doing well today and I'm very proud of that.
DM) What did you like about each role?
BE) I liked the Hillbillies because we were like a family and got along very well together. It was a happy, smiling show and therapeutic... at least doctors have told me that a smile will help ward off a heart attack. If you can help people by giving them something to laugh at or smile at it's really therapeutic.
For Barnaby Jones, I owned the set. When I walked on the set I was the most important man... I was the star of the show. And I got to contribute to some of the stories.
DM) How do you want to remembered?
BE) I've done a potpourri of different things for different people and I hope they made everybody a bit happier.
Talk to other readers about this story.
|
