Buddy Ebsen, the tall, good-humored actor who found fame on such popular television shows as The Beverly Hillbillies and Barnaby Jones, died on July 6 of an undisclosed illness at Torrance Memorial Medical Center in Torrance, California. He was 95.

Born Christian Rudolph Ebsen in Belleville, Illinois, on April 2, 1908, his father owned a dancing school, where a young Buddy (a nickname since birth) learned the essentials of hoofing. His family moved to Orlando, Florida when he was 10, and he began pre-medical studies at the University of Florida and Rollins College. Family financial problems forced him to leave school and young Buddy decided to try his luck as a dancer in New York in 1928.

Ebsen jerked sodas until he landed a chorus job in Eddie Cantor's Whoopee (1928). As he found more work, he summoned his sister Vilma, and the two became a popular dancing team on Broadway, vaudeville, and supper clubs. They were invited to Hollywood in 1935, and after passing a screen test, they earned an MGM contract. They scored a hit in Roy Del Ruth's popular revue Broadway Melody of 1936 (1935). Unfortunately, Hollywood was not to Vilma's taste and she soon retired from show business after completion of that picture. Nevertheless, Ebsen moved on; first as an amiable dance partner for Shirley Temple in David Butler's Captain January (1937); and teamed again with Del Ruth for some pleasant light comedies: opposite Eleanor Powell in Born to Dance (1936); partnering a 15 year-old Judy Garland in Broadway Melody of 1938 (1937); and a Sonja Henie vehicle My Lucky Star.

He was offered the role of the scarecrow in Victor Fleming's classic The Wizard of Oz (1939), but made the mistake of changing roles with Ray Bolger, who was cast as the Tin Woodman. Ebsen then became ill from the aluminum make-up on his skin, and he was replaced by Jack Haley. A contract dispute with Louis B. Mayer ended his early film career and after serving three years in the United States Navy during World War II (1942-45), Ebsen returned to the stage.

Television, which well suited Ebsen's charming, low-key personality, was the medium that brought him national fame. After co-starring with Fess Parker in Disney's Davy Crockett (1955-56), both Parker and Ebsen became instantly recognizable stars to children everywhere. Numerous guest appearances on many popular television shows, mostly westerns, followed: Maverick, Bonanza, Rawhide, Gunsmoke, etc. Eventually, Ebsen would secure his best-known role on television, that of Jed Clampett, the patriarch of an Ozark clan in that ever-popular piece of sitcom corn The Beverly Hillbillies (1962-71).

Around this time, Ebsen's screen roles became much more notable and meatier: Audrey Hepburn's husband in Blake Edward's delightful Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961), a paternal figure to young Keir Dullea in Burt Kennedy's raucous comedy Mail Order Bride (1964); and the patriarch in Michael O' Herlihy's old-fashioned musical The One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band (1968). Ebsen would soon return to television and notched another hit series as the soft-spoken Private Investigator Barnaby Jones (1973-80). Although more or less retired for the past 20 years, Ebsen did make an amusing cameo (as Barnaby Jones!) for Penelope Spheeris' big-budgeted Hollywood remake of The Beverly Hillbillies (1993). Ebsen is survived by his wife Dorothy; his sister Vilma; six children Alexandra, Susannah, Cathy, Bonnie, Kiki, Dustin; and six grandchildren.