In August 1930, the siblings were dancing at the Babette Club in Atlantic City, N.J. Ebsen had just $26.65 in his pocket, so he worked at a soda fountain until he found a job three months later in the chorus line of the Broadway production Whoopie, starring Eddie Cantor. In August 1928, the six -foot three-inch Ebsen and his sister, Vilma, arrived in New York City. However, Rollins College did not have science courses, so Ebsen’s mother suggested he take a drama course as an elective. He entered the University of Florida as a pre-med student in the fall of 1926, but growing financial troubles forced him to transfer to Rollins College, just four miles from the Ebsen home. Inspired by his sister who suffered from epilepsy, Ebsen planned to become a doctor. The family first lived in Palm Beach and later Orlando, where Ebsen’s father owned a dance studio. Ebsen’s mother, Frances, was often sick in Illinois and the Florida climate was likely a respite. In 1921, on the advice of their doctor, the family moved to Florida. Ebsen learned to swim and dance almost as soon as he could walk, and worked summers for his father as a locker boy and lifeguard. His father, who had immigrated to the United States from Germany, owned the Ebsen Natatorium, an athletic social club. Ebson also served in the United States Coast Guard reserve during World War II.īorn in Belleville, Ill., in 1908, Christian Ludolf Ebsen, Jr., was the third of five children and the only son.

Hollywood actor Buddy Ebson played both characters.

Later, in 1973, private detective Barnaby Jones came to life on television show Barnaby Jones, which ran for eight seasons. The show quickly soared to number one on the charts and ran for nine seasons. A new show, The Beverly Hillbillies, about mountain man Jed Clampett who strikes oil, becomes rich, and moves his family to Beverly Hills premiered Sept. In the fall of 1962, Americans were glued to their television sets. Ebsen had plenty of spare time to study the behavior of sea birds in the North Pacific. A veteran of monotonous weather patrol duty, Lt. Late in life, when asked what he learned during his World War II service in the Coast Guard, Hollywood actor Buddy Ebsen replied with the quote above. I watched seagulls morning, noon, and night just to keep from blowing my top. Don’t let anyone tell you this isn’t true. W hen they want to go left, they just turn their heads to the left. When they are up there drifting around and they want to turn right, they turn their heads to the right and off they go to the right.

Buddy ebsen