Buddy Ebsen was an American versatile character actor of stage, dancer and politician, who in his seven decades of television is best remembered for his starring roles as Jed Clampett in the popular 1960s television series, The Beverly Hillbillies and the title character in the popular 1970s detective series, Barnaby Jones. Before playing those roles, his first television exposure was that of George Russel, assistant to Davy Crockett, in the Disneyland television series in the 1950s.