Buddy Ebsen

Biography

Christian Rudolph Ebsen, 2 April 1908, Belleville, Illinois, USA, d. 6 July 2003, Torrance, California, USA. Ebsen trained as a dancer with his father, then formed a double act with his sister, Vilma. He appeared in the Ziegfeld Follies but from the mid-30s was mainly in films, often dancing. He was in Broadway Melody Of 1936 (1935), Captain January (1936, singing ‘At The Codfish Ball’), Born To Dance and Banjo On My Knee (both 1936), Broadway Melody Of 1938 (1937), The Girl Of The Golden West and My Lucky Star (both 1938). In 1939 Ebsen was cast as The Tin Man in The Wizard Of Oz. Allergic to the metallic paint used in the make-up, he abandoned the role, which was taken by Jack Haley, although Ebsen sings, uncredited, ‘We’re Off To See The Wizard’. In the 40s and 50s Ebsen made They Met In Argentina (1941), Sing Your Worries Away (1942), Under Mexicali Stars (1950), Thunder In God’s Country (1951), Red Garters and Davy Crockett, King...

Read the Full Biography of Buddy Ebsen