Buddy Ebsen won the part of Jed Clampett because of his height
Ebsen stood large on our screens and in our hearts.
In order to be a good entertainment artist, you must first be a student of the industry. This means that if you’re looking to ensure that your next television project will be a success, one of the best things to do is look back at previously successful series and highlight why people loved it as much as they did. While lightning rarely strikes in the same place twice, creators who take inspiration from previous successes have the analytical eye that is likely to increase their own prosperity.
When creating The Beverly Hillbillies, Paul Henning had one specific stipulation in mind for the actor playing Jed Clampett: He had to be tall.
According to an interview with The Orlando Sentinel, Buddy Ebsen, known for his excellent acting and looming stature, was actually able to win the role because of his height.
Ebsen said, “I got the job because I was tall, believe it or not.”
He explained, “Paul Henning, the genius who created The Beverly Hillbillies, was talking with some people about what made a successful television show. They considered the people who were successful. Gunsmoke had James Arness, Wagon Train had a tall guy. They said, ‘Buddy Ebsen is tall.’ So I got the job.”
In an interview with the Knoxville News Sentinel, Ebsen said he stood at over six feet tall, a feat he achieved “quite young.” Obviously, his height wasn’t the only factor that went into the decision to cast Ebsen, but the actor himself was already aware that there was something special about The Beverly Hillbillies, even if he had no idea just how successful it would eventually become.
Ebsen said, “When you pick a show, it’s like a baseball player getting up to bat. You look for a good one, pick it and pray. You have no idea how far it’s going, but you know it looked good at the time.”
The actor stated, “This show looked good. I laughed and I thought it had a good chance, and it paid off.”