By the time Buddy Ebsen appeared in The Beverly Hillbillies, he was no spring chicken. The actor enjoyed a sort of career renaissance in television during his later years, notably starring in the hit crime series Barnaby Jones.

But just because Ebsen was getting older during his television tenure didn't mean that he'd lost that essential pep in his step.

Cast and crew alike commented on Ebsen's vitality while on the set of Barnaby Jones.

"Both my mother and father had a lot of energy," said Ebsen during an interview with The Times. "I'm lucky."

Ebsen wasn't just physically active on the set of his series; he was also working hard to ensure that the dialogue on Barnaby Jones was up to snuff.

"This isn't radio, you know," said Ebsen. "Too many writers sit behind their typewriters and give us nothing but words. My main contribution to scripts is to take out the unnecessary dialogue - and see to it that action carries the show."

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Buddy Ebsen said that he could never be a private investigator like Barnaby Jones

Ebsen held this level of dedication throughout his career. However, his approach to Barnaby Jones required every ounce of his attention. As an hour-long drama, the series required more attention than any other series he had previously worked on. It was a condition that almost led Ebsen to exit the series. 

"With Hillbillies, we'd just wait to get our script, then sit down and have a good laugh," said Ebsen. "It was only a half-hour show, so it all went along pretty lightly. With Barnaby, it's different. In fact, I must tell you that I nearly walked away from the series - because of the difference."

Luckily, Ebsen was able to adapt to the demands of a show like Barnaby Jones. The actor even began to enjoy it as filming went on, a feeling that shone through his performance.

Watch Barnaby Jones on MeTV!

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