Under the old, worn-out clothes of Jed Clampett was a seasoned actor—not just a character. Buddy Ebsen played the role of Jed Clampett on The Beverly Hillbillies for a total of nine seasons.

While he became best known for his iconic character, Ebsen was much more than the country man living in Beverly Hills.

In a 1963 interview with The Austin American, Ebsen described Jed Clampett as "the straight man," meaning that despite how quirky and funny his character came across on-screen, his main role was to feed lines to others and be the serious one of the bunch.

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"Occasionally Jed will make a droll observation, and sometimes when the show is slanted toward him, I’ll play in a comedy scene," Ebsen said. "But for the most part, I feed lines to others."

"At base, Jed is a dignified man and an intelligent man, although he may not be long on education," Ebsen continued. "I like him, and I like The Beverly Hillbillies, and I think that even if I have a chance to do other things, I could play Jed for as long as it is palatable to the public."

The series launched Ebsen to new heights in his career. Before The Beverly Hillbillies, he was a dancer and performed in vaudeville. He also appeared in small roles in films.

Before finding success, Ebsen struggled financially and said he endured about seven difficult years in Hollywood, taking nearly any role he could get—including in low-budget Westerns.

"They taught me how to act on a horse, and they really helped prepare me for television," Ebsen said.

This star was suddenly shining in the spotlight. Although his role on The Beverly Hillbillies came with ease, it wasn't always easy for Ebsen. 

He said he was thankful for the series, the fame, and of course, Jed Clampett.