If you loved “The Wizard of Oz,” you’ll remember the role of the Tin Man played by Buddy Ebsen. Unfortunately, the actor fell ill due to the aluminum makeup he wore on his skin. He was replaced by Jack Haley. Fortunately, the role remains one of the most popular and memorable in film history.
Ray Bolger
The first time Buddy Ebsen played the role of Tin Man in The Wizard of Oz (1939), he suffered a severe allergic reaction to the makeup, which was composed of aluminum dust. The actor was taken to the hospital and spent two weeks recovering. He was replaced by American vaudeville star Jack Haley. The new actor developed an infection in his right eye after being painted with aluminum dust.
Ebsen had been earning $1500 a week when production began. Ebsen, who was a dancer, was a talented actor and had performed on Broadway. By 1939, he had made eight movies. He also performed with Judy Garland in the Broadway Melody finale. Although Ebsen was originally intended for the role of Scarecrow, he was not able to perform the role because of his allergy to aluminum dust.
Due to the aluminum dust in the film, Ebsen was forced to quit the film due to ill health. Despite his complaints, MGM and the studio did not take responsibility for the actor’s health. He recalled that the studio did not believe he was ill until someone ordered him back to work. He was then intercepted by a frightened nurse.
Aside from being an actor, Ebsen was an avid sailor. He competed in several races, including the Honolulu Transpacific yacht race. A few years before his death, Ebsen recorded his first CD. The CD featured songs he wrote and performed himself.
Jack Haley
Buddy Ebsen was originally cast to play the role of the Tin Man in the 1939 film version of The Wizard of Oz, but he ended up having a disastrous allergic reaction to the aluminum powder makeup. This led him to drop out of the film and be replaced by Jack Haley. Haley went on to marry Liza Minelli.
Before being cast as the Tin Man, Buddy Ebsen had worked in many stage plays and was earning about $1500 a week. He also danced with Judy Garland in the Broadway Melody finale in 1938. Originally, Ebsen had wanted to play the Scarecrow but was cast as the Tin Man instead. This was difficult for him because of his severe allergy to aluminum dust, which he found on the set.
Ebsen was a dancer and had already worked with Shirley Temple. However, he was later offered the role of Jack Haley after a series of auditions and an impressive dance career. He was originally cast as the Scarecrow, but due to an allergic reaction to the powder makeup, he couldn’t wear it. He spent two weeks in the hospital, but later recovered in San Diego.
After Jack Haley became the Tin Man in the 1939 Wizard of Oz, the actor Buddy Ebsen had an adverse reaction to the aluminum powder makeup that he was wearing. This caused him to fall ill and be replaced by Jack Haley. However, his performance in the film was a great success and he went on to play the Tin Man in more than thirty films. He also recreated his role on Broadway in the 1930 film Follow Thru. He later played the role in Higher (1943).
Buddy Ebsen
Buddy Ebsen was an American actor who starred in several movies and television series. His career spanned seven decades. Some of his most famous roles include Jed Clampett in the CBS sitcom The Beverly Hillbillies and Barnaby Jones in the television drama Barnaby Jones.
The role of the Tin Man was a challenging one for Ebsen. The character required extensive makeup and many of the scenes were reshot with Jack Haley. Despite this, Ebsen still managed to record most of the voiceover work. His voice can be heard in the soundtrack of the movie.
Aside from acting, Buddy Ebsen had a long list of credits, including Born to Dance, Captain January, Broadway Melody of 1938, and The Girl of the Golden West. He also starred in several Silly Symphony series. In 1939, he was cast in the movie adaptation of The Wizard of Oz, a popular animated film. In the film, Ebsen played the Tin Man, a boy made of a collection of metal parts that Baum built for a shop display.
Originally, Buddy Ebsen was cast as the Tin Man in “The Wizard of Oz” but fell ill due to an allergy to aluminum makeup. He was replaced by Jack Haley after a few weeks of illness. However, Ebsen’s health problems continued to be a problem for the rest of his life.