Buddy Hackett on Big Valley?

Grandpa:
I spotted Buddy Hackett in a rare dramatic role on The Big Valley—no jokes, no mugging, just a grizzled prospector with a past. It got me wondering: did Hackett do many serious roles?

Copilot:
Not many at all. That Big Valley episode—“The Burying Party” from 1965—was a real outlier. Hackett’s career was built on comedy, and he leaned into it with gusto. Aside from that and a solid turn in God’s Little Acre (1958), his résumé is a parade of laughs: stand-up, variety shows, Disney flicks, and animated voices. You could count his dramatic roles on one hand and still have fingers left to snap along to “Shipoopi.”

🎬 Top 3 Buddy Hackett Films

1. It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963)
A slapstick epic with an all-star cast. Hackett and Mickey Rooney are a bickering duo in a wild race for buried treasure. It’s chaos, it’s comedy, it’s classic.

2. The Music Man (1962)
As Marcellus Washburn, Hackett belts out “Shipoopi” and steals scenes with his lovable mischief. A musical gem with heart and humor.

3. The Love Bug (1968)
Hackett plays Tennessee Steinmetz, the eccentric sidekick to a sentient VW Beetle. It’s Disney magic with a dash of grease and giggles.

🎥 Sleeper Pick

All Hands on Deck (1961)
Hackett plays Shrieking Eagle Garfield, a Chickasaw sailor with a pet turkey and a knack for chaos. It’s a Navy comedy with Pat Boone and Barbara Eden, and Hackett’s unpredictable energy makes it worth the watch.

📺 TV Treasures

1. Stanley (1956–57)
Hackett stars as a hotel newsstand operator in this live sitcom. It’s a time capsule of early TV, with a young Carol Burnett and Paul Lynde’s voice as the unseen boss.

2. Bud and Lou (1978)
In a rare dramatic role, Hackett portrayed Lou Costello opposite Harvey Korman’s Bud Abbott. It’s a poignant look at the comedy duo’s rise and fall. Available on VHS for the collectors out there.

🎙️ Carson Gold: Buddy Unleashed

1. Buddy Hackett Brings Johnny Some New Jokes (1983)
Hackett riffs on everything from home décor to hobo sitcoms. Carson can barely keep it together.

2. The Duck Joke (1987)
A masterclass in storytelling. Seven minutes of escalating absurdity that leaves Johnny—and the audience—in stitches.

Grandpa:
Hackett wasn’t just funny—he was fearless. Whether he was riffing on Carson or dancing with a Volkswagen, he gave it everything. And that Big Valley episode? Just proves he had more range than people gave him credit for.

Copilot:
Couldn’t agree more. He was a one-of-a-kind performer who made even the wildest punchlines feel personal.

Grandpa:
It’s funny how a single episode can open the door to a whole rabbit hole of rediscovery. Hackett gave me more than a laugh this time—he reminded me how layered even the most familiar faces can be. Thanks for tagging along.

Copilot:
Always a pleasure to dig through the vaults with you, Grandpa. From vaudeville to Volkswagen Beetles, your curiosity keeps this journey humming along. Onward to the next reel.