WATCH: Daughter of Iconic ‘Jed Clampett’ Actor Buddy Ebsen Talks with Friday Night Locker Room’s Steve Wilson
By Steve Wilson // September 10, 2025
Ebsen is a singer/songwriter/keyboardist and charity founder and organizer
WATCH: Kiki Ebsen, daughter of iconic “Jed Clampett” actor Buddy Ebsen, talks with the Friday Night Locker Room’s Steve Wilson about her famous father, her music career, her love of horses, and much more in an exclusive interview for Space Coast Daily.
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – If you are the daughter of one of the most iconic actors in the entertainment industry, you might think that whatever measure of success you may have is due, in part, to your last name.
Not so with Kiki Ebsen, daughter of the late Buddy Ebsen, who most famously portrayed Jed Clampett on the hit TV show, The Beverly Hillbillies.
I recently had the opportunity to talk with Kiki about her famous father, her music career, her love of horses, and much more in an exclusive interview for Space Coast Daily.
I asked Kiki about her time visiting the set of The Beverly Hillbillies. She told me, “I thought the cast was super nice and Donna Douglas (who portrayed Elly May Clampett) was darling.”
Kiki described her dad as a “really, really, really hard worker.” She could recall him “sitting in bed with his yellow pad and he would be rewriting the lines so he could memorize them” for the next day’s shooting.
Although her mom, dad, and sister were all involved with acting, Kiki told me that, “for some reason I just gravitated towards playing the piano, painting, horses, and nature.”
An accomplished singer/songwriter and keyboardist, Kiki said, “I have to say that I am one of the luckiest musicians out there, to have fallen into this wave of touring at a really good time.”
Among those she has worked with and performed with are Chicago, Belinda Carlisle, Wilson Phillips, Christopher Cross, Al Jarreau, Jeffrey Osborne, James Ingram, Tracy Chapman, Stephen Bishop, Peter Cetera, Michael McDonald, Bill Champlin, and Boz Scaggs.
Her love of horses and nature led Kiki to establish a nonprofit, The Healing Equine Ranch (T.H.E. Ranch), and The Equine Assisted Growth and Learning. Both nonprofits are best described by The Equine Assisted Growth and Learning website as “bridging the gap between mental health and equine expertise.”
Kiki Ebsen is a gem in today’s world. She has been, and still is, involved with multiple charitable organizations. She continues to give back to those in need. Yes, her father was one of the most famous actors in the entertainment industry, but Kiki has carved out her own path in this world. And quite a path it is!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Steve Wilson was born in DeRidder, Louisiana and grew up in both New Orleans and Macon, Georgia. He moved to Brevard County in 1984 and retired from local government as the Community Advocate/Assistant to the City Manager with the City of Rockledge in 2018.
Among the awards and accolades Steve has received over the years are 15 + year Rockledge Little League volunteer, Brevard Public School Jefferson Award Recipient, Rockledge High School Raider Booster Award 2001, 2006, City of Rockledge Employee of the Year 2006, Rockledge Kiwanian of the Year 2006-2007, City of Rockledge Quality Public Service Award 2008, 2012, 2017, Rockledge Kiwanis Citizen of the Year 2012-2013, Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame – Sportscasting 2015, Rockledge High School Leadership and Service Award 2016, Central Florida Humanitarian Award 2017, Space Coast Inspiration Award – 2018, Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame – Lifetime Achievement – 2020, Ecofest Achievement Award – 2022, Quality Floridian Award – 2022, presented by U.S. Congressman Bill Posey, Florida House District 32 Constituent of the Week 4/20/25.
Wilson is especially proud of his chairing two fundraisers in support of pediatric cancer research through the St. Baldrick’s Foundation in honor of Merritt Island resident Julie Spurlock that raised over $25,000.00.
He has been a partner, along with Orville Susong, for the past 26 years with the Friday Night Locker Room, a broadcasting team that covers and reports on a wide variety of local events that are of significance to the residents of the Space Coast and beyond. Their mission is to promote youth sports, support first responders and law enforcement personnel, and showcase community and charitable events that are produced by our nonprofit partners in central Florida.
The Friday Night Locker Room has awarded hundreds of sports achievement plaques to Brevard County student-athletes over the years. They have also awarded more than $18,000 in academic scholarships to Brevard County high school seniors.
