In the 1960s, Bobby Buntrock was a beloved child actor in the sitcomHazel. The young actor was just eight years old when he made his debut as Harold “Sport” Baxter, the pint-sized sidekick of a family’s live-in maid (Shirley Booth), on the NBC sitcom in 1961.
Hazel ran for five seasons until April 1966. Buntrock appeared in all of them, even though his TV parents (Don DeFore, Whitney Blake) left the show ahead of Season 5 under the guise that their characters moved to Baghdad and left their son in the care of relatives and wacky maid Hazel.
When she was a star on Hazel, Blake told The Los Angeles Times that the goal of the classic sitcom was to “make people happy.” “We don’t deal with deep problems,” she said. “We have happy problems. People tell me it’s refreshing to see our show, that they never miss it because they feel good afterward.”
At the height of Hazel’s popularity, Buntrock appeared in a 1963 commercial for the Ford Falcon station wagon with Blake, as well as early ads for the iconic 1960s toy Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots.
Buntrock only had one other acting credit after Hazel. As a young teen, he appeared in three episodes of The Virginian between 1963 and 1967.
On April 7, 1974, Buntrock died tragically at age 21. A death notice published by the Rapid City Journalrevealed that the former child actor drowned in Battle Creek River after a one-car accident. Buntrock’s car veered off a bridge construction site in Keystone, South Dakota, and plunged into the water. The Hazel star had been living in South Dakota for five years and had graduated from high school there in 1970. The late actor was also a member of the National Guard in Rapid City, South Dakota.
The death announcement shared details on graveside services for Buntrock, who was survived by his father, Robert Buntrock, and sisters Stella and Deanne. Buntrock’s mother, Maxine, died two years before him, in June 1972.
RELATED: 1973’s Last No. 1 Hit Song Has a Heartbreaking Backstory
Bobby Buntrock’s neighbors convinced his parents to get him into acting
With his adorable blond looks and perky personality, Buntrock was cast in several TV roles before getting his big break on Hazel. The actor’s early roles included guest spots on Wagon Train, Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse, Mister Ed, and The Donna Reed Show.
According to an article in the Lewiston Evening Journal, Buntrock was born in Denver, but his family moved to Whittier, Calif, when he was a young child. The family’s neighbors convinced Buntrock’s parents to get him into acting, going so far as to book a photographer to take head shots of the child to send to an agent. Buntrock signed with agent Marcella Bell on the spot.
He had a tutor on set on Hazel and attended public school when the show wasn’t filming. At the time, Buntrock’s father said his son was a regular kid off camera.
“He likes to play the accordion and likes baseball, too. His best subject is arithmetic,” Buntrock’s father said in October 1961.
? SIGN UP for Parade's Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox ?
Hence then, the article about 60s child star known for beloved classic sitcom dies tragically at 21 on this day in 1974 was published today ( ) and is available on Parade ( Saudi Arabia ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( ‘60s Child Star, Known for Beloved Classic Sitcom, Dies Tragically at 21 on This Day in 1974 )
Also on site :
- JP Morgan Chase head warns of unexpected interest rate shocks as a result of Iran war
- AI startup Rocket offers vibe McKinsey-style reports at a fraction of the cost
- The Witcher 3 multiplayer mod's latest major update adds the only mount you'll ever need - your fellow players