Robert Willard "Bobby" Buntrock (August 4, 1952 – April 7, 1974)[1][2] was an American child actor. Buntrock was widely known for his role as Harold "Sport" Baxter on the 1960s sitcom Hazel.
Bobby Buntrock | |
|---|---|
 Buntrock as Harold Baxter c. 1960s | |
| Born | Robert Willard Buntrock August 4, 1952 Denver, Colorado, U.S. |
| Died | April 7, 1974 (aged 21) Keystone, South Dakota, U.S. |
| Resting place | Keystone Cemetery |
| Education | Sturgis High School[1] |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1959–1967 |
Career edit
Buntrock was born in Denver, Colorado, to Robert E. and Maxine Buntrock.[1] He had two sisters, Stella and Deanne. When he was three, the family moved to Whittier, California, where neighbors urged Buntrock's parents to get their son into acting. After submitting Buntrock's picture to various agents, he was signed by Marcella Belle Rinehart. When he was seven years old, Buntrock landed his first role, on an episode of Wagon Train. Early in 1959 in a show starring Bette Davis, he played one of seven children in The Ella Lindstrom Story which aired on Feb 4 1959.[3] He also appeared in guest spots on Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse, Mister Ed, and The Donna Reed Show.[4][5] He also did the early 1960s commercials for Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robots.
In 1961, Buntrock won the role of Harold "Sport" Baxter on the sitcom Hazel, starring Shirley Booth. The series aired for five seasons, first on NBC with Don DeFore and Whitney Blake in the role of Harold's parents, George and Dorothy Baxter. In the fifth and final season (1965-1966) shown on CBS, the series was retooled after DeFore and Blake were dismissed and Harold lived with his Uncle Steve Baxter (Ray Fulmer), Aunt Barbara (Lynn Borden), and cousin Susie (Julia Benjamin).[6][7] During the run of Hazel, Buntrock was tutored on the set and attended Lake Marie Public School[8] in Whittier when the show was on hiatus.[4]
After Hazel ended its run in 1966, Buntrock appeared in two guest spots on The Virginian in 1967 after which he retired from acting.
Personal life and death edit
Buntrock moved with his family to Keystone, South Dakota, where he graduated from Sturgis High School in 1970, and lived for the last five years of his life.[1]
On April 7, 1974, Buntrock died at age 21 in an automobile accident when his car veered off a bridge under construction into Battle Creek, drowning him in the submerged car.[1][9] He is buried in Keystone Cemetery in Keystone.[10]
Filmography edit
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1959 | Wagon Train | Bo Lindstrom | Episode: "The Ella Lindstrom Story" |
| 1960 | Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse | Buddy | Episode: "Dr. Kate" |
| 1961 | Mister Ed | Small boy | Episode: "Kiddy Park" |
| 1961 | The Donna Reed Show | Crying child | Episode: "Mary's Little Lambs" |
| 1961 | Bus Stop | Johnathon | Episode: "Afternoon of a Cowboy" |
| 1961–1966 | Hazel | Harold Baxter | 154 episodes |
| 1963 | Burke's Law | Scout Hendricks | Episode: "Who Killed Eleanora Davis?" |
| 1963 | The Virginian | Various | 2 episodes |
| 1967 | The Virginian | Tim Bates | Episode: “Doctor Pat” |
| 1967 | The Virginian | Tim Messinger | Episode: "The Masquerade", (final television appearance) |
References edit
- ^ a b c d e "Robert W. Buntrock". Rapid City Journal. April 8, 1974. p. 7. Retrieved August 1, 2019.
- ^ Rapid City Society for Genealogical Research (1996). Black Hills Nuggets. University of Wisconsin - Madison. p. 25.
- ^ Binghamton Press Feb 4 1959
- ^ a b "Neighbor Did It For Young Bobby". Lewiston Evening Journal. October 14, 1961. pp. 4–A. Retrieved May 13, 2013.
- ^ "Hazel's Favorite Veteran At Eight". The Deseret News. September 25, 1963. p. T7. Retrieved May 13, 2013.
- ^ Pack, Harvey (November 17, 1968). "'Hazel's' Former Lucky Boss Returning As Sports Reporter". The Victoria Advocate. p. 8. Retrieved February 9, 2015.
- ^ Win, Fanning (August 25, 1965). "Hazel's New Family Are Baxters, Too". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. 33. Retrieved May 13, 2013.
- ^ Official website
- ^ Bloom, Ken; Vlastnik, Frank (2007). Sitcoms: The 101 Greatest TV Comedies of All Time (1 ed.). Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers. p. 156. ISBN 978-1-579-12752-7.
- ^ Madden, Joanne (February 17, 2015). "Bobby Buntrock: The tragic death of Hazel's Harold". TV Banter. Retrieved April 16, 2017.
External links edit
Media related to Bobby Buntrock at Wikimedia Commons