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{{Short description|American actor (1952–1974)}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2015}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2015}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
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| imagesize =
| imagesize =
| caption = Buntrock as Harold Baxter c. 1960s
| caption = Buntrock as Harold Baxter c. 1960s
| birthname = Robert W. Buntrock
| birthname = Robert Willard Buntrock
| birth_date = {{birth date|1952|08|04}}
| birth_date = {{birth date|1952|08|04}}
| birth_place = [[Denver|Denver, Colorado]], U.S.
| birth_place = [[Denver|Denver, Colorado]], U.S.
| death_date = {{dda|1974|04|07|1952|08|04}}
| death_date = {{death date and age|1974|04|07|1952|08|04}}
| death_place = [[Keystone, South Dakota]], U.S.
| death_place = [[Keystone, South Dakota]], U.S.
| death_cause = Automobile accident
| resting_place = Keystone Cemetery
| resting_place = Keystone Cemetery
| nationality = American
| education = Sturgis High School<ref name=obit />
| education = Sturgis High School<ref name=obit>{{cite news|title=Robert W. Buntrock|work=[[‎Rapid City Journal]]|date=April 8, 1974|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/19718249/robert_buntrock_obit/|page=7|access-date=August 1, 2019}}</ref>
| occupation = Actor
| occupation = Actor
| years_active = 1959–1967
| years_active = 1959–1967
}}
}}


'''Robert W. "Bobby" Buntrock''' (August 4, 1952 – April 7, 1974)<ref>{{cite book|last=Rapid City Society for Genealogical Research|title=Black Hills Nuggets|publisher=University of Wisconsin - Madison|year=1996|pages=25}}</ref> was an [[United States|American]] [[child actor]]. Buntrock is best known for playing the character of Harold "Sport" Baxter on the 1960s [[Situation comedy|sitcom]] ''[[Hazel (TV series)|Hazel]]''.
'''Robert Willard "Bobby" Buntrock''' (August 4, 1952 – April 7, 1974)<ref name="obit" /><ref>{{cite book|last=Rapid City Society for Genealogical Research|title=Black Hills Nuggets|publisher=University of Wisconsin - Madison|year=1996|pages=25}}</ref> was an American [[child actor]]. Buntrock was widely known for his role as Harold "Sport" Baxter on the 1960s [[Situation comedy|sitcom]] ''[[Hazel (TV series)|Hazel]]''.


==Career==
==Career==
Buntrock was born in [[Denver|Denver, Colorado]] to Robert and Maxine Buntrock. He had a younger sister, Stella. 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 Bell. Shortly after signing with Bell, Buntrock landed his first role on an episode of ''[[Wagon Train]]'' at the age of four. He also appeared in guest spots on ''[[Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse]]'', ''[[Mister Ed]]'', and ''[[The Donna Reed Show]]''.<ref name=lewiston>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=PftGAAAAIBAJ&sjid=5vMMAAAAIBAJ&pg=4257,4588871&dq=bobby+buntrock&hl=en|title=Neighbor Did It For Young Bobby|date=October 14, 1961|work=Lewiston Evening Journal|pages=4–A|accessdate=May 13, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=RdBSAAAAIBAJ&sjid=438DAAAAIBAJ&pg=7066,5524156&dq=bobby+buntrock+hazel&hl=en|title=Hazel's Favorite Veteran At Eight|date=September 25, 1963|work=The Deseret News|page=T7|accessdate=May 13, 2013}}</ref>
Buntrock was born in [[Denver]], Colorado, to Robert E. and Maxine Buntrock.<ref name=obit>{{cite news|title=Robert W. Buntrock|work=[[Rapid City Journal]]|date=April 8, 1974|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/19718249/robert_buntrock_obit/|page=7|access-date=August 1, 2019}}</ref> 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.<ref>Binghamton Press Feb 4 1959</ref> He also appeared in guest spots on ''[[Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse]]'', ''[[Mister Ed]]'', and ''[[The Donna Reed Show]]''.<ref name=lewiston>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=PftGAAAAIBAJ&pg=4257,4588871&dq=bobby+buntrock&hl=en|title=Neighbor Did It For Young Bobby|date=October 14, 1961|work=Lewiston Evening Journal|pages=4–A|access-date=May 13, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=RdBSAAAAIBAJ&pg=7066,5524156&dq=bobby+buntrock+hazel&hl=en|title=Hazel's Favorite Veteran At Eight|date=September 25, 1963|work=The Deseret News|page=T7|access-date=May 13, 2013}}</ref> 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 (TV series)|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]]).<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=861&dat=19681117&id=9QVaAAAAIBAJ&sjid=SUsNAAAAIBAJ&pg=2887,2486755|title='Hazel's' Former Lucky Boss Returning As Sports Reporter|last=Pack|first=Harvey|date=November 17, 1968|work=The Victoria Advocate|page=8|accessdate=February 9, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=StlaAAAAIBAJ&sjid=mGwDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5421,3611246&dq=bobby+buntrock+commercial&hl=en|title=Hazel's New Family Are Baxters, Too|last=Win|first=Fanning|date=August 25, 1965|work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|page=33|accessdate=May 13, 2013}}</ref> During the run of ''Hazel'', Buntrock was tutored on the set and attended Lake Marie Public School<ref>[https://lakemarie.swhittier.k12.ca.us/ Official website]</ref> in Whittier when the show was on hiatus.<ref name=lewiston />
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]]).<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=861&dat=19681117&id=9QVaAAAAIBAJ&pg=2887,2486755|title='Hazel's' Former Lucky Boss Returning As Sports Reporter|last=Pack|first=Harvey|date=November 17, 1968|work=The Victoria Advocate|page=8|access-date=February 9, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=StlaAAAAIBAJ&pg=5421,3611246&dq=bobby+buntrock+commercial&hl=en|title=Hazel's New Family Are Baxters, Too|last=Win|first=Fanning|date=August 25, 1965|work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|page=33|access-date=May 13, 2013}}</ref> During the run of ''Hazel'', Buntrock was tutored on the set and attended Lake Marie Public School<ref>[https://lakemarie.swhittier.k12.ca.us/ Official website]</ref> in Whittier when the show was on hiatus.<ref name=lewiston />


After ''Hazel'' ended its run in 1966, Buntrock appeared in two guest spots on ''[[The Virginian (TV series)|The Virginian]]'' in 1967 after which he retired from acting.
After ''Hazel'' ended its run in 1966, Buntrock appeared in two guest spots on ''[[The Virginian (TV series)|The Virginian]]'' in 1967 after which he retired from acting.


==Personal life and death==
==Personal life and death==
After Hollywood, 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.
Buntrock moved with his family to [[Keystone, South Dakota]], where he graduated from [[Sturgis Brown High School]] in 1970, and lived for the last five years of his life.<ref name="obit" />

On April 7, 1974, Buntrock died at age&nbsp;21 in an automobile accident when his car veered off a nearby bridge under construction, drowning him in his car submerged in the water of Battle Creek.<ref name=obit /><ref>{{cite book|last1=Bloom|first1=Ken|last2=Vlastnik|first2=Frank|title=Sitcoms: The 101 Greatest TV Comedies of All Time|edition=1|year=2007|publisher=Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers|isbn=1-579-12752-5|page=156}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Madden|first1=Joanne|date=17 February 2015|title=Bobby Buntrock: The tragic death of Hazel's Harold|url=http://www.tvbanter.net/2015/02/bobby-buntrock-tragic-death-of-hazels.html|website=TV Banter|accessdate=16 April 2017}}</ref> He is buried in Keystone Cemetery in Keystone, South Dakota.
On April 7, 1974, Buntrock died at age&nbsp;21 in an automobile accident when his car veered off a bridge under construction into [[Battle Creek (Cheyenne River)|Battle Creek]], drowning him in the submerged car.<ref name=obit /><ref>{{cite book|last1=Bloom|first1=Ken|last2=Vlastnik|first2=Frank|title=Sitcoms: The 101 Greatest TV Comedies of All Time|edition=1|year=2007|publisher=Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers|isbn=978-1-579-12752-7|page=156}}</ref> He is buried in Keystone Cemetery in Keystone.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Madden |first1=Joanne |date=17 February 2015 |title=Bobby Buntrock: The tragic death of Hazel's Harold |url=http://www.tvbanter.net/2015/02/bobby-buntrock-tragic-death-of-hazels.html |access-date=16 April 2017 |website=TV Banter}}</ref>


==Filmography==
==Filmography==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
|-
! Year
! Year 1961
! Death Valley Days
! Title
! Frankie Clayton
! Role
! class="unsortable" | Notes
! class="unsortable" | Episode: “A Bullet for the D.A.”
|-
|-
| 1959
| 1959
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|-
|-
| 1967
| 1967
| The Virginian
| ''The Virginian''
|Tim Bates
|Tim Bates
| Episode: “Doctor Pat”
| Episode: “Doctor Pat”
Line 95: Line 97:
==External links==
==External links==
{{Portal|Biography}}
{{Portal|Biography}}
{{commons category-inline}}
{{commonscatinline}}
* {{IMDb name|0120594}}
* {{IMDb name|0120594}}
* {{Find a Grave|7369996}}
* {{Find a Grave|7369996}}
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[[Category:1974 deaths]]
[[Category:1974 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century American male actors]]
[[Category:20th-century American male actors]]
[[Category:Actors from Whittier, California]]
[[Category:Accidental deaths in South Dakota]]
[[Category:Male actors from Whittier, California]]
[[Category:American male child actors]]
[[Category:American male child actors]]
[[Category:American male television actors]]
[[Category:American male television actors]]
⚫
[[Category:Burials in South Dakota]]
[[Category:Male actors from Denver]]
[[Category:Male actors from Denver]]
⚫
[[Category:Male actors from South Dakota]]
[[Category:Road incident deaths in South Dakota]]
[[Category:Road incident deaths in South Dakota]]
[[Category:People from Pennington County, South Dakota]]

Latest revision as of 17:23, 11 December 2024

Bobby Buntrock
Buntrock as Harold Baxter c. 1960s
Born
Robert Willard Buntrock

(1952-08-04)August 4, 1952
Denver, Colorado, U.S.
DiedApril 7, 1974(1974-04-07) (aged 21)
Keystone, South Dakota, U.S.
Resting placeKeystone Cemetery
EducationSturgis High School[1]
OccupationActor
Years active1959–1967

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.

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 Brown 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 1961 Death Valley Days Frankie Clayton Episode: “A Bullet for the D.A.”
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]
  1. ^ a b c d e "Robert W. Buntrock". Rapid City Journal. April 8, 1974. p. 7. Retrieved August 1, 2019.
  2. ^ Rapid City Society for Genealogical Research (1996). Black Hills Nuggets. University of Wisconsin - Madison. p. 25.
  3. ^ Binghamton Press Feb 4 1959
  4. ^ a b "Neighbor Did It For Young Bobby". Lewiston Evening Journal. October 14, 1961. pp. 4–A. Retrieved May 13, 2013.
  5. ^ "Hazel's Favorite Veteran At Eight". The Deseret News. September 25, 1963. p. T7. Retrieved May 13, 2013.
  6. ^ Pack, Harvey (November 17, 1968). "'Hazel's' Former Lucky Boss Returning As Sports Reporter". The Victoria Advocate. p. 8. Retrieved February 9, 2015.
  7. ^ Win, Fanning (August 25, 1965). "Hazel's New Family Are Baxters, Too". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. 33. Retrieved May 13, 2013.
  8. ^ Official website
  9. ^ 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.
  10. ^ Madden, Joanne (February 17, 2015). "Bobby Buntrock: The tragic death of Hazel's Harold". TV Banter. Retrieved April 16, 2017.
[edit]

Media related to Bobby Buntrock at Wikimedia Commons

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