Robert Willard "Bobby" Buntrock (August 4, 1952 – April 7, 1974)[2] was an American child actor. Buntrock is best known for playing the character of Harold "Sport" Baxter on the 1960s sitcomHazel.
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. Buntrock soon landed his first role, on an episode of Wagon Train at the age of seven. He also appeared in guest spots on Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse, Mister Ed, and The Donna Reed Show.[3][4]
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).[5][6] During the run of Hazel, Buntrock was tutored on the set and attended Lake Marie Public School[7] in Whittier when the show was on hiatus.[3]
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
Buntrock moved with his family to Keystone, South Dakota, where he graduated from Sturgis High School in 1970, and lived for the last four years of his life.
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][8][9] He is buried in Keystone Cemetery in Keystone.
Episode: "The Masquerade", (final television appearance)
References
^ abc"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.
^ ab"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.
^Bloom, Ken; Vlastnik, Frank (2007). Sitcoms: The 101 Greatest TV Comedies of All Time (1 ed.). Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers. p. 156. ISBN978-1-579-12752-7.
^Madden, Joanne (February 17, 2015). "Bobby Buntrock: The tragic death of Hazel's Harold". TV Banter. Retrieved April 16, 2017.
bobby, buntrock, robert, willard, bobby, buntrock, august, 1952, april, 1974, american, child, actor, buntrock, best, known, playing, character, harold, sport, baxter, 1960s, sitcom, hazel, buntrock, harold, baxter, 1960sbornrobert, buntrock, 1952, august, 195. Robert Willard Bobby Buntrock August 4 1952 April 7 1974 2 was an American child actor Buntrock is best known for playing the character of Harold Sport Baxter on the 1960s sitcom Hazel Bobby BuntrockBuntrock as Harold Baxter c 1960sBornRobert W Buntrock 1952 08 04 August 4 1952Denver Colorado U S DiedApril 7 1974 1974 04 07 aged 21 Keystone South Dakota U S Resting placeKeystone CemeteryEducationSturgis High School 1 OccupationActorYears active1959 1967 Contents 1 Career 2 Personal life and death 3 Filmography 4 References 5 External linksCareer EditBuntrock 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 Buntrock soon landed his first role on an episode of Wagon Train at the age of seven He also appeared in guest spots on Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse Mister Ed and The Donna Reed Show 3 4 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 5 6 During the run of Hazel Buntrock was tutored on the set and attended Lake Marie Public School 7 in Whittier when the show was on hiatus 3 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 EditBuntrock moved with his family to Keystone South Dakota where he graduated from Sturgis High School in 1970 and lived for the last four years of his life 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 8 9 He is buried in Keystone Cemetery in Keystone Filmography EditYear Title Role Notes1959 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 episodes1963 Burke s Law Scout Hendricks Episode Who Killed Eleanora Davis 1963 The Virginian Various 2 episodes1967 The Virginian Tim Bates Episode Doctor Pat 1967 The Virginian Tim Messinger Episode The Masquerade final television appearance References Edit a b c 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 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 amp 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 Biography portal Media related to Bobby Buntrock at Wikimedia Commons Bobby Buntrock at IMDb Bobby Buntrock at Find a Grave Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bobby Buntrock amp oldid 1130713112, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
