Quick Facts
Biography
Jacob Henry "Buddy" Baer (June 11, 1915 – July 18, 1986) was an American boxer and actor.
In 2003, Baer was chosen for the Ring Magazine's list of 100 greatest punchers of all time. He was the younger brother of boxing heavyweight champion Max Baer, and the uncle of Max Baer, Jr., best known as "Jethro" on the 1960s sitcom The Beverly Hillbillies. Baer, like his brother and nephew, also pursued acting.
Boxing career
Standing at 6' 6½" (1.99 m), Baer fought from 1934 to 1942 and was one of the best punchers of his time. He knocked out colorful contender Tony Galento The highlight of his boxing career occurred in his unsuccessful attempts to win the heavyweight boxing championship from Joe Louis. In their first fight, Baer caught Louis with a big left hook in the first round and knocked the champion out of the ring. Louis, however, climbed back in before the count of ten, and eventually won the fight on a disqualification. Baer claimed that he had been hit, and knocked down, after the bell in the seventh round, and refused to come out for the next round. The referee therefore disqualified him. In their rematch, Louis knocked Baer out in the first. Baer later remarked "The only way I could have beaten Louis that night was with a baseball bat." His record was 52-7 with 46 knockouts.
After boxing
Buddy retired after the Louis bout and joined the United States Army during World War II, as did his brother Max. After the war Buddy appeared in movies and TV, owned a bar in Sacramento with Fred Cullincini and worked as a marshal at the California State Legislature.
Buddy appeared in several films. In 1949, Baer had a bit role in the Abbott and Costello romp, Africa Screams. He also appeared in Flame of Araby, Quo Vadis, Jack and the Beanstalk (another Abbott & Costello film), The Big Sky, Slightly Scarlet, Giant from the Unknown, and Snow White and the Three Stooges, Jubilee Trail.
His television credits include guest roles in: Adventures of Superman, Captain Midnight, Cheyenne, Circus Boy, Climax!, Gunsmoke, Have Gun, Will Travel, Peter Gunn, Rawhide, Sky King, Wagon Train, Sheena - Queen of the Jungle, Tales of the Vikings, and Toast of the Town.
Buddy and Max were known as the "professional good guys" or "the genial giants". The Sacramento sports reporter Billy Conlin wrote, "When they died, the 'sweet science' lost two of the sweetest!" Buddy died on July 18, 1986 in Martinez, California. Buddy is buried in East Lawn Sierra Hills Memorial Park, Sacramento.
Filmography
- Africa Screams (1949)
- Quo Vadis (1951)
- Jack and the Beanstalk (1952)
- The Big Sky (1952)
- Two Tickets to Broadway (1951)
- Fair Wind to Java (1953)
- The Marshal's Daughter (1953)
- Jubilee Trail (1954)
- Slightly Scarlet (1956)
- Giant from the Unknown (1958)
- Once Upon a Horse... (1958)
- Snow White and the Three Stooges (1961)
- Ride Beyond Vengeance (1966)
Television
Baer appeared on Superman in 1958 playing role of Atlas the strongman. He was duped by other circus performers to steal for them. He was told Superman was a crook.