Bio
Buddy Hackett (August 31, 1924 – June 30, 2003) was an American comedian and actor who became widely known from his role in the 1963 box-office success It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World.
After starring on Broadway in I Had a Ball, Hackett appeared opposite Robert Preston in the 1962 film adaptation of The Music Man.
Children became familiar with him as lovable auto mechanic/hippie Tennessee Steinmetz in Disney's The Love Bug (1968).
He appeared as Art Carney's replacement on The Jackie Gleason Show, and in the 1958 film God's Little Acre.
His later career was mostly as a guest on variety shows and prime time sitcoms such as Boy Meets World in its 4th season.
He died on 30 June 2003, of natural causes. He was 78.