<Tr> <Th> Years active </Th> <Td> 1955--2011 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Spouse (s) </Th> <Td> Patricia Throop </Td> </Tr> <P> Lawrence Kenneth "Larry" "Bud" Pennell (February 21, 1928--August 28, 2013) was an American television and film actor, often remembered for his role as "Dash Riprock" in the television series The Beverly Hillbillies . His career spanned half a century, including starring in the first - run syndicated adventure series Ripcord in the leading role of Paradiver Ted McKeever, as well as playing Keith Holden in the CBS' television series Lassie . He was also a baseball player, playing on scholarship for the University of Southern California and later professionally for the Boston Braves organization . </P> <P> Pennell was born in Uniontown, Pennsylvania, to entrepreneur Harold Pennell and homemaker Ruth Pennell . His parents moved to Niagara Falls, New York during the Great Depression in search of better opportunities . After a short time in New York, the family moved to California, where they lived in a studio apartment overlooking Angels Flight in Downtown Los Angeles . His family moved again when he was still young, purchasing a home near Paramount Studios in Hollywood, California . He became a newsboy on the studio lot, but athletics distracted him from any early interest in film . </P>

Who played dash rip rock on the beverly hillbillies