Ebsen made his television debut on an episode of "The Chevrolet Tele-Theatre" in 1949. This led to television appearances in: "Stars Over Hollywood", "Gruen Guild Playhouse", four episodes of "Broadway Television Theatre", "Schlitz Playhouse of Stars", "Corky and White Shadow", the H.J. Heinz Company's "Studio 57", "Screen Directors Playhouse", two episodes of "Climax!", "Tales of Wells Fargo", "Playhouse 90", "Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse", "Johnny Ringo", two episodes of "Bonanza", three episodes of "Maverick" (in which he portrayed assorted homicidal villains), and "77 Sunset Strip". Ebsen received wide television exposure when he played Georgie Russel, a role based on a historical person and companion to frontiersman Davy Crockett, in the "Disneyland" television miniseries "Davy Crockett" (1954–1955).