Buntrock was born in
Denver, Colorado, to Robert E. Buntrock and Maxine Buntrock. He had two sisters, Stella and Deanne. When he was three, the family moved to
Whittier, California, where neighbours 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. When he was seven years old, Buntrock landed his first role, on an episode of
Wagon Train. Early in 1959 in a show starring Bette Davis, he played one of seven children in The Ella Lindstrom Story which aired on Feb 4 1959. He also appeared in guest spots on
Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse,
Mister Ed, and
The Donna Reed Show. He also did the early 1960s commercials for
Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robots. 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). During the run of
Hazel, Buntrock was tutored on the set and attended Lake Marie Public School in Whittier when the show was on hiatus. 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==