’77 Sunset Strip,’ ‘F.B.I.’ Star Efrem Zimbalist Jr. Dies at 95
Last edited Sat May 3, 2014, 05:51 AM - Edit history (1)
Source: Variety
@BreakingNews: Actor Efrem Zimbalist Jr., who starred in dramas '77 Sunset Strip' and 'The FBI,' dies at 96, family says - @Variety http://t.co/Mtq8J7lbxz
77 Sunset Strip, F.B.I. Star Efrem Zimbalist Jr. Dies at 95
Efrem Zimbalist Jr., a staple of 1960s and 70s TV as the star of ABC dramas 77 Sunset Strip and The F.B.I., has died. He was 95.
Zimbalist died Friday at his home in Solvang, Calif., according to a statement issued by his daughter, actress Stephanie Zimbalist, and son Efrem Zimbalist III.
We are heartbroken to announce the passing into peace of our beloved father, Efrem Zimbalist, Jr., today at his Solvang, Calif. ranch. A devout Christian, he actively enjoyed his life to the last day, showering love on his extended family, playing golf, and visiting with close friends.
Tall, handsome and always well-dressed, Zimbalist starred as the smooth former OSS officer-turned private eye Stuart Bailey who ran a Los Angeles detective agency in 77 Sunset Strip. The show, one of the first TV series hits from the Warner Bros. studio, ran on ABC from 1958-64.
He returned to the Alphabet the following year as Inspector Lewis Erskine, the methodical leader of The F.B.I., which ran through 1974. His real-life counterpart, FBI chief J. Edgar Hoover, was a fan and supporter of the show, and a friend of Zimbalists. In 2009, the FBI saluted Zimbalist by making him an honorary agent, the highest honor the bureau can give to a civilian.
Read more: http://variety.com/2014/tv/people-news/77-sunset-strip-f-b-i-star-efrem-zimbalist-jr-dies-at-95-1201170658/
MADem
(135,425 posts)Many good memories.
Cookie, Cookie....lend me your comb
MannyGoldstein
(34,589 posts)Not close. I forget the relationship. Never met him.
He became a Christian? I thought he was born Jewish. In any case, now he knows if he guessed right.
Good luck, Efrem!
DreamGypsy
(2,252 posts)Comic relief was provided by Roscoe the racetrack tout (played by Louis Quinn), and Gerald Lloyd "Kookie" Kookson III (played by Edd Byrnes), the rock and roll-loving, wisecracking, hair-combing, hipster and aspiring P.I. who worked as the valet parking attendant at Dino's, the club next door to the detectives' office. Byrnes had originally been cast as a serial killer in the series pilot, but proved so popular that he was brought back in a new role for the series.
Photo of Efrem Zimbalist, Jr. as Stu Bailey and guest star Andra Martin.
Martin plays a noblewoman from a small country Bailey is hired to bring back to her homeland.
Political factions there opposing this try to prevent it by abandoning them both in the desert.
You made it home EZ Jr.
aint_no_life_nowhere
(21,925 posts)Back then with only three networks you had the impression of watching shows, especially the popular ones, as a shared experience with others in the society.
Hekate
(90,793 posts)...all those years ago.
Although I don't recall Ed "Kookie" Burns really behaving like a kook, just moderately off-beat. But I guess that was enough for TV in the 1960s.
mac56
(17,574 posts)NBachers
(17,136 posts)I never could get my hair to look like Kookie's, no matter how much Brylcreem I installed.
I sure wish DVD's of the show were available.
And even when I was an anti-Hoover anti-Nixon anti-cop militant, I still respected Efrem Zimbalist Jr., no matter what role he was representing. A smart and sophisticated man.
My sympathies to his family and friends.
QuestForSense
(653 posts)Father, Efrem, Sr., famous violinist; Mother, Opera Singer Alma Gluck; stepsister, writer and music critic Marcia Davenport. He was definitely a class act, and a good actor.
shenmue
(38,506 posts)A good long life.
Blue_In_AK
(46,436 posts)He had a good, long life.
whoa, shenmue. My exact words.
BumRushDaShow
(129,445 posts)A real blast from the past I didn't realize he was still out there. His generation was incredible making it to their 90s. "Remington Steele" was a favorite show and I forgot that he had appeared in it with his daughter.
R.I.P. and condolences to the family.
Omaha Steve
(99,708 posts)Last edited Sat May 3, 2014, 12:57 PM - Edit history (1)
David was at the Ambassador party when Bobby was assassinated.
David Macklin was a very active D in Hollywood back then and was an on screen actor in a few episodes of The FBI.
Our family loved both 77 Sunset Strip & The FBI shows.
kentauros
(29,414 posts)JMS brilliantly cast him as the owner of a megacorp pharmaceutical company on Mars. Here's a conversation he's having with Michael Garibaldi (Jerry Doyle) though it's more of a monologue. He had such a great voice!
1monster
(11,012 posts)I was sorry when it ended.
kentauros
(29,414 posts)He wrote the first script for World War Z, the one that wasn't used. I have to wonder what the movie would have been like if they had. I think he's written scripts for Marvel, too.
My feeling for one reason that he writes so well, is that he has a degree in psychology. Seems like that would help immensely in making believable characters. I'm going to have to see if there's anything in the fan-books about Zimbalist's role. There's some great interviews with the regular actors as well as some of the guests. Now I'm curious what Efrem thought of his character
7962
(11,841 posts)diabeticman
(3,121 posts)A TV show in the 90s.
She saw him in other shows but always enjoyed his acting.
alcibiades_mystery
(36,437 posts)John1956PA
(2,656 posts)She and Pierce Brosnan had good screen chemistry.
Cirque du So-What
(25,973 posts)that I thought he had already died several years ago. Although I consider him a good actor, I don't care for his political leanings (Goldwater supporter in '64).
Omaha Steve
(99,708 posts)I had the privilege to work with this good actor, real pro, warm and delightful man in five segments of the "FBI". I'll never forget our flight home from a Santa Rosa Calif. location for segment of the FBI "Savage Wilderness" on a wonderful DC3 luxury passenger liner with padded booths where the booze flowed freely. Efrem and I were having so much fun by the time we disembarked everyone was gone including our rides home. We had to call cabs. What a hoot! There are other story's about working with Efrem and "The FBI" in my book "ACTING In The Motion Picture BUSINESS". What a great guy.
David Macklin
ACTING In The Motion Picture BUSINESS
http://www.davidmacklin.com (book site)