Posted on 05/03/2014 6:23:03 AM PDT by massmike
Handsome, debonair and blessed with a distinguished voice that reflected his real-life prep school upbringing, Efrem Zimbalist Jr. seemed born to play the television roles that made him famous, that of hip Hollywood detective and brilliant G-man.
A prolific actor who also appeared in numerous films and stage productions, Zimbalist became a household name in 1958 as Stu Bailey, the wisecracking private investigator who was a co-partner in a swinging Hollywood detective agency located at the exclusive address of "77 Sunset Strip."
When the show of the same name ended in 1964, Zimbalist became an even bigger star playing the empathetic, methodical G-man Lewis Erskine in "The F.B.I."
The actor, who in recent years had retired to his ranch in Southern California's bucolic horse country, died there Friday at age 95.
"We are heartbroken to announce the passing into peace of our beloved father, Efrem Zimbalist Jr., today at his Solvang ranch," the actor's daughter Stephanie Zimbalist and son Efrem Zimbalist III said in a statement. "He actively enjoyed his life to the last day, showering love on his extended family, playing golf and visiting with close friends."
(Excerpt) Read more at abcnews.go.com ...
“The F-B-I”
“In COLOR!”
“A Quinn-Martin Production”
Can still hear the theme song.
Every Sunday night when I was a kid. Always with the latest car models from Ford Motor Company.
RIP
He was a good guy.
RIP.
Yes, Always a class act. With a name you would never forget.
The EXACT same thing just went through my head.
I believe his co-star Roger Smith is very ill also.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZCf8tuLF6o
Season 1 Episode 1 end credits with the then new Ford Mustang
RIP.
Yup, and he had the coolest name I’d ever heard. RIP.
Such a shame. I had the honor of meeting him some years ago at a Republican rally. RIP.
He later played a con artist/biolgical father of “remmington steele” in Remmington Steele.
Remmington Steele starred Pierce Brosnan in the lead role and Stefanie Zimbalist.
I loved that show.
Who is the Black Dahlia? (TV/1975) was one of the most intense roles I’d ever seen him in.
I’d lately seen him reading from scripture, regularly, on PTL, or similarly structured Christian programming.
RIP
Jack Webb took over the last year as producer of ‘’77 Sunset Strip’’ and unintentionally ruined the program. It did not last a full sixth season. Zimbalist carried the program alone, and as I vaguely remember, the scripts were uninteresting and complicated. It was a good example of “fixing” something that was not broken and ruining the product.
Stephanie Zimbalist was nice too
Been holding a grudge against the guy (Roger Smith) every since he ‘stole’ Ann-Margret away from me! 8)
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