Efrem Zimbalist, Jr.

Infobox Actor
name = Efrem Zimbalist, Jr.


birthdate = birth date and age|mf=yes|1918|11|30
birthplace = New York City, New York
spouse = Emily McNair (1945-1950)
Stephanie Spaulding (1956-2007)
goldenglobeawards = Most Promising Newcomer - Male
1959

Efrem Zimbalist, Jr. (born November 30, 1918) is an American actor known for his starring roles in the television series "77 Sunset Strip" and "The F.B.I." More recently he is well known as the long-time voice behind the character Alfred Pennyworth in "."

Biography

Personal life

Zimbalist was born in New York, New York, the son of violinist Efrem Zimbalist, Sr. (1890-1985) and operatic soprano Alma Gluck (née Reba Feinsohn; 1884-1938). His wife, Stephanie Spaulding Zimbalist, died of lung cancer on February 4, 2007, at the age of 73. [http://www.examiner.com/a-550794~Stephanie_Zimbalist__wife_of_actor_Efrem_Zimbalist_Jr__dies_at_73.html] Zimbalist is the father of actress Stephanie Zimbalist (with Stephanie Spaulding) and of Efrem Zimbalist III and Nancy Zimbalist (with Emily McNair).

Born Jewish, Zimbalist, Jr. has had a close association with evangelical Christianity, having appeared on some Christian radio and television shows including the PTL Club [ [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,954525,00.html Stars of the Cathode Church - TIME ] ] and TBN. Zimbalist was an early practitioner and proponent of Transcendental Meditation, as taught by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, prior to his conversion to Christianity.

Career

A 1940 graduate of Yale University, Zimbalist had a stage career as both actor and producer. Zimbalist's first recurring role in a television series was as roguish gambler "Dandy Jim Buckley" on "Maverick" opposite James Garner in 1957; after five appearances, Zimbalist left in 1958 to play the lead in "77 Sunset Strip", a popular detective series running until 1964. He was arguably most widely known for his starring role in the Quinn Martin television production, "The F.B.I.", premiering on September 19, 1965 and closing with the last episode on September 8, 1974. He also appeared in leading and supporting roles in several feature films, including "Harlow", "A Fever in the Blood", "Wait Until Dark", and "Airport 1975".

In 1989, Zimbalist played the father of Zorro in the (then Christian Broadcasting Network's- aka CBN) Family Channel's remake "The New Zorro". Zimbalist relinquished the role after the program's first season, due to time being spent on location. Zimbalist had a small recurring role in the 1990s science fiction TV series "Babylon 5" as William Edgars, and on his daughter's 1980s mystery series, "Remington Steele".

Zimbalist also provided the voice of the German-accented Dr. Octopus on the 1990s ' and Alfred Pennyworth in '. He has appeared on the Trinity Broadcasting Network. [ [http://www.tbn.org/index.php/2/4/p/632.html TBN - Trinity Broadcasting Network ] ]

Zimbalist has written an autobiography "My Dinner of Herbs," published by Limelight Editions, New York.

References

External links

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