’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 Zimbalist’s. 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/
= new reply since forum marked as read
Many good memories. 
Cookie, Cookie....lend me your comb 
Bailey, a character Huggins had originated in his 1946 novel The Double Take (which he later adapted into the 1948 movie I Love Trouble, starring Franchot Tone in the role). Roger Smith played Jeff Spencer, also a former government agent, and a non-practicing attorney. The duo worked out of a stylish office at 77 Sunset Boulevard (colloquially known as "Sunset Strip" , between La Cienega Boulevard and Alta Loma Road on the south side of the Strip next door to Dean Martin's real-life lounge, Dino's Lodge. Suzanne, the beautiful French switchboard operator played by Jacqueline Beer, handled the phones.
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.
A good long life.
He had a good, long life.
whoa, shenmue. My exact words.
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.
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!
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
A TV show in the 90s.
She saw him in other shows but always enjoyed his acting.
