Posted on 05/27/2005 5:02:53 PM PDT by T Lady
LOS ANGELES - Eddie Albert, the actor best known as the constantly befuddled city slicker-turned-farmer in television's "Green Acres," has died. He was 99.
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Albert died of pneumonia Thursday at his home in the Pacific Palisades area, in the presence of caregivers including his son Edward, who was holding his hand at the time.
"He died so beautifully and so gracefully that literally this morning I don't feel grief, I don't feel loss," Edward Albert told The Associated Press.
Albert achieved his greatest fame on "Green Acres" as Oliver Douglas, a New York lawyer who settles in a rural town with his glamorous wife, played by Eva Gabor, and finds himself perplexed by the antics of a host of eccentrics, including a pig named Arnold Ziffel.
He was nominated for Academy Awards as supporting actor in "Roman Holiday" (1953) and "The Heartbreak Kid" (1972).
The actor moved smoothly from the Broadway stage to movies to television. Besides the 1965-1971 run in "Green Acres," he costarred on TV with Robert Wagner in "Switch" from 1975 to 1978 and was a semi-regular on "Falcon Crest" in 1988.
He was a tireless conservationist, crusading for endangered species, healthful food, cleanup of Santa Monica Bay pollution and other causes.
Albert's mother was not married when he was born, in 1906. After marrying, she changed his birth certificate to read 1908, the younger Albert said.
Rarely the star of films, Albert often portrayed the wisecracking sidekick, fast-talking salesman or sympathetic father. His stardom came in television, especially with "Green Acres," in which, ironically, he played straight man. The show joined "The Beverly Hillbillies," "Petticoat Junction" and other high-rated CBS comedies of the 1960s and '70s.
"Some people think that because of the bucolic background `Green Acres' is corny," Albert told an interviewer in 1970. "But we get away with some of the most incredible lines on television."
His break in show business came during the '30s in the Broadway hit "Brother Rat," a comedy about life at Virginia Military Institute. Warner Bros. signed him to a contract and cast him in the 1938 film.
According to Hollywood gossip, he was caught in a dalliance with the wife of Jack L. Warner and the studio boss removed him from a film and allowed him to languish under contract.
The actor left Hollywood and appeared as a clown and trapeze artist in a one-ring Mexican circus. He escaped his studio contract by joining the Navy in World War II and served in combat in the South Pacific. He received a Bronze Star for his heroic rescue of wounded Marines at Tarawa, his son said.
Albert managed to rehabilitate his film career after the war, beginning with "Smash-up" with Susan Hayward in 1947.
Among his other films: "Carrie," "Oklahoma!" "The Teahouse of the August Moon," "The Sun Also Rises," "The Roots of Heaven," "The Longest Day," "Miracle of the White Stallions," "The Longest Yard" and "Escape to Witch Mountain."
Edward Albert Heimberger was born in Rock Island, Ill., grew up in Minneapolis and worked his way through two years at the University of Minnesota.
Amateur theater led to singing engagements in nightclubs and on radio. During that time he dropped his last name "because most people mispronounced it as 'Hamburger.'"
Moving to New York, Albert acted on radio and appeared in summer stock before he broke into Broadway and the movies.
"Green Acres" made Albert a rich man and allowed him to pursue his causes. He traveled the world for UNICEF. He continued acting into his 80s, often appearing in television movies.
"Acting was a tenth of his life. The majority of his life was committed to helping other people," said his son, also an actor. "This guy was, from the absolute depth of his soul, one of the true heroes of our world."
Edward Albert, 54, who became a prominent actor in "Butterflies Are Free," "40 Carats" and other films, said he put his career on hold for the past eight years to aid his father, who suffered from Alzheimer's disease.
On Friday, he remembered a moment several years ago in which the two sat in a garden together.
"I said to him 'You're my hero.' I saw him struggling to put together the words, and he looked at me and said: 'You're your hero's hero.' I'll take that to my ... grave."
Albert was married to the dancer-actress Margo for 40 years until her death in 1985. In addition to his son, Albert is survived by a daughter, Maria Albert Zucht, and two granddaughters.
A private funeral was planned.
____
Associated Press Writer Ryan Pearson contributed to this report.
99? Wow
Sad Green Acres Ping. :-(
RIP, Eddie.
Related thread:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1411924/posts
Being only 24, I never saw Green Acres on the original run. I did enjoy the Nick at Nite reruns though.
The music that would play and Mr. Haney were a nice touch to a good comedy. Mr. Douglas was the perfect straight man.
Yep.
...May he rest in peace. He was one of my favorite character actors. Did a great job in two wonderful films: 'A Dispatch From Reuters'(1940) with Edward G. Robinson, and 'Roman Holiday' (1950) with Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn. I highly recommend getting the latter on DVD. It's worth it.
-Regards, T.
Political agenda done, think so.
Served in the United States Navy during WWII
Was an active participant in the battle of Tarawa (Nov. 1943), one of the bloodiest battles of World War II, and U.S. Marines Corps history. Is credited with braving enemy fire during 26 rescue missions saving wounded Marines. Has spoken about it in television documentaries.
Because of his his early work with environmental causes and groups, when International Earth Day was created, it was decided it must be held on April 22 because that is his birthday.
Was awarded the Bronze Star with a combat 'V' for rescuing 70 Marines during the battle of Tarawa in 1943
On memorial day weekend also.
That music was by Vic Mizzy, who did quite a bit of composing for Hollywood back in its heyday.
-Regards, T.
I remember watching these as a child.
Good comedy....in a clean way.
Interesting. I knew he served in WWII. Thanks for that info.
And he was Pod, the proud, tiny little homunculus in the delightful movie, "The Borrowers." Great movie, the kids never get tired of it.
"Petticoat Junction", hmm?
Come ride the little train that is rolling down the tracks to the junction.
(Petticoat Junction)
Forget about your cares, it is time to relax at the junction.
(Petticoat Junction)
Lotsa curves, you bet. Even more when you get
To the junction, Petticoat Junction.
There's a little hotel called the Shady Rest at the junction.
(Petticoat Junction)
It is run by Kate, come and be her guest at the junction.
(Petticoat Junction)
And that's Uncle Joe, he's a movin' kind of slow at the junction,
Petticoat Junction.
(LoL)
http://www.afnoa.org/hollywood_heros.html
Lots of brave folks featured there from the Hollywood of yesteryear.
I was watching The Longest Yard last night, the original where he played the warden, and wondering if he was still alive.
The Lord did give him a good long life. They just don't make them like they used to. Mr. Albert will be missed.
-Regards, T.
Eddie Albert was also great as the Warden in the original version of "The Longest Yard".
Thank you for your service to our country, Mr. Albert. Rest in Peace.
What a shame. He was great in everything he was in. May he Rest in Peace.
Paul Henning died too? I had no idea he was gone, too.
...May the Lord rest his soul.
-Regards, T.
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