Posted on 05/02/2014 11:32:51 PM PDT by ConservativeStatement
Efrem Zimbalist Jr., who portrayed the indefatigable Inspector Lewis Erskine on the long-running U.S. television series "The F.B.I.", died on Friday at the age of 95, according to media reports.
Zimbalist died of natural causes at his home in Solvang, California, his daughter, actress Stephanie Zimbalist, and his son Efrem Zimbalist III, said in a statement, Hollywood trade magazine Variety and other media reported.
"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," the statement said, according to Variety.
(Excerpt) Read more at chicagotribune.com ...
RIP Efrem Zimalist Jr. you are now in the presence of the Lord. Glad to know you were a believer in Christ. Amazing he was 95, he lived a long life, what a blessing.
I watched that show all the time. The theme to 77 Sunset Strip a childhood memory.
Another that I had no Idea was still alive. RIP and thanks for the memories.
wonderful to know that another brother has “kept the faith” and found safe harbor.
I can still hear that theme song, along with the anthemic “click-click” finger snap at the end of the title phrase.
there must be thousands of boomers doing that night now..
RIP.
Thanks for posting this. Many years ago, I had a big crush on his daughter, Stephanie. Also, a few years ago, I gave a talk at an Episcopal Church in Encino. I learned that Mr. Zimbalist attended that church and that he certainly was a devout Christian. Shortly thereafter, I received an autographed picture of Stephanie from the bishop’s wife. Really neat and a nice surprise.
Zimbalist said in an interview four decades later that fans of the show occasionally approached him to say they had joined the FBI or had become police officers because of his portrayal of the calm and authoritative government agent on the series.
“I get more joy from that than anything in my life,” he said. “When you learn that you inspired someone, it’s a huge honor.”
I had no idea he was still alive.
We watched “FBI” as a family every week.
Was it on Friday night?
He supported Barry Goldwater in 1964, which should endear him to readers of Free Republic.
Seems he had a daughter, Nancy, who predeceased him in 2012 at the age of 68.
http://lauraholt1943.blogspot.com/2012/11/sweet-dreams-nancy.html
I’m sure that Kookie Byrnes will tip his comb to the man ...
“77 Sunset Strip” was a bit before my time, but I remember “The FBI”. I used to watch that show every week when I was young.
I also remember Efrem Zimbalist as a Reagan supporter and California GOP delegate to the national convention.
“EZ” told the media back in those days (and it caused a bit of a stir) that “conservative actors” faced challenges finding work in Hollywood.
In my estimation its gotten quite a bit worse in the years since he said that.
I had to take their word for it. We didn't get a color TV until 1974. The series was over by then.
Gotten worse? Almost certainly. I recall Charlton Heston supposedly told Tom Selleck that even though there were fewer and fewer conservatives in Hollywood, one out of every three did go on to become President of the United States.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WrrcSieqMH8
The first thing that came to mind when I looked at that clip was "The past is a foreign country."
It is exponentially worse
Hollywood is run by Christ hating nihilistic progressives and queer nation
Few exceptions...Hollywood had plenty patriots and Christians and like minded Jews back then
Today it is wholly different
Take Disney...over half their executive management committee is homosexual
I also liked Surfside 6 and Adventures in Paradise.
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