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. He is also known as the voice behind the character Alfred Pennyworth in Batman: The Animated Series and its numerous spin-offs.

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 5, 2007, at the age of 73. 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 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, Stuart "Stu" Bailey, in 77 Sunset Strip, a popular detective series running until 1964. After 77 Sunset Strip, he appeared in other series, including CBS's short-lived The Reporter starring Harry Guardino as a journalist, Danny Taylor of the fictitious New York Post. Zimbalist 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 (a film about a ruthless politician), Wait Until Dark, and Airport 1975.

Zimbalist had a recurring role on his daughter's 1980s television detective series, Remington Steele.

In 1990, he 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 the filming at studios outside Madrid, Spain. He had a small recurring role in the 1990s science fiction TV series Babylon 5 as William Edgars.

Also in the 1990s, Efrem Zimbalist, Jr. played Alfred Pennyworth in Batman: The Animated Series as well as in Superman: The Animated Series, The New Batman Adventures, Justice League, Static Shock, and the animated films Batman: Mask of the Phantasm, Batman & Mr. Freeze: SubZero, and Batman: Mystery of the Batwoman and villain Doctor Octopus in Spider-Man: The Animated Series. He has appeared on the Trinity Broadcasting Network.

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

In 2008, Efrem appeared in the short film THE DELIVERY, where he plays the professor who helps a young girl in her struggles for literacy. The film won First Place in Fantasy at Dragon*Con Film Festival and was an Official Selection of the Los Angeles International Children's Festival and the Reel Women International Film Festival in 2009.

On June 8, 2009 FBI Director Robert Mueller presented 90 year old Zimbalist with a plaque of an honorary special agent for his work on the TV series The F.B.I..