RIP Efrem Zimbalist, Jr.

Efrem Zimbalist Jr., the suave leading man who starred on ABC TV for 15 straight seasons on '77 Sunset Strip' and then 'The F.B.I.', died Friday May 2, 2014 at his ranch in Solvang, California, his children announced. He was 95.

 
Zimbalist was a household name from 1958 through 1974 for his performances as dapper private eye Stuart Bailey on Friday night staple '77 Sunset Strip', along with Euro-western actor Edd 'Kookie' Byrnes', which lasted six seasons, and as Inspector Lewis Erskine on 'The F.B.I.', which ran for nine.

Born in New York City on November 30, 1918, the son of renowned artists -- soprano Alma Gluck (1884-1938) and violinist Efrem Zimbalist (1889-1995) -- he was the father of actress Stephanie Zimbalist [1956- ], who survives him. As the sly, silver-haired mentor of Pierce Brosnan’s title character on 'Remington Steele', he appeared on the 1982-87 NBC series with his daughter on a handful of episodes.

Zimbalist played the role of Don Alejandro de la Vega in the TV series 'The New Zorro' (1990) which was filmed in Spain. He was replaced in 1991 by Henry Darrow.