It's hardly surprising that the son of renowned Russian-born concert violinist Efrem Zimbalist Sr. (1889-1985) and Romanian-born opera singer Alma Gluck (1884-1938) would desire a performing career of some kind. Born in New York City on November 30, 1918, surrounded by people of wealth and privilege throughout his childhood, Efrem Zimbalist Jr. received a boarding school education. Acting in school plays, he later trained briefly at the Yale School of Drama but didn't apply himself enough and quit. As an NBC network radio page, he auditioned when he could and found minor TV and stock theatre parts while joining up with the Neighborhood Playhouse.

Following WWII war service with the Army infantry in which he was awarded the Purple Heart after being wounded, a director and friend of the family, Garson Kanin, gave the aspiring actor his first professional role in his Broadway production of "The Rugged Path" (1945) which starred Spencer Tracy. With his dark, friendly, clean-scrubbed good looks and a deep, rich voice that could cut butter, Zimbalist found little trouble finding work. He continued with the American Repertory Theatre performing in such classics as "Henry VIII" and "Androcles and the Lion" while appearing opposite the legendary Eva Le Gallienne in "Hedda Gabler".

Zimbalist then tried his hand as a stage producer, successfully bringing opera to Broadway audiences for the first time with memorable presentations of "The Medium" and "The Telephone". As producer of Gian Carlo Menotti's "The Consul", he won the New York Drama Critic's Award and the Pulitzer Prize for best musical in 1950. An auspicious film debut opposite Edward G. Robinson in House of Strangers (1949) brought little career momentum due to the untimely death of his wife Emily (a onetime actress who appeared with him in "Hedda Gabler" and bore him two children, Nancy and Efrem III) to cancer in 1950. Making an abrupt decision to abandon acting, he served as assistant director/researcher at the Curtis School of Music for his father and buried himself with studies and music composition.

In 1954, Efrem returned to acting and copped a daytime television soap lead (Concerning Miss Marlowe (1954)). It was famed director Joshua Logan who proved instrumental in helping Zimbalist secure a Warner Bros. contract. Despite forthright second leads in decent films such as Band of Angels (1957) with Clark Gable and Yvonne De Carlo; Too Much, Too Soon (1958) starring Dorothy Malone and Errol Flynn; Home Before Dark (1958) with Jean Simmons and Rhonda Fleming; The Crowded Sky (1960) with Dana Andrews, Rhonda Fleming, Troy Donahue and Anne Francis; A Fever in the Blood (1961) opposite Angie Dickinson and (his best) Wait Until Dark (1967) with Audrey Hepburn, it was television that made the better use of his refined, unshowy acting style. His roles as smooth private investigator Stu Bailey on 77 Sunset Strip (1958) and dogged inspector Lewis Erskine on The F.B.I. (1965) would be his ultimate claims to fame.

A perfect gentleman on and off camera, Zimbalist's severest critics tend to deem his performances bland and undernourished. Managing to override such criticisms, he maintained a sturdy career for nearly six decades. In 1991, he made fun of his all-serious reputation and pulled off a Leslie Nielsen-like role in the comedy parody Hot Shots! (1991). In addition to theater projects over the years, he has made fine use of his mellifluous baritone performing narrations and cartoon voiceovers, including that of Alfred the butler on a "Batman" animated series.

In 2003, he completed his memoirs, entitled "My Dinner of Herbs". The father of three, grandfather of four and great-grandfather of three, he settled in Santa Barbara and later in Solvang, California with longtime second wife Stephanie until her death in 2007 of cancer. Their daughter, also named Stephanie (Stephanie Zimbalist), is the well-known actress who appeared with Pierce Brosnan in the Remington Steele (1982) television series, in which Zimbalist had a recurring role. He and his daughter also appeared on stage together in his later years, their first being "The Night of the Iguana". His elder daughter Nancy died in 2012.

Zimbalist died peacefully at his Solvang home of natural causes at the age of 95 on May 2, 2014; he had been outside watering his lawn at his Solvang, Calif., ranch when a handyman found him lying dead in the grass. "He was healthy, playing golf three days a week, and always in his garden," Zimbalist's son said.

Norman Leavitt was born on 1 December 1913 in Lansing, Michigan, USA. He was an actor, known for Off Limits (1952), Trackdown (1957) and The Twilight Zone (1959). He was married to Irene Nelson and Emily A Kipp. He died on 11 December 2005 in Solvang, California, USA.

Kenny Baker was born on 30 September 1912 in Monrovia, California, USA. He was an actor, known for Silver Skates (1943), Hit Parade of 1941 (1940) and The Mikado (1939). He was married to Geraldyne Louise Churchill. He died on 10 August 1985 in Solvang, California, USA.

Gerald Kessler was an actor and producer, known for Mysteria (2011), The Harvest (2013) and Miss Castaway and the Island Girls (2004). He died in March 2015 in Solvang, California, USA.

Stevan Larner was born on 6 February 1930 in New York City, New York, USA. He was a cinematographer and actor, known for Badlands (1973), The Winds of War (1983) and Caddyshack (1980). He was married to Christine Larner. He died on 6 November 2005 in Solvang, California, USA.

Dick Conway was born on 8 September 1914 in Seattle, Washington, USA. He was a writer, known for Leave It to Beaver (1957), Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons (1967) and Kid Monk Baroni (1952). He died on 25 November 2002 in Solvang, California, USA.

Cobina Wright came from a wealthy aristocratic family from New York City and started her show business career as a model, being in the top ten at John Robert Powers (the most sought after agency at that time). Bob Hope used her as the basis for character Cobina on his radio program in 1939. She was friends with Dolores and Bob and appeared on his program numerous times.

She began a radio career and appeared in about a dozen movies during the early 40s.

Fred R. Krug was born on 30 August 1929 in Bern, Switzerland. Fred R. was a producer and director, known for Animal World (1968), The Magical World of Disney (1954) and The Challenging Sea (1969). Fred R. was married to Rosemary Krug. Fred R. died on 4 June 2024 in Solvang, California, USA.

Ian Bernard was most known for his work as musical director for the highly successful 1968-1973 TV comedy program, "Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In." Born Ian Jerrold Bernard on July 17, 1930, in Windsor, Ontario, Canada, he worked as a musician, writer and musical director. He had small roles as a young teenager in three films; but his heart was set on music. He played piano for Rosemary Clooney and arranged and produced albums for singers, including Vic Damone and Dick Haymes. In retirement, he was a member, and served as president of the Santa Barbara Jazz Society. It stages 10 shows annually, and Bernard produced many of its shows in the early 2000s. Bernard was married to his fourth wife, Penny Bernard, since 1967.

Charles Willcox was born on 31 March 1933 in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, USA. He was an actor, known for I Was a Teenage Werewolf (1957), Rockabilly Baby (1957) and Speed Crazy (1959). He died on 11 June 2018 in Solvang, California, USA.

Edward Hansen was born on 7 September 1925 in the USA. He was an assistant director and production manager, known for The Aristocats (1970), The Fox and the Hound (1981) and Robin Hood (1973). He died on 11 December 2007 in Solvang, California, USA.

Yvonne Wood was born on 27 September 1914 in Los Angeles, California, USA. She was a costume designer, known for Slave Girl (1947), Winchester '73 (1950) and Shakedown (1950). She was married to Edward A. Scheffer. She died on 14 January 1999 in Solvang, California, USA.

Howard Hanson was born on 11 October 1912 in Chicago, Illinois. He was a production manager, known for Space Ghost (1966), Jonny Quest (1964) and Punkin' Puss & Mushmouse (1964). He died on 1 January 1984 in Solvang, California, USA.

Carole Beers was born on 30 December 1935 in Los Angeles County, California, USA. She was a director and writer, known for Darkwing Duck (1991), Dino-Riders (1988) and Exosquad (1993). She died on 16 March 1999 in Solvang, California, USA.

Richard S. Conway was born on 8 September 1914 in Seattle, Washington, USA. He was a writer, known for Once a Thief (1950), Yankee Fakir (1947) and The Cisco Kid (1950). He died on 25 November 2002 in Solvang, California, USA.

Gary Woods was born on 20 July 1954 in Santa Barbara, California, USA. He was an actor, known for Renegade (1992), 1980 National League Championship Series (1980) and 1984 National League Championship Series (1984). He was married to Susan. He died on 19 February 2015 in Solvang, California, USA.

Al Gionfriddo was born on 8 March 1922 in Dysart, Pennsylvania, USA. He was married to Susan Carol Jacobsen and Arlene Lentz. He died on 15 March 2003 in Solvang, California, USA.

Greta Andersen was born on 1 May 1927 in Copenhagen, Denmark. She was married to John Sonnichsen, Andre Veress and Helge Jeppesen. She died on 6 February 2023 in Solvang, California, USA.