Veteran actor Efrem Zimbalist Jr dies

Veteran actor Efrem Zimbalist Jr, best remembered for his roles in 1960s hit show '77 Sunset Strip' and 'The FBI', has passed away at the age of 95.
The actor died yesterday at his home in Solvang, California, according to a statement issued by his actress daughter Stephanie, reported Variety.
"We are heartbroken to announce the passing into peace of our beloved father, Efrem Zimbalist Jr today at his Solvang, California. Ranch," his family said in the statement.
"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," he read further.

Zimbalist was born to a show business family in New York City in 1918. His father was concert violinist and compositor Efrem Zimbalist Sr while his mother, Alma Gluck, was a popular singer.
He studied at Yale as a teenager before enlisting in the Army in World War II. After the war, he studied at Yale Drama School.

The actor started with small roles in TV shows in the early 1950s before he hit big in television.
During his run on 'Sunset Strip', he made appearances on other TV shows, including James Garner's 'Maverick' and 'Hawaiian Eye'. He continued to bag film roles, notably 1967's 'Wait Until Dark' and 1974's 'Airport 1975'.

In the 1990s, Zimbalist became a frequent guest on shows airing on the Trinity Broadcasting Network, and hosted his own show for the network, 'Word From the Holyland'.
He also did voice-over work for numerous cartoon series, including 'Spider-Man', 'The New Batman Adventures' and more recently, Cartoon Network's 'Justice League'.