Emblematic actor of the 1960s -- via the Hollywood Reporter. The son of famed musicians -- violinist Erfrem Sr. and soprano Alma Gluck -- Zimbalist worked his way through stage, on the way producing three of Menoti's most significant operas -- "The Telephone," "The Medium," and "The Consul." He first made a splash in the guest role of Dandy Jim Buckley on the short-lived but significant Western comedy "Maverick." He then starred in the lighthearted detective series "77 Sunset Strip."
Most significantly, he portrayed the central figure of straight-arrow Inspector Lewis Erskine on the series "The F.B.I." for 15 years. He embodied Hoover's ideal of how an agent should look and act. However, once free to act again, he proved his droll charm on his daughter Stephanie's "Remington Steele" show as a suave con man Daniel Chalmers. Later still, he became the voice of Alfred on various animated "Batman" series. A fine talent!
