Efrem Zimbalist Jr. (November 30, 1918 – May 2, 2014) was an American actor best known for his starring roles in the television series 77 Sunset Strip and The F.B.I.

He is also known as recurring character "Dandy Jim Buckley" in the series Maverick and as the voice of Alfred Pennyworth in the DC Animated Universe.

[2] He moved back to New York City in 1936 to work as a page for NBC radio where he had small on-air roles as well as presenting shows.

He furthered his acting training at Neighborhood Playhouse[6] before serving in the United States Army during World War II, where he became friends with writer and director Garson Kanin.

[9] He was discharged at the end of the war, and his awards and decorations included the Bronze Star Medal and Combat Infantryman Badge, in addition to the Purple Heart he received for a shrapnel wound to his leg during the battle of Hürtgen Forest.

[9] Following the war, Zimbalist returned to New York and made his Broadway acting debut in The Rugged Path,[10][11] starring Spencer Tracy.

His producing successes included bringing three Gian Carlo Menotti operas to Broadway, one of which, The Consul,[12] won the Pulitzer Prize for Music in 1950.

[13] Zimbalist's first recurring role in a Warner Bros. Television series was as roguish gambler "Dandy Jim Buckley" on Maverick, opposite James Garner in 1957, and making five appearances as the character.

In 1958, Zimbalist played the co-lead Stuart "Stu" Bailey in 77 Sunset Strip, a popular detective series running until 1964.

During this period, he made several concurrent appearances in other Warner Bros. television shows, such as Hawaiian Eye, The Alaskans, and Bronco.

[citation needed] Apart from 77 Sunset Strip, Zimbalist was most widely known for his starring role as Inspector Lewis Erskine in the Quinn Martin television production The F.B.I., which premiered on September 19, 1965, and aired its final episode on April 28, 1974.

After 77 Sunset Strip, he appeared in other series, including CBS's short-lived The Reporter starring Harry Guardino as journalist Danny Taylor of the fictitious New York Globe.

He said being Alfred had "made me an idol in my little grandchildren’s eyes.”[21] Zimbalist also played villain Doctor Octopus in Spider-Man: The Animated Series.

PTL's principal televangelistic successor, the Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN),[29] engaged Zimbalist to make its many announcements, including the station's idents every half hour, which aired between 1992 and 2012.

[28] Afterward he joined the Anglican Church of Our Savior in Santa Barbara; he was an occasional reader there and requested donations be made to them (among others) in his obituary.

[32] In 1963 and 1964, Zimbalist joined fellow actors William Lundigan, Chill Wills and Walter Brennan in making appearances on behalf of U.S.