It's hardly surprising that the son of renowned Russian-born concert violinist 'Efrem Zimbalist Sr.' 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 eldest daughter Nancy died in 2012. Zimbalist died peacefully at his Solvang home of natural causes at the age of 95 on May 2, 2014.
Father of Stephanie Zimbalist.
Son of violinist Efrem Zimbalist Sr. and opera singer Alma Gluck.
He was severely wounded during his World War II service, at Huertgen Forest.
In 1935, after accompanying his father on a concert tour of the Soviet Union, he was enrolled by his parents to a boarding school in Kiev, while they visited western Europe. Expected to learn piano in a class of wonderkinds, he was rather handicapped, for the classes were taught in Ukrainian - a language he did not know. He eventually ran off to Moscow, where his elder sister had been lodged with a family. After spending a bad winter in Moscow, (they only had their summer clothing, at the time). He and his sister hid the last of their money in the bottom of a cold-cream jar to prevent confiscation by Russian border officials, and they escaped from Moscow, by train to Paris.
His father was Russian-born and his mother was Romanian-born; both were from Jewish families. Zimbalist was an early practitioner and proponent of Transcendental Meditation, as taught by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, prior to his conversion to Christianity.
Children from his marriage to Emily McNair: Nancy Zimbalist and Efrem "Skip" Zimbalist III.
Younger stepbrother of Marcia Davenport.
Has played the same character (Alfred Pennyworth) on five different series: "Batman: The Animated Series" , "Superman" , "The New Batman Adventures" , "Static Shock" and "Justice League" .
Is a staunch conservative Republican.
(October 2004) Came out of retirement to act with daughter Stephanie Zimbalist in a stage production of "Night of the Iguana" in Ventura, California.
(February 2007) Occasionally, he does voice-overs, reading Biblical verses, for the Trinity Broadcasting Network, as a commercial-break starts or concludes.
He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 7095 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California on February 1, 1994.
Zimbalist died on May 2, 2014 from natural causes at the age of 95, outliving his fathers age of 94 by one year. His daughter Stephanie announced the news saying he was 95 years old, 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.
Close friends with then-FBI chief J. Edgar Hoover, Zimbalist ended many Quinn Martin productions on Sunday nights with a description of a fugitive wanted by FBI agents, exhorting viewers to be on the lookout. One of the more prominent names from this segment was James Earl Ray, assassin of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
In 2009, FBI Director Robert Mueller presented an honorary Special Agent badge to Zimbalist.
His daughter Nancy Zimbalist died in 2012.
