Born in Manhattan and raised in Los Angeles, Stephanie grew up swimming, riding, playing tennis, dancing, diving, clowning around, doing chores, and living the normal life of a tomboy in the great expanse of the San Fernando Valley. As a very young amateur theatrical entrepreneur, she produced, wrote, and directed pieces in her little bedroom hallway, in the stable, and on neighbors' fireplace hearths, earning her the title, "the boss". But Stephanie's abiding love of theater was kindled at Brown Ledge Camp in Mallett's Bay, Vermont, where she acted, sang, and was nurtured in theater craft for six summers. Friends she made there count among her friends today. Eager to get on with it, she created her own independent project in her senior year at Foxcroft School in Middleburg, Virginia: she returned to Los Angeles to study acting, movement, voice, tap and ballet. After graduating cum laude from high school, Stephanie's ambitions led her to choose a professional drama school over university, and she spent a challenging time in New York "getting a dose of it". Returning to Los Angeles once again, she worked for her brother and sister-in-law's company, "Correia Art Glass", while she made the audition rounds. In time, she gave up packing glass to star in television movies, among them the Emmy Award-winning _The Gathering 's "The Night of the Iguana".
Studied music and acting at the Juilliard School.
Was originally cast as Anne Lewis in RoboCop , but had to give up her role to Nancy Allen when called back to resume filming episodes of "Remington Steele" .
(February 2001) Won the Robby Award for Best Actress in a Drama for her role as Lizzy Curry in "The Rainmaker". The awards, which were presented at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, are given every year to honor distinguished achievement in theater.
Has a half-brother, Efrem Zimbalist III, and a sister, Nancy Zimbalist.
Co-starred alongside her father Efrem Zimbalist Jr. in The Best Place to Be , also starring the late Donna Reed.
Her aunt, Marcia Davenport , was the bestselling author of "Valley of Decision" and "East Side, West Side", both of which were made into films. She also wrote the definitive biography of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart , which has never been out of print.
Was born on the same day New York Yankees pitcher Don Larsen tossed the only perfect game in World Series history, against the Brooklyn Dodgers at Yankee Stadium.
Is an honorary member of the Stuntwomens Association. Finally learned a deep-water start on a slalom ski while on location in Acapulco on "Remington Steele" . Made it a point to water-ski in every seaside location after that. Got terribly lost with Rue McClanahan in the streets of Madrid for over an hour while shooting The Man in the Brown Suit .
Is the third of five generations of women in her family (so far) to go to Brown Ledge Camp in Malletts Bay, Vermont. Used to muck out stalls every day before she went to school. Dived for Allen Pinson , legendary Olympic coach, when she was 13, and had to opt out to stay in school and study. Accelerated her senior year of high school to return to Los Angeles and study acting and dance. Left most of her college essay applications in the back well of a taxi the week before they were due.
Studied classical singing for six years with Natalie Bodanya of the Met, who studied with Marcella Sembrich, who also coached her grandmother, Alma Gluck. Alma was the first singer to sell a million records. She also had three sets of teeth. When her dog So-So ran away, it made the front page of the "New York Times".
Turned 21 while working on location at the Hop Kiln Winery in Sonoma on The Magic of Lassie with James Stewart - couldnt get carded for a pitcher of beer that night. In an interview for Video Review years later, Stewart said she was his favorite actress today.
Met Kevin Conroy at the Julliard School. The two would later go on to work on "Batman: The Animated Series" , alongside her father, Efrem Zimbalist Jr..
Has starred on television alongside two future big-screen James Bonds: Timothy Dalton in "Centennial" and Pierce Brosnan on "Remington Steele" .
Her older sister Nancy Zimbalist died in 2012.
