Efrem Zimbalist Jr., star of 'The FBI,' dead at 95

photo Actor Efrem Zimbalist Jr, watches during a ceremony honoring him by the FBI at the Federal building in Los Angeles in this Monday, June 8, 2009, file photo. The 95-year-old, who starred in the TV show,"The FBI'' died Friday at his ranch in Solvang, Calif.

LOS ANGELES - Efrem Zimbalist Jr., the son of famous musicians who gained television stardom in the 1950s-60s hit "77 Sunset Strip" and later "The FBI," has died at age 95.

Family friend Judith Moose says Zimbalist died Friday at his ranch in Solvang.

Zimbalist's cool, deductive manner made him the ideal star as the private detective ferreting out Hollywood bad guys in "77 Sunset Strip" and later as the government investigator in "The FBI."

He was the son of violin virtuoso Efrem Zimbalist and Alma Gluck, an acclaimed opera singer. Young Efrem studied the violin too but he developed more interest in acting.

His daughter, Stephanie, also took up acting - and small-screen detective work, in the 1980s TV series "Remington Steele." Her father had a recurring role as a con man.

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