Home> Facts and Trivia > Stars > Eddie Albert
Eddie Albert Facts
| Sign | Taurus |
| Born |
Apr 22, 1906 Rock Island, IL |
| Died |
May 26, 2005 Pacific Palisades, CA |
| Age | Died at 99 |
| Total Facts | 54 |
After his guest-starring role on "Extreme Ghostbusters" (1997), he retired from acting at age 91.
Also presided over a game show and two variety shows in the early 1950s.
An avid environmentalist, he shared his concerns on TV on the "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson" (1962) and "Today" (1952) shows and lectured everywhere from high schools and industrial conventions. He produced films to aid in campaigns against pollution. He also helped to launch the very first "Earth Day" on April 22, 1970, his birthday.
Attended the University of Minnestoa where he studied drama.
Because of his his early work with environmental causes and groups, when International Earth Day was created, it was decided it must be held on April 22 because that was his birthday.
Before he was a successful actor, he almost did everything at an early age, from working as a newspaper boy to that of an insurance salesman.
Before he was a successful actor, he was also a soda jerk and a singer in a pop band.
Began his career as a contract player for Warner Bros. in 1936.
Best remembered by the public for his starring role as the big-city lawyer turned farmer Oliver Wendell Douglas in "Green Acres" (1965).
Biography in: "The Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives". Volume 7, 2003-2005, pages 5-7. Farmington Hills, MI: Thomson Gale, 2007.
Born at 11:30 am-PST.
Buried not too far from his "Green Acres" (1965) co-star Eva Gabor at Westwood Memorial in Los Angeles, California.
Classmate (Minneapolis Central High School, 1926) of actress Ann Sothern, then known as Harriette Lake.
Father of actor Edward Albert and Maria Albert Zucht. Two granddaughters.
Father was a real estate agent.
Father-in-law of actress Katherine Woodville.
Founder of City Children's Farms, a program for involving inner-city children in farming, and the Eddie Albert Trees Foundation.
Graduated from Central High School in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1924.
Grandfather of Thais Albert.
He and his wife Margo, a Mexican actress/singer, whom he married after the war, had a nightclub act.
He had 12 hobbies: jogging, swimming, golfing, world travel, organic gardening, sculpting, beekeeping, wine making, sailing, boating, reading and playing guitar.
He wrote the first original drama for television in 1936 as well as writing dozens of small scripts for RCA.
Hired by the government, he went on "sailing" expeditions and reported Nazi and Japanese activity in the Baja, California and Mexico areas He once joined a Mexican circus act owned by the Escalante Brothers and while touring as a "flyer" in a trapeze act gathered intelligence.
His future "Switch" (1975) co-star, Robert Wagner, had seen him in the movie Brother Rat (1938) at the time of its release. He said that even though he was only eight years old, he was impressed by Albert's talent.
His real name was Eddie Albert Heimberger. He changed his name early on while he was singing on radio with a trio. It seems the announcer kept introducing him as "Eddie Hamburger" so he dropped his last name and adopted his middle name as his last.
His son, Edward Albert Jr., died just over a year after his father, from lung cancer.
His wife, Margo, died in 1985, just five months before the couple's 40th wedding anniversary.
In 1933, he traveled to New York City, where he co-hosted on the popular radio show, The Honeymooners - Grace and Eddie Show, which ran for three years.
In 1946, he served as Executive Producer of Eddie Albert Productions.
In high school, he joined the Drama Department.
In third grade, he was taunted as "the enemy" by his classmates, during World War I.
Met Margo while on leave of duty, and were married in late 1945.
Met Jane Wyman on the set of Brother Rat (1938), later he would have a recurring role opposite her on "Falcon Crest" (1981).
Mother was a housewife.
Of Christian German immigrants.
Played Oliver Wendell Douglas, along with Eva Gabor as Lisa Douglas, on three shows: "The Beverly Hillbillies" (1962), "Petticoat Junction" (1963) and "Green Acres" (1965).
Remained good friends with Robert Wagner during and after "Switch" (1975).
Remained good friends with Tom Lester during and after "Green Acres" (1965).
Served in the United States Navy during WWII
Son Edward Albert was his primary caregiver during his last years battling with Alzheimer's disease. Was healthy and physically active a month before his death at age 99.
Taught his "Green Acres" (1965) co-star, Tom Lester, to eat healthily, just like Albert himself did.
Three of the surviving cast members of "Green Acres" (1965) attended his funeral, on 26 May 2005, co-star, Tom Lester was not present. Albert once stated Lester was his closest and best friend.
To hide the fact that he was born out of wedlock, his mother altered his birth certificate to read 1908. However, his son, Edward Albert Jr., confirmed Eddie Sr. was actually born in 1906.
Turned down the lead series roles in "My Three Sons" (1960) and "Mister Ed" (1958) in order to actively pursue his movie career.
Was a huge fan of "Falcon Crest" (1981) that starred his old friend Jane Wyman, and had a recurring role in 1987.
Was a spokesperson for the National Arbor Day Foundation from 1985 to 1993.
Was also good friends with Morgan Fairchild and Gregory Peck.
Was an active Democrat.
Was an active participant in the battle of Tarawa (Nov. 1943), one of the bloodiest battles of World War II and in the history of the U.S. Marine Corps. Albert was credited with rescuing up to 70 wounded Marines while under enemy fire. He was awarded the Bronze Star with a combat "V". He did not speak about this publicly until it was mentioned in several television documentaries about the battle in the 1990s.
Was raised in the same city as Ann Sothern.