R.I.P. Eddie Albert
 

By BOB THOMAS, Associated Press Writer 17 minutes ago

LOS ANGELES - Eddie Albert, the actor best known as the constantly befuddled city slicker-turned-farmer in television's "Green Acres," has died. He was 99.
ADVERTISEMENT

Albert, who appeared in movies and television for more than 50 years, died of pneumonia Thursday at his home in the Pacific Palisades area, in the presence of his longtime caregivers and son Edward, family friend Dick Guttman said Friday.

Albert achieved his greatest fame on "Green Acres" as Oliver Douglas, a New York lawyer who settles in a farm town with his glamorous wife, played by Eva Gabor, and finds himself perplexed by the antics of a host of rural residents, including a pig named Arnold Ziffel.

Albert was nominated for
Academy Awards as supporting actor in "Roman Holiday" (1953) and "The Heartbreak Kid" (1972).

The actor moved smoothly from the Broadway stage to movies to television. Besides his 1965-1971 run in "Green Acres," he costarred on TV with Robert Wagner in "Switch" from 1975 to 1978 and was a semi-regular on "Falcon Crest" in 1988.

He was a tireless conservationist, crusading for endangered species, healthful food, cleanup of Santa Monica Bay pollution and other causes. He had remained healthy even in old age.

"Three days ago he was playing basketball in his wheelchair with his granddaughter," Guttman said. "He stayed very vital."

... and just to think I was watching "The Longest Yard (1974)" on TV this morning.

:rip:

Playing basketball at 99. Who else can make that claim?

Damn, both and he and Mills in a matter of months :(

Why does IMDb say he was born in 1908?

I was shocked to read today that he was 99, just shocked.

Thanks for the memories Eddie!

its that farm living

Great actor...

rip

99 years old? Wow! :(

He was in the movie my wife and I saw on our first date - The Heartbreak Kid (Best Supporting Actor nomination). He was a spry 66. Or thereabouts. A whole lot of sources (including IMDb as natevines said) say he was born April 22, 1908 which would make him only 97.

I was sent here from the other thread.

:(

Isn't Eddie the third in the "these things happen in threes" thing? Eddie Albert, Ismail Merchant, and....?

In the other thread

http://www.dvdtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=424471

nazz stated:

Another it comes in three examples.

The Riddler, Ernest T. Bass and now Mr. Douglas. :(

That's right...I forgot about Frank.

and most importantly, Howard Morris AKA Ernest T. Bass.

Yeah, but I was talking about significant losses to the industry. ;)

No offense to Mr. Morris' family, of course. RIP, one and all.

When's the cutoff date on these dying in 3's?

Weird coincidence that he dies the weekend the remake opens.

loved him in Switch, watched it every week.

Thanks for the enjoyement.

He always said that if they remade the Longest Yard he'd roll over in his grave. Guess he made that happen. :(

Also comes when they just released McQ on DVD this month, so several of us Duke fans have just seen him there. Great actor, lots of class. 99 is a remarkable age to get to though!!