Stephanie Zimbalist

 

"I have a personal connection with my Savior...I feel very beholden to Him...I feel He's there for me in my darkest moments."

No, you didn't miss a headline.  Stephanie Zimbalist is still very much alive, but why should that stop her from having a grave, or for this blog to cover it?

She was born Loranda Stephanie Zimbalist in New York City on October 8, 1956.  She is the daughter of actor Efrem Zimbalist, Jr., star of the 1960's television series 77 Sunset Strip, and the granddaughter of Efrem Sr., a renowned concert violinist and symphony conductor.  By age 11, she was already following in her father's footsteps, appearing in a 1969 stage production of Gypsy.

After graduating from an all-girls prep school in Virginia, she enrolled in the renowned Juilliard School in New York City.  While still studying drama, she began her acting career on the small screen, with roles in a variety of made-for-TV movies, including The Gathering (1978) with Ed Asner and The Awakening (1980) with Charlton Heston. One of her first guest roles on a television series was a two-part episode of The Love Boat in 1978. 

In 1982, she was cast in the role for which she is most famously known, that of Detective Laura Holt on the NBC series Remington Steele.  The show ran for five seasons and made household names of her and future James Bond star, Pierce Brosnan.  When the series ended, she continued acting, racking up several film and stage credits.  Her most recent role was in the 2023 black comedy Lucky Louie.

In 2014, Efrem Jr. passed away.  He was buried at Town Hill Cemetery in New Hartford, Connecticut.  It is home to the Zimbalist Family plot, where several generations, including Efrem Sr., have all been laid to rest.  Although she is still very much alive, Stephanie's grave is prepared for inevitable arrival.

Here's to many more years. Stephanie.

Trivia

• This blog post will inevitably be updated, but hopefully not for many years to come.
  
  
• If you want to learn more about Stephanie, visit her website, at www.stephaniezimbalist.net.
  
  
• A woman of faith, Stephanie's headstone bears the Bible verse Ephesians 4:6, which says "One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all."  She also discussed her faith with the YouTube series Credo in Hollywood.
  
  
• Stephanie was originally cast to play Officer Anne Lewis in one of this blogger's favorite movies, RoboCop, but was unable to appear due to her filming commitment to Remington Steele.  The part ultimately went to actress Nancy Allen.
  
  
• Stephanie's co-star Pierce Brosnan later famously took on the role of James Bond, making him the second 007 she would appear with on television, the first one being Timothy Dalton in the 1978 mini-series Centennial.
  
  
• In recent years, Stephanie has narrated a number of audiobooks, including A Knight in Shining Armor by Jude Deveraux.  For a complete listing of her work, please visit audible.com.