Eddie Albert

Date of Birth

22 April 1906, Rock Island, Illinois, USA

Eva Gabor

Date of Birth

11 February 1919, Budapest, Hungary

Date of Death

4 July 1995, Los Angeles, California, USA (respiratory failure due to complications of food poisoning)

Of the fabled trio of Gabor sisters, Eva was the "good Gabor." She arrived in the US in the 1930s and appeared both in films and on Broadway. However, she is best remembered as the socialite turned farm wife on TV's "Green Acres" (1965) with co-star Eddie Albert playing husband Oliver Wendell Douglas

Daughter of Jolie Gabor. Sister of Magda Gabor and Zsa Zsa Gabor.

She founded a wig company.

Credited with the quote "Marriage is too interesting an experiment to be tried only once."

Married and divorced five times. Eva's first husband, Dr. Erik Drimmer, was Greta Garbo's osteopath.

First of the Gabors to immigrate to America from Hungary.

Measurements: 36-22-36 (upon arrival from Hungary in 1940) (Source: Celebrity Sleuth magazine)

Was both a cat and dog lover.

Buried near "Green Acres" (1965) co star Eddie Albert at Westwood Memorial in Los Angeles, California.

Lived platonically with Merv Griffin, creator of the "Wheel of Fortune" (1983) game show, for several years up until her death.

Was friends with Audrey Hepburn.

In November, 1957, Eva was the landlady of actor Jim Backus - he sublet her New York City apartment.

The epitaph on her grave reads: Our darling Eva We love you You are in our hearts forever

Date of Death

26 May 2005, Pacific Palisades, California, USA (pneumonia)

Birth Name

Edward Albert Heimberger

Served in the United States Navy during WWII

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.

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.

Father-in-law of actress Katherine Woodville.

He and his wife Margo, a Mexican actress/singer, whom he married after the war, had a nightclub act.

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.

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.

Father was a real estate agent.

Attended the University of Minnestoa where he studied drama.

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.

Also presided over a game show and two variety shows in the early 1950s.

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.

Turned down the lead series roles in "My Three Sons" (1960) and "Mister Ed" (1961) in order to actively pursue his movie career.

Buried not too far from his "Green Acres" (1965) co-star Eva Gabor at Westwood Memorial in Los Angeles, California.

Grandfather of Thais Albert.

He wrote the first original drama for television in 1936 as well as writing dozens of small scripts for RCA.

Classmate (Minneapolis Central High School, 1926) of actress Ann Sothern, then known as Harriette Lake.

Was very good friends with: Jane Wyman, Buddy Ebsen, Nanette Fabray, Eva Gabor, Shirley Jones and Gregory Peck.

His son, Edward Albert Jr., died just over a year after his father, from lung cancer.

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.

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.

He had 12 hobbies: jogging, swimming, golfing, world travel, organic gardening, sculpting, beekeeping, wine making, sailing, boating, reading and playing guitar.

Began his career as a contract player for Warner Bros. in 1936.

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.

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.

When his son Edward Albert Jr. was 18, he and his father both sailed to the Anacapa Island off the coast of California, to examine the effects of DDT on the pelican population.

In third grade, he was taunted as "the enemy" by his classmates, during World War I.

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.

Graduated from Central High School in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1924.

Born at 11:30 am-PST.

In high school, he joined the Drama Department.

Founder of City Children's Farms, a program for involving inner-city children in farming, and the Eddie Albert Trees Foundation.

Was a spokesperson for the National Arbor Day Foundation from 1985 to 1993.

Was a huge fan of "Falcon Crest" (1981) that starred his old friend Jane Wyman, and had a recurring role in 1987.

His wife, Margo, died in 1985, just five months before the couple's 40th wedding anniversary.

Met Margo while on leave of duty, and were married in late 1945.

Before he was a successful actor, he was also a soda jerk and a singer in a pop band.

Remained good friends with Tom Lester during and after "Green Acres" (1965).

Remained good friends with Robert Wagner during and after "Switch" (1975).

Was very disappointed when "Green Acres" (1965) was canceled at the end of the sixth season, because of the infamous rural purge that axed all shows in 1971.

Was an active Democrat.

Taught his "Green Acres" (1965) co-star, Tom Lester, to eat healthily, just like Albert himself did.

Was raised in the same city as Ann Sothern.

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