Edward Albert Heimberger (April 22, 1906 – May 26, 2005), known professionally as
Eddie Albert, was an
American actor and
activist. He was nominated for the
Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in 1954 for his performance in
Roman Holiday, and in 1973 for
The Heartbreak Kid. Other well-known screen roles of his include Bing Edwards in the
Brother Rat films, traveling salesman Ali Hakim in the musical
Oklahoma!, and the corrupt prison warden in 1974's
The Longest Yard. He starred as
Oliver Wendell Douglas in the 1960s television
situation comedy Green Acres and as Frank MacBride in the 1970s
crime drama Switch. He also had a recurring role as Carlton Travis on
Falcon Crest, opposite
Jane Wyman.
Early life
Edward Albert Heimberger was born in
Rock Island,
Illinois, the oldest of the five children of Frank Daniel Heimberger (1874–1970), a realtor, and his wife Julia (née Jones). his mother altered his birth certificate after her marriage.
When he was one year old, his family moved to
Minneapolis,
Minnesota. Young Edward secured his first job as a newspaper boy when he was only six. During
World War I, his German name led to taunts as "the enemy" by his classmates. He studied at Central High School in Minneapolis and joined the drama club. His schoolmate Harriette Lake (later known as actress......
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