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Post by snsurone on Jan 10, 2020 16:26:46 GMT
Although he appeared in a few movies (hardly "classics"--mostly cheap flicks aimed at teenagers), he is best remembered as "Kookie", the car-hop and later detective on TV's 77 SUNSET STRIP.
In his heyday, he was so popular that "Kookie, Kookie, lend me your comb." became an American catch phrase.
After the series ended, his acting career waned, although he was on several programs, such as MURDER, SHE WROTE.
Byrnes died 1/8/20 at either age 86 or 87.
Wiki seems uncertain about the year of his birth.
May he rest in peace.
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Post by mikef6 on Jan 10, 2020 17:49:13 GMT
Edd Byrnes became an overnight “name” after the premiere of the TV series “77 Sunset Strip” (October 10, 1958 – September 9, 1964). The title address was the office of the two private eye leads. Separated from that building only by a parking lot driveway was Dino’s Lodge, a restaurant and celebrity hangout owned by Dean Martin. The lot attendant, played by Byrnes, was Gerald Lloyd Kookson III, better known as “Kookie.” a hip talking cool guy. At first supposed to be a one-off role, the response from mainly teenage girls got him a regular gig on the show. He increased his popularity by partnering with Connie Stevens on a song called “Kookie Kookie Lend Me Your Comb” – based on the TV character’s trademark always combing his wavy hair. It reached #4 on the Billboard Top 40 the week of April 27, 1959. Pardon a personal story but just last night when I was going over these facts with My Lovely Wife and our son (paying us a rare visit) so he immediately found the song on his phone and started it. 30 seconds later he said, “It’s only two and a half minutes long but I can’t take any more of it” and switched it off. I don’t blame him. It is a terrible song. Byrnes took most of the second season off over a contract dispute (Troy Donohue filled in for a few episodes). In later seasons, Kookie became a private eye and joined the firm next door. As snsurone says in the O.P., his career was pretty much over after the series was canceled. Perhaps the most famous movie role was as the TV show host in “Grease” (1978).  |
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Post by teleadm on Jan 10, 2020 17:57:46 GMT
R.I.P. Edd Byrnes Roger Corman's at the time overlooked The Secret Invasion 1964 WW!! action movie that has been re-evaluated by some critics (with Stewart Granger).  He did a few Spaghetti Westerns too in the later half of the 1960s!  Played the Dick Clark-like character in the hit movie Grease 1978
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Post by Dirty Santa PaulsLaugh on Jan 10, 2020 18:26:48 GMT
I remember seeing Edd in the Natalie Wood movie Marjorie Morningstar as a nebbish her parents are trying marry her off to.
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Post by politicidal on Jan 10, 2020 18:48:41 GMT
R.I.P.
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Post by koskiewicz on Jan 11, 2020 15:39:05 GMT
R I P !
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Post by petrolino on Jan 11, 2020 15:54:43 GMT
R.I.P.
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