Edd Byrnes, a veteran actor best known for his role as television host Vince Fontaine in the musical Grease and as Kookie in the classic TV series 77 Sunset Strip, has died. Reportedly, Byrnes passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday at his home in Santa Monica. According to the report, Byrnes died of "natural causes," though no additional information or cause of death has yet been revealed. He was 87 years old.
A native New Yorker, Byrnes was born Edward Byrne Breitenberger in 1932. He changed his name to "Byrnes" as a teenager to honor his grandfather, Edward Byrne, giving him the familiar Edd Byrnes name. In his early 20s, Byrnes began acting in plays at the Litchfield Community Playhouse in Connecticut, sparking an interest in acting and launching a career in the field. After about a year of performances on stage, Byrnes moved to Hollywood to pursue acting work full time.
By the mid '50s,...
A native New Yorker, Byrnes was born Edward Byrne Breitenberger in 1932. He changed his name to "Byrnes" as a teenager to honor his grandfather, Edward Byrne, giving him the familiar Edd Byrnes name. In his early 20s, Byrnes began acting in plays at the Litchfield Community Playhouse in Connecticut, sparking an interest in acting and launching a career in the field. After about a year of performances on stage, Byrnes moved to Hollywood to pursue acting work full time.
By the mid '50s,...
- 1/10/2020
- by Jeremy Dick
- MovieWeb
Edd Byrnes, the actor who played Vince Fontaine in Grease, has died. He was 87.
Byrnes’ son, news anchor Logan Byrnes, confirmed the news on Twitter, writing, “It is with profound sadness and grief that I share with you the passing of my father Edd Byrnes.”
“He was an amazing man and one of my best friends,” Logan tweeted while adding a press release that stated the actor had “died unexpectedly” on Wednesday at his home in Santa Monica, California.
It is with profound sadness and grief that I share with you the passing of my father Edd Byrnes. He was...
Byrnes’ son, news anchor Logan Byrnes, confirmed the news on Twitter, writing, “It is with profound sadness and grief that I share with you the passing of my father Edd Byrnes.”
“He was an amazing man and one of my best friends,” Logan tweeted while adding a press release that stated the actor had “died unexpectedly” on Wednesday at his home in Santa Monica, California.
It is with profound sadness and grief that I share with you the passing of my father Edd Byrnes. He was...
- 1/9/2020
- by Alexia Fernandez
- PEOPLE.com
Edd “Kookie” Byrnes, the 77 Sunset Strip actor whose wavy hair and penchant for combing it made him an early TV teen idol, died Thursday natural causes at his Santa Monica home, according to his son, San Diego TV news anchor Logan Byrnes. He was 87.
The actor was one of the guiding inspirations for director Quentin Tarantino and Leonardo DiCaprio, informing the Rick Dalton character in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.
Byrnes came to attention as one of the stars of the detective show 77 Sunset Strip, which aired on ABC from 1958-64. Byrnes played Kookie, the rock ‘n’ roll-loving parking attendant who always was quick with a quip to his next-door neighbors at the detective agency. His striking good looks made him an instant hit with the teenagers of the late 1950s, culminating in a gold record with actress Connie Stevens, “Kookie, Kookie (Lend Me Your Comb).” The song reached No.
The actor was one of the guiding inspirations for director Quentin Tarantino and Leonardo DiCaprio, informing the Rick Dalton character in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.
Byrnes came to attention as one of the stars of the detective show 77 Sunset Strip, which aired on ABC from 1958-64. Byrnes played Kookie, the rock ‘n’ roll-loving parking attendant who always was quick with a quip to his next-door neighbors at the detective agency. His striking good looks made him an instant hit with the teenagers of the late 1950s, culminating in a gold record with actress Connie Stevens, “Kookie, Kookie (Lend Me Your Comb).” The song reached No.
- 1/9/2020
- by Bruce Haring
- Deadline Film + TV
Edd Byrnes, star of the 1950s and ’60s TV hit “77 Sunset Strip” who went on to co-star in the 1978 smash “Grease,” has died, the actor’s son, Logan Byrnes, confirmed Thursday via Facebook. He was 87.
Byrnes died at his home in Santa Monica, according to Logan Byrnes, who is a news anchor for Kusi-tv San Diego.
Byrnes became a comedic sensation as the co-star of the ABC detective drama “77 Sunset Strip,” starring Efrem Zimbalist Jr. as a hip L.A. private detective. Byrnes played Kookie, the parking lot attendant with a habit of running his comb through his slick hair. His character, Gerald Kookson III, introduced a host of early ’60s slang into mainstream primetime culture.
The series was among a slew of slick action-dramas that the fledgling Warner Bros. Television division produced for the Big Three networks in the late 1950s and early ’60s.
The Kookie character...
Byrnes died at his home in Santa Monica, according to Logan Byrnes, who is a news anchor for Kusi-tv San Diego.
Byrnes became a comedic sensation as the co-star of the ABC detective drama “77 Sunset Strip,” starring Efrem Zimbalist Jr. as a hip L.A. private detective. Byrnes played Kookie, the parking lot attendant with a habit of running his comb through his slick hair. His character, Gerald Kookson III, introduced a host of early ’60s slang into mainstream primetime culture.
The series was among a slew of slick action-dramas that the fledgling Warner Bros. Television division produced for the Big Three networks in the late 1950s and early ’60s.
The Kookie character...
- 1/9/2020
- by Cynthia Littleton
- Variety Film + TV
Edd Byrnes, who played Vince Fontaine in “Grease” and also starred on the series “77 Sunset Strip” as the teen idol “Kookie,” has died. He was 87.
According to his son Logan Byrnes in a press release shared on Twitter Thursday, Byrnes died unexpectedly Wednesday at his home in Santa Monica due to natural causes.
“It is with profound sadness and grief that I share with you the passing of my father Edd Byrnes. He was an amazing man and one of my best friends,” Logan Byrnes said on Twitter Thursday.
Also Read: Buck Henry, Writer of 'The Graduate' and Co-Director of 'Heaven Can Wait' Dies at 89
Byrnes played the slick, cool-talking “Kookie” on the long-running Warner Bros. action and crime show “77 Sunset Strip,” and he reprised his character in the series “Hawaiian Eye.” In the ’70s, he had a role in “Grease” as the host...
According to his son Logan Byrnes in a press release shared on Twitter Thursday, Byrnes died unexpectedly Wednesday at his home in Santa Monica due to natural causes.
“It is with profound sadness and grief that I share with you the passing of my father Edd Byrnes. He was an amazing man and one of my best friends,” Logan Byrnes said on Twitter Thursday.
Also Read: Buck Henry, Writer of 'The Graduate' and Co-Director of 'Heaven Can Wait' Dies at 89
Byrnes played the slick, cool-talking “Kookie” on the long-running Warner Bros. action and crime show “77 Sunset Strip,” and he reprised his character in the series “Hawaiian Eye.” In the ’70s, he had a role in “Grease” as the host...
- 1/9/2020
- by Brian Welk
- The Wrap
Edd Byrnes, who gained fleeting fame as Kookie, the ultra-hip, wisecracking parking attendant on the jazzy 1950s-'60s ABC detective series 77 Sunset Strip, has died. He was 87.
Byrnes, who years later played the smooth-talking Vince Fontaine, a Dick Clark-like dance contest host, in Grease (1978), died unexpectedly Wednesday of natural causes at his home in Santa Monica, his son, San Diego TV news anchor Logan Byrnes, said on Twitter.
"It is with profound sadness and grief that I share with you the passing of my father Edd Byrnes. He was an amazing man and one of my ...
Byrnes, who years later played the smooth-talking Vince Fontaine, a Dick Clark-like dance contest host, in Grease (1978), died unexpectedly Wednesday of natural causes at his home in Santa Monica, his son, San Diego TV news anchor Logan Byrnes, said on Twitter.
"It is with profound sadness and grief that I share with you the passing of my father Edd Byrnes. He was an amazing man and one of my ...
Edd Byrnes, who gained fleeting fame as Kookie, the ultra-hip, wisecracking parking attendant on the jazzy 1950s-'60s ABC detective series 77 Sunset Strip, has died. He was 87.
Byrnes, who years later played the smooth-talking Vince Fontaine, a Dick Clark-like dance contest host, in Grease (1978), died unexpectedly Wednesday of natural causes at his home in Santa Monica, his son, San Diego TV news anchor Logan Byrnes, said on Twitter.
"It is with profound sadness and grief that I share with you the passing of my father Edd Byrnes. He was an amazing man and one of my ...
Byrnes, who years later played the smooth-talking Vince Fontaine, a Dick Clark-like dance contest host, in Grease (1978), died unexpectedly Wednesday of natural causes at his home in Santa Monica, his son, San Diego TV news anchor Logan Byrnes, said on Twitter.
"It is with profound sadness and grief that I share with you the passing of my father Edd Byrnes. He was an amazing man and one of my ...
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