Edd Byrnes

Edd Byrnes was an American actor.

Byrnes became famous as one of the stars of the detective show 77 Sunset Strip, which aired on ABC from 1958-64. Byrnes played Gerald Lloyd "Kookie" Kookson III, a hair-combing hipster who parked cars at a restaurant located next door to a detective agency (run by the show's stars, Efrem Zimbalist Jr. and Roger Smith). The handsome Byrnes became extremely popular with teenagers of the late 1950s, culminating in a gold record with actress Connie Stevens, "Kookie, Kookie (Lend Me Your Comb)."

After 77 Sunset Strip finished its run, Byrnes made appearances on episodes of The Alfred Hitchcock Hour, Mannix, Love, American Style, Adam-12, Marcus Welby, M.D., Police Woman, CHiPs, Charlie's Angels, Fantasy Island, Quincy, M.E., Married… with Children, and Murder, She Wrote.

In 1975, Merv Griffin wanted Byrnes to host his new game show, Wheel of Fortune, but Byrnes lost out to Chuck Woolery.

Byrnes played DJ and dance contest host Vince Fontaine in the 1978 film version of Grease (with John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John).

Byrnes died January 8, 2020, in Santa Monica, California. He was 87.