Actor Edward Albert, son of Eddie, dead at 55

Posted:
Sep 26, 2006

Edward Albert, who followed in his father Eddie's footsteps as a movie and TV actor, died at his Malibu, California home Friday of lung cancer. He was 55.

Perhaps best known for his role as blind man Don Baker in the 1972 film Butterflies Are Free, he had suffered from cancer for 17 months, said his wife, actress Kate Woodville.

Albert provided the voice of Rafe in the DreamWorks Television Animation mini-series Invasion America. Based on the hit movie, it ran for six episodes on WB in 1998 and won an Emmy for Outstanding Music Composition for a Series (Dramatic Underscore).

Billed under his full name, Edward Laurence Albert (he was given the middle name after his godfather, Sir Laurence Olivier), he was Daredevil/Matthew Murdoch in the 1996 Spider-Man: The Animated Series episodes The Sins of the Fathers, Chapter VI: Framedand The Sins of the Fathers, Chapter VII: The Man Without Fear.

In Extreme Ghostbusters, he voiced the Sheriff in the 1997 episode The Jersey Devil. He was in the voice cast in Grundelesque, another episode released that year.

He was Silver Surfer/Norvin Radd in Doomsday, a 1995 episode of Marvel's The Fantastic Four.

Despite his illness, he was the main caregiver of his father, Green Acres star Eddie Albert, who died last May at 97.

A Chumash medicine woman performed a post-passing traditional ceremony at his home. Edward "had a deep love for the ocean, mountains and canyons as well as the Chumash native culture of this area. He worked tirelessly to preserve what he could of the natural wonders and native sites in both Malibu and the Santa Monica Mountains," his wife told Daily Variety columnist Army Archerd.

He was born in Los Angeles on February 20, 1951. His mother, Margo, was an actress.

At age 14, he made his movie debut in 1965's Fool Killer, starring Anthony Perkins.

Albert was in 126 films and TV appearances. Co-starring with Goldie Hawn in 1972's Butterflies are Free, he won a Golden Globe for "Most Promising Newcomer - Male" and was nominated for a second for "Best Motion Picture Actor - Musical/Comedy." Eileen Heckart, who portrayed his overbearing mother, received an Oscar for Best Actress in a Supporting Role.

He appeared as U.S. Navy fighter pilot Thomas Garth in the World War II epic film Midway (1976).

In 2003, he co-starred in Cesar and Ruben, Ed Begley Jr.'s theatrical musical about farmworkers' union lead Cesar Chavez.

"His true passion lay with his family first," said wife Kate. "He devoted the last ten years of his life to caring for his ailing father, Eddie.

"His neighbors, friends and family knew him as a fierce and dedicated environmentalist. He touched many lives, even saved a few. He will be remembered as a magnificent man, loving father and husband."

An Oxford University graduate, Albert had an IQ of 157. A linguist as well as a musician and singer, he was fluent in English, Spanish, French, Portugese and Mandarin Chinese.

The Escondido Canyon was renamed in his honor as the Edward Albert Escondido Trail and Waterfalls.

Besides Kate Woodville, his wife since 1978, he is survived by their daughter Thais Albert, singer-songwriter of the rock band Sugar in Wartime. An adopted sister, Maria Albert Zucht, is not in show business.

A service is planned at the Self-Realization Center.