What did eddie albert invent

1. Eddie Albert - American Actor, Gardener, Soldier, and Activist
2. Notable Roles
3. Early Life and Education
4. Acting Career
5. Later Career and Personal Life

Eddie Albert - American Actor, Gardener, Soldier, and Activist

Edward Albert Heimberger, better known as Eddie Albert (April 22, 1906 – May 26, 2005), was an American actor, gardener, soldier, and activist. He was nominated for an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor in 1954 for his role in "Roman Holiday" and again in 1973 for his role in "Heartbreak Kid".

Notable Roles

Albert had a number of notable roles throughout his career. He portrayed Bing Edwards in the film "Brother Rat," Eli Hakim in the musical "Oklahoma!," and a corrupt prison guard in the 1974 film "The Longest Yard." In the 1960s, he gained recognition for his role as Oliver Wendell Douglas in the comedy series "Green Acres," and in the 1970s, he captured the hearts of viewers as Frank McBride in the crime drama series "Switch." Additionally, Albert made periodic appearances on the show "Falcon Crest" as Carlton Travis.

Early Life and Education

Edward was born in Rock Island, Illinois. He was the oldest of five children of realtor Frank Daniel Heimberger and his wife Julia Jones. It is often stated in the press that Albert was born in 1908, but this is incorrect. At the time of his birth, his parents were not married, and after their wedding, his mother altered Eddie's birth certificate. A year after his birth, the family moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota. Albert got his first job as a newspaper delivery boy at the age of six.

During World War I, Albert faced teasing at school due to his German-sounding name, as Germany was an enemy during the war. He graduated high school in 1924 and attended the University of Minnesota, where he studied business. After completing his degree, Albert opened his own business, but unfortunately, the stock market crash in 1929 left him unemployed. He had to make ends meet by doing odd jobs, such as selling insurance, singing in nightclubs, and performing in restaurants.

Acting Career

After some time, Edward decided not to use his real last name for his performances, as it inevitably turned into something like "Hamburger" in the mouths of the audience and colleagues. In 1933, he moved to New York, where he hosted the radio show "The Honeymooners - Grace and Eddie Show" for three years. When the program was canceled, Albert was offered a contract with Warner Bros. In the 1930s, he performed extensively on Broadway, appearing in shows such as the 1936 production of "Brother Rat." Albert played leading roles in popular shows like "Room Service" and "The Boys from Syracuse." In 1936, Edward became one of the first television actors to appear in live broadcasts on RCA. In 1938, he made his film debut in the Hollywood version of "Brother Rat" alongside Ronald Reagan and Jane Wyman, reprising his stage role as Cadet Bing Edwards. He then landed the lead role in another Broadway adaptation, "On Your Toes," in 1939. His contract with Warner Bros. was terminated in 1941, and it is believed that the reason for the termination was his affair with the wife of company head Jack Warner.

During World War II, Albert traveled to Mexico as a clown and tightrope walker in the "Escalante Brothers Circus," but this was just a cover story. He was actually working as an agent for American intelligence, surveilling German submarines in Mexican ports. In 1942, Albert joined the United States Navy and later became a reserve lieutenant after being discharged in 1943. He earned the Bronze Star for his bravery in the Battle of Tarawa in November 1943. As a landing craft driver, he saved forty-seven Marines and supervised the rescue of thirty more, all under heavy enemy fire.

Later Career and Personal Life

From 1948 onwards, Albert actively appeared in various television series, accumulating around ninety credits during that period. Some of his most notable projects from that time include "Chevrolet Tele-Theatre," "Suspense," "Lights Out," "Somerset Maugham TV Theatre," "Schlitz Playhouse of Stars," "Studio One," "Danger," "Philco Television Playhouse," "Your Show of Shows," "General Electric Theater," "Front Row Center," "The Eleventh Hour," "The Reporter," and "The Alcoa Hour." In the 1950s, Albert returned to Broadway, performing in shows such as "Miss Liberty" and "The Seven Year Itch." In 1960, he replaced Robert Preston in the legendary production of "The Music Man," playing the role of Professor Harold Hill.

In 1945, Albert married Mexican actress Maria Margarita Guadalupe Teresa Estela Bolado Castilla y O'Donnell, better known by her stage name Margo. They lived in a Spanish-style house on a one-acre property in Pacific Palisades, California. Albert cultivated vegetables in greenhouses and fondly remembered how his parents referred to a similar plot of land as the "Garden of Eden." Albert and Margo had a son named Edward and also adopted a daughter named Maria. Margo Albert passed away from a brain tumor on July 17, 1985.

In his later years, Eddie Albert suffered from Alzheimer's disease. His son gave up his own acting career to take care of his father, who remained physically active despite his illness. Eddie enjoyed activities such as boating, running, winemaking, beekeeping, sculpting, gardening, and traveling.

Eddie Albert passed away at the age of ninety-nine from pneumonia. He was buried at the Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery in Los Angeles, California. A year after his death, his son, actor Edward Albert Jr., also passed away from lung cancer after a year and a half of battling the disease.