5 things you didn't know about Eddie Albert

Popular, environmentally friendly and kind to boot. Who knew?

Between his appearances on Petticoat Junction, The Beverly HIllbillies and Green Acres, Oliver Wendell Douglas made it clear that he was in love with the idea of rural life in the country. It may come as a surprise that actor Eddie Albert had closer ties to these desires than anyone could have anticipated.

Outside of his life in front of the camera, Albert had a knack for making a big impact on the people around him. He is famously quoted as saying, "What's the most important thing in the world? It's love, and I look at that as an energy, not a sentiment." With a mantra like this, you know you're bound to learn something unique about a person like Albert. 

Take a look at our list to find out exactly what he did with his inspiring life and career. 

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1. He was a pre-war spy.

 

Before his time on screen, Albert served his time for the country. Prior to World War II, Albert worked for the U.S. government while stationed in Mexico. His task was to keep an eye on any Nazi activity that may have been going on. Albert took this job so seriously, he opted to join a Mexican circus in order to tour the country and follow any leads he might have had. His constant movement about the country gave him a low profile and an easy way to get information back to the U.S. without being detected. 

2. He was a war hero.

 

Joining the circus was only the first phase of Albert's service to his country. By 1943, Albert had joined the Coast Guard and was active in duty. His most notable contribution came in November 1943. He acted as the pilot of the landing craft that the Coast guard used at the invasion on Tarawa. His actions during this tactic allowed for the resuce of 47 Marines, who had been stranded offshore, and another 30 personnel in need of similar help, all while under heavy machine-gun fire. This act of bravery earned him a Bronze Star with a Combat V. 

Image: AP Photo

3. He was known for being a Hollywood social butterfly.

 

"I don't really care how I am remembered as long as I bring happiness and joy to people." – Eddie Albert.

Oliver Wendell Douglass may have wanted to get away from it all on Green Acres, but this couldn't be farther from the truth from the real Albert. Many stars of the time have said that Albert was one of the most social people in Hollywood, and often found a friend in many big names of the time. While the list is long, some of his most iconic pals included Vincent Price, Gregory Peck, Dean Martin, Burt Reynolds, Audrey Hepburn, Lucille Ball and, of course, Eva Gabor.

Image: AP Photo

4. He was an environmental activist.

 

Albert had a longtime love for the conservation of natural resources. He cared so much about the environment, that he went so far as to start the Eddie Albert World Trees Foundation and chaired the Boy Scouts of America conservation program. Incidentally, the very first Earth Day took place on April 22, 1970 — Albert's birthday. He attended and spoke at the inaugural event. He then went on to start the City Children's Farms for inner-city children, a foundation that intended to teach children in urban areas about agriculture and organic, healthy foods.  

5. He didn't stop acting until the age 91.

 

In 1965, Albert shared that he was "allergic to monotony, not work." He certainly proved this, with more than 55 years of consistent entertainment work to his name. Add to this his years in the military and in radio, and you'll understand that he meant! His final performance came in the form of a superhero series that delighted children of the '90s. In 1994, Albert voiced the character of Adrian Tumes / The Vulture for the cartoon Spider-Man: The Animated Series. Albert was 91 at the time, and decided to take it easy following the show's run.

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23 Comments

Runeshaper 20 months ago
Eddie Albert was an incredibly talented man.
Bapa1 20 months ago
In the summer of 1975 I was at Universal studios in California and was on the tour. Eddie Albert and Robert Wagner were shooting a scene from the TV series Switch. We got to watch for a few minutes. Funny thing , though, I never watched the show.
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cperrynaples 20 months ago
Yep, I mentioned it on a Beaver quiz page! That's how you found it...LOL! He also hosted a variety show called Nothing But The Best and he was in Roman Holiday!
20 months ago
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Dario 20 months ago
He was nominated for an Academy Award for "Best Supporting Actor" in Roman Holiday.
MrsPhilHarris 20 months ago
Interesting man. I must ask if Mexico had a lot of Nazis? I had not heard that or was ut just precautionary?
justjeff MrsPhilHarris 20 months ago
The Gulf of Mexico could have been an entry point for Nazi submarines...
MrsPhilHarris justjeff 20 months ago
Were they seen? Where I live it was a fear of Japanese subs.
justjeff MrsPhilHarris 20 months ago
Logistically, it *could* have happened. After all, it's a well known fact that subs were spotted off the Florida coast during the war... I think they were German...
genZmetv 61 months ago
man, i wish i could be successful.
AlF 63 months ago
His best role in my opinion was the photographer in the movie "Roman Holiday". Fun interactions with Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn.
MrsPhilHarris AlF 63 months ago
I agree!
JerseyMike178 63 months ago
It was absolutely painful to read that paragraph concerning Albert's military service. The person who wrote it hasn't a clue about the subject, "He used the tactic" of being the "pilot of a labding craft"?
Labding? Piloting a boat is a tactic? Apparently the um, Coast "guard", with one!!! landing craft ferried ashore thousands of Marines.
Interesting. What happened to the US Navy? In the future when writing of the military please get someone who has a clue, not some airhead 20 year old Valley Girl.
Adanor JerseyMike178 20 months ago
I agree whole heartedly!!! Let's look at this sentence "He acted as the pilot of the landing craft that the Coast guard used at the invasion on Tarawa." It seems to imply that he accidentally happened to be on the landing craft and suddenly took the wheel. What about "While under heavy machine gun fire, he piloted a US Coast Guard landing craft during the invasion on Tarawa thereby rescuing 47 Marines, who had been stranded offshore, and another 30 personnel in need of similar help."
Rob Adanor 19 months ago
Yeah, it’s a soup sandwich alright.
csaaphill 63 months ago
Wow in A spy in WW2 how cool. Not against the environmentalist stuff but hope he wasn't the animal rightist that had that one anti-hunting show they did on Green Acres?
He was also in the Lipozonar Movie that Disney did. Pretty good movie Several other WW2 movies as well.
CouchPotato19 csaaphill 62 months ago
Animals are amazing and beautiful and shouldn't be hunted!
Joe1954 csaaphill 44 months ago
It was prior to WW2 that he was a spy.
jam 63 months ago
Eddie Albert was also an avid gardener and had one in his front yard. Fabulous.
cperrynaples jam 20 months ago
He also did a fertilizer commercial and no it wasn't for Gorbi Grow...LOL!
Hbeach 63 months ago
He was also an Oscar nominee. (Best Supporting Actor for "Roman Holiday""
Michael33rs 63 months ago
Eddie Albert: one of the greats of all time! I loved the episode of Columbo that he was on, and Green Acres was one of my favorites growing up! What an awesome man he was!
ccsings 63 months ago
Mr. Eddie Albert was quite the well-rounded, accomplished, wonderful man!
UTZAAKE 63 months ago
4. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=btUCMX4UpLc
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