Eddie Albert, Star of 'Green Acres,' Dies at 99

His best-known film immediately after the war was "Smash-Up: The Story of a Woman" with Susan Hayward in 1947. Throughout the 1950s, Mr. Albert continued his busy life as an actor on Broadway, in films and on TV.

In 1953, he played Winston Smith in a Studio One production of George Orwell's "1984." "Eddie Albert, as Winston Smith," a New Yorker reviewer wrote, "surprised me by the depth of his performance. I had no idea that Mr. Albert, who turns up all over the television channels . . . in amiable surroundings, could be so moving."

Mr. Albert was an ardent environmentalist and in the 1970s founded City Children's Farms, a nonprofit group that encouraged gardens in the nation's inner cities. He also wrote and narrated numerous TV specials on ecology and the environment and was one of the first public figures to call for banning the pesticide DDT.

In a 1996 interview with GRANDtimes.com, he once recalled chiding "Green Acres" co-star Gabor for wearing an extravagant feather outfit that would prompt TV viewers to want one like it, thus resulting in the death of many birds. Gabor told him not to worry, that feathers didn't come from birds.

"Well, where do feathers come from?" he asked her, and in her extravagant Hungarian accent she replied, "Pillows, dahling, pillows!"

Mr. Albert continued to appear in films throughout the 1980s. Among his final appearances were roles in "Brenda Starr" and "The Big Picture" in 1989. In 1990, he appeared in "Return to Green Acres," a TV movie reunion. His last appearance before retiring was in 1995 in the TV movie "The Barefoot Executive."

His wife of 40 years, Maria Marguerita Guadelupe Boldao y Castilla (better known by her stage name, Margo), died in 1985.

Survivors include a daughter, Maria Albert Zucht, and his son, Eddie Albert Jr.; and two granddaughters.