Stephanie Zimbalist (born October 8, 1956 in New York City, New York) is an American actress.
Zimbalist comes from a highly successful and renowned family. Her father is Efrem Zimbalist, Jr., the actor, her grandfather Efrem Zimbalist was a concert violinist, teacher and composer and her grandmother, Alma Gluck was leading soprano. Her late aunt, Marcia Davenport, was an author and historian.
Her paternal heritage is Jewish, but her father became involved with Jews for Jesus, and they embraced its tenets.[citation needed] Stephanie's mother is Stephanie Spaulding Zimbalist. Zimbalist graduated from Foxcroft School in Middleburg, Virginia. She briefly attended the Juilliard School before commencing her acting career.
Early television and movie appearances include Forever, The Triangle Factory Fire Scandal, The Awakening (with Charlton Heston) and The Golden Moment, in which she played a Soviet Olympic gymnast. She co-starred with her father, Efrem Zimbalist Jr., in the 1979 TV movie, The Best Place to Be, which also starred the late, Oscar-winning actress Donna Reed.
Television audiences know Zimbalist as detective Laura Holt in the American television series Remington Steele (1982 to 1987). Pierce Brosnan was her co-star in the romantic comedy-mystery series.
In the late 1980s and in the 1990s, Zimbalist took leading roles in several "made for television" movies. She played the title role in the Emmy-award winning television movie Caroline? in 1990. Zimbalist also took two roles in episodes of the popular American television program Touched by an Angel. Her performances, however, were not limited to the small screen. Zimbalist played opposite Tommy Tune in the touring musical My One and Only in the title role of "Sylvia."
Perhaps Stephanie Zimbalist's greatest and most memorable role was that of Ellie Zendt in the television mini-series of James Michener's epic novel "Centennial," which was first televised on NBC between October 1978 and February 1979.
Since that time, her on-screen parts have been few and far between. Even so, Zimbalist can be seen, not infrequently, in plays. For instance, she has made several appearances with the Rubicon Theatre Company in California. Zimbalist won a 'Robby Award' for 'Best Actress in a Drama' in The Rainmaker, staged by Rubicon in February 2001.
Recently, Zimbalist has taken roles in plays concerning 19th century artists including Chopin, Tchaikovsky and Van Gogh. She has also released some audio books including "The Girls" and "Queen of the Underworld". "The Girls" received a Listen-Up award in 2006.
Zimbalist is a supporter of the Tennessee Williams Festival of New Orleans.
Zimbalist is an active supporter and contributor to the Republican Party.
