Actor Efrem Zimbalist Jr. honored by FBI

[June 09, 2009]  LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Efrem Zimbalist Jr. finally got his badge.

The actor who portrayed cool and canny Inspector Lewis Erskine on the TV series "The F.B.I." was named an honorary special agent Monday -- the FBI's highest civilian honor.

The 91-year-old actor was presented with the badge by FBI Director Robert Mueller. He praised Zimbalist as an icon who inspired a generation of FBI agents.

Zimbalist said he was humbled and called the agency America's "guardian."

The show ran on ABC from 1965 to 1974.

[Associated Press]

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