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Show By LYN CONNELLY STARDOM has a way of being awarded with startling suddenness sud-denness in TV and it zooms hitherto unknown actors into the public spotlight before the film for their test has been hung up to dry . . . Such is the story of Edward Byrnea who shares top billing with Efrem Zlmballst, Jr., and Roger Smith In the ABC-TV "77 Sunset Strip" series . . Edd made a test under the direction of Gordon Douglas . . . Director William Weilman saw It and decided de-cided to cast him as the West Pointer in love with Etchika t'houreau in "Darby's Rangers." Up to that point, Byrnes had been playing all sorts of small roles in "Cheyenne," and other TV topliners being filmed on his home lot ... A native New Yorker, Byrnes moved to Hollywood Holly-wood in 1956 after starting his career as a TV actor and appearing appear-ing in several off-Broadway plays and in Litchfield, Conn. . . . Since his arrival on the west coast, Edd has appeared on many TV shows, including "Lux Video Theatre," "Jim Bowie," "Matinee Theatre," Thea-tre," "Crossroads," "Wire Service" Serv-ice" and "Navy Log." He had leading roles In "Oh, Susanna" and "Cheyenne" . . . In addition to "Fear Strikes Out," for Paramount, he also appeared In the Ring Theatre production of "Tea and Sympathy." . . . As Kookie, he nearly runs off with a greater portion of the interest in-terest in "77 Sunset Strip," d the only reason he doesn't completely com-pletely steal the best reviews is that Zimbalist and Smith also offer fascinating characterizations. characteriza-tions. Byrnes lives in a bachelor apartment in the Hollywood Hills . . It is decorated with bullfight posters Ha has an extensive record collection, ooth modern and semi-classical, and a hi-fl set which he built himself ... He is an avid sports car enthusiast. |