Edd Byrnes arrived in Hollywood in 1955, the day James Dean crashed his car. He soon had the lead role in the television series '77 Sunset Strip'. Edd played a hip talking parking valet named 'Kookie' and instantly became a teen idol. His fan mail reached 15,000 letters per week.
Often credited as the first rap singer, his single 'Kookie, Kookie, Lend Me Your Comb' became a top 5 hit, earning Edd a gold record. He went on to co-star in many movies and appearances on TV series. In 1977 Ed was in the John Travolta movie 'Grease' playing the hip talking 'Vince Fontaine in the dance contest scene.
Edd ranked #5 in TV Guide's list of 'TV Teen Idols'. (Issue Jan. 23, 2005)
In 1996, Edd wrote his autobiography 'Kookie, No More'.
In 2007 he wrote and recorded 'My Casino Caper, as told to Alan Young', Edd's true story of being stalked for his 3 million dollar Las Vegas win in 1977.
He recorded it with his actor friend David Hedison and Henry Silva, who helped him get out of the situation. Michael Callan plays the part of the criminal.
Edd waited 30 years before he could reveal what happened to him and the stalker. You can find this 77 minute audio-book here at Teach Out Loud.