Edd Byrnes was born in New York City, the oldest of three children. As a child Edd fell in love with the movies, often spending every weekend at the theater watching his favorites like Burt Lancaster and Kirk Douglas. His desire to follow in their footsteps was so strong, he dropped out of high school and followed his dream of becoming a movie star. After doing some summer-stock work and a few bit parts on TV, Edd decided he needed to be in Hollywood...heading out west, he arrived there on September 30th 1955, the day James Dean died in a car crash.

Edd managed to get a few minor parts in films. Then he hit the big time. Edd won a role in a new TV series called "77 Sunset Strip" (1958), which premiered in September of 1958. Efrem Zimbalist Jr. and Roger Smith starred as private eyes. But Edd, playing a hip-talking parking-lot attendant named "Kookie", won the most attention. Viewers quoted his dialog, ("Baby, you're the ginchiest!"), and young males imitated the way he wielded his ever-present comb. His fan mail soon reached an astonishing 15,000 letters a week and his single with Connie Stevens, "Kookie, Kookie, Lend Me Your Comb", became a top-5 hit.

Edd was ranked #5 in TV Guide's list of "TV's 25 Greatest Teen Idols" (23 January 2005 issue). Edd is also very well known for playing Vince Fontaine, The National Bandstand host in the movie “Grease” with John Travolta and Olivia Newton John. Edd also starred in a number of westerns and other movies and television shows.

He was married to long-time girlfriend Asa Maynor in 1962. They divorced eight years later. Their son, Logan, is a former Trial Attorney and current News Anchor.