Barbara Kent facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Barbara Kent
Born	Barbara Cloutman (1907-12-16)December 16, 1907 Gadsby, Alberta, Canada
Died	October 13, 2011(2011-10-13) (aged 103) Palm Desert, California, U.S.
Occupation	Film actress
Years active	1925–1941
Spouse(s)	Harry E. Edington ​ ​ (m. 1932; died 1949)​ Marc Monroe ​ ​ (m. 1954; died 1998)​

Barbara Kent (born Barbara Cloutman; December 16, 1907 – October 13, 2011) was a Canadian actress. She was famous in the early days of movies, from the silent film era to the first "talkies" (movies with sound) in the 1920s and 1930s. In 1925, Barbara Kent won the Miss Hollywood Beauty Pageant.

Barbara Kent's Acting Career

Barbara Cloutman was born on December 16, 1907, in Gadsby, Alberta, Canada. Her parents were Lily Louise Kent and Jullion Curtis Cloutman. In 1925, she finished school at Hollywood High School. That same year, she won the Miss Hollywood Pageant.

This was also when she started her acting career in Hollywood. She got a small part with Universal Studios, a big movie company. They liked her and offered her a contract.

Barbara Kent was a small actress with dark hair, standing less than five feet tall. She became popular for her funny roles, often acting alongside stars like Reginald Denny.

Becoming a Star

In 1926, she made a big impression in the movie Flesh and the Devil. In this film, she played the good heroine against Greta Garbo's "femme fatale" (a mysterious, charming woman who often causes trouble).

In one scene, Barbara Kent wore a special bathing suit that looked like her skin. This was considered very daring for the time! Because of how popular this movie was, she was chosen as one of the WAMPAS Baby Stars in 1927. This award recognized promising young actresses.

Moving to Talkies

Barbara Kent easily moved from silent movies to "talking pictures" (movies with sound). She starred with Harold Lloyd in the 1929 comedy Welcome Danger. She also appeared with Lloyd in his famous movie Feet First.

Over the next few years, she remained a popular actress. Critics praised her acting in 1933 for her role in the movie version of Oliver Twist.

Later Career and Marriage

On December 16, 1932, her 25th birthday, Barbara married Harry Edington in Yuma, Arizona. Harry was a talent agent, which means he helped actors find jobs.

Barbara took a break from acting for a year. Harry wanted to help her have a very successful career when she returned. However, when she came back to movies, she wasn't as popular as before. She couldn't get her career back to the same level. Her last movie was in 1935.

Later Life

After her husband Harry passed away in 1949, Barbara Kent stopped appearing in public. She married again in 1954 to Jack Monroe, an engineer.

The couple first lived in Sun Valley, Idaho. Later, they moved to Palm Desert, California. Barbara lived there until she passed away on October 13, 2011, at the age of 103.

Hobbies and Interests

Barbara Kent loved being outdoors. She was always active and enjoyed golf, fly fishing, hunting, and gardening. She was a longtime member of several country clubs.

She was known for being a great cook and loved having friends and family over. Barbara continued to fly small airplanes until she was 85 years old! She was still playing golf well into her mid-90s.

Filmography

See also

In Spanish: Barbara Kent para niños