Barry Coe facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Barry Coe
Coe and Jayne Mansfield in 1962
Born	Barry Clark Heacock (1934-11-26)November 26, 1934 Santa Monica, California, U.S.
Died	July 16, 2019(2019-07-16) (aged 84) Palm Desert, California, U.S.
Other names	Joseph Spalding Coe
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1955–78
Spouse(s)	Jorunn Kristiansen Coe (1959–2019; his death)
Children	2

Barry S. Coe (born Barry Clark Heacock; November 26, 1934 – July 16, 2019) was an American actor. He appeared in many films and television shows from 1956 to 1978. He was known for co-starring in the TV series Follow the Sun. He also played "Mr. Goodwrench" in TV commercials for many years.

Life and career

Becoming an Actor

Barry Clark Heacock was born in 1934. His name later changed to Joseph Spalding Coe when his mother remarried in 1940. His father, Francis Elmer "Frank" Heacock, passed away in an accident in 1940.

Barry Coe went to the University of Southern California. A talent scout discovered him during a trip to Palm Springs. Soon after, he signed a contract with 20th Century Fox, a big movie studio.

Early Film Roles

Coe's first movie roles were in films like House of Bamboo (1955) and How to Be Very, Very Popular (1955). He also had a small part in Elvis Presley's movie Love Me Tender (1956).

One of his most well-known early roles was playing Rodney Harrington in Peyton Place (1957). This movie was based on a popular book. He then appeared in films such as The Bravados (1958) with Gregory Peck and A Private's Affair (1959).

In 1960, Barry Coe received a special award. He won a Golden Globe for "Most Promising Newcomer - Male." He shared this award with other rising stars like James Shigeta and George Hamilton.

Starring in Follow the Sun

In 1961, Barry Coe got a main role in a new TV series called Follow the Sun. He played Paul Templin, a magazine writer. His co-star, Brett Halsey, played Ben Gregory. The show was set in Honolulu, Hawaii. Paul and Ben often found themselves solving mysteries, almost like private detectives. The series aired from September 1961 to April 1962. It had 29 episodes before it ended.

After Follow the Sun, Coe appeared in the movie The 300 Spartans (1962). He also guest-starred in an episode of the famous TV Western Bonanza in 1962. He played Clay Stafford, a character who claimed to be a half-brother to Little Joe Cartwright.

He continued to appear in other TV shows like Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea. He also had roles in movies such as Fantastic Voyage (1966) and The Cat (1966).

Later Career and "Mr. Goodwrench"

In the 1970s, Barry Coe continued acting in films and television. He was in Doctor Death: Seeker of Souls (1973) and had a small role in MacArthur (1977), which also starred Gregory Peck.

His last movie role was as a diving instructor named Andrews in the popular film Jaws 2 (1978). He also appeared in TV shows like General Hospital and Mission: Impossible.

From the late 1970s into the early 1980s, Barry Coe became widely recognized as "Mr. Goodwrench." He played this character in television commercials for General Motors, promoting their car service.

Personal life and death

Barry Coe was married to Jorunn Kristiansen. She was a beauty queen from Norway in the 1950s and later became a painter. They were married from 1959 until his death in 2019. They had a son named William Shea Coe.

Barry Coe passed away on July 16, 2019, at the age of 84. He died from a serious blood disorder called myelodysplastic syndrome.

Filmography