Barton MacLane facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Barton MacLane
MacLane in 1961
Born	(1902-12-25)December 25, 1902 Columbia, South Carolina, U.S.
Died	January 1, 1969(1969-01-01) (aged 66) Santa Monica, California, U.S.
Resting place	Valhalla Memorial Park Cemetery in North Hollywood
Alma mater	Wesleyan University American Academy of Dramatic Arts
Occupation	Actor playwright screenwriter
Years active	1926–1969
Spouse(s)	Charlotte Wynters MacLane ​ (m. 1939)​
Children	1

Barton MacLane (born December 25, 1902 – died January 1, 1969) was a talented American actor. He also wrote plays and screenplays. You might know him best as General Martin Peterson from the popular 1960s TV show I Dream of Jeannie, where he starred alongside Barbara Eden and Larry Hagman. He appeared in many classic movies from the 1930s to the 1960s.

Early Life and First Roles

Barton MacLane was born in Columbia, South Carolina, on Christmas Day in 1902. He went to Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut. There, he was a great American football player. His athletic skills actually helped him get his very first movie role in The Quarterback (1926). After that, he studied acting at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts.

A Career on Stage and Screen

MacLane started his acting career on Broadway in 1927. He played a lawyer in a play called The Trial of Mary Dugan. He also appeared in other Broadway shows, including Subway Express. In 1929, he was in the very first movie starring the famous Marx Brothers, called The Cocoanuts.

His first movie role where he was officially credited was in the 1931 romantic drama His Woman. A year later, he wrote a play called Rendezvous. This play was performed on Broadway, and MacLane even acted in it himself!

Becoming a Movie Star: The 1930s to 1950s

MacLane in Smart Blonde (1937)

The success of his play Rendezvous helped MacLane get a contract with Warner Bros.. This meant he would star in many movies for the studio. Famous directors like Fritz Lang and Michael Curtiz noticed his talent.

Because of this, MacLane was very busy in the 1930s. He had important supporting roles in movies like G Men and The Prince and the Pauper. He also played Detective Steve McBride in seven movies about the newspaper reporter Torchy Blane.

Humphrey Bogart, Mary Astor, MacLane, Peter Lorre and Ward Bond in The Maltese Falcon (1941)

During the 1930s and 1940s, MacLane often worked with the legendary actor Humphrey Bogart. He played Lieutenant Dundy in The Maltese Falcon (1941), a famous detective movie. He worked with Bogart again in the adventure film The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948).

MacLane appeared in many other films during the 1940s. These included Dr. Jekyll and Mr Hyde and The Mummy's Ghost. He also played bad guys in two Tarzan movies starring Johnny Weissmuller: Tarzan and the Amazons and Tarzan and the Huntress. In the 1950s, he continued to act in films like The Glenn Miller Story (where he played a real-life Air Force General) and Three Violent People.

From Movies to Television

In the 1950s, MacLane started appearing on television shows more often. He was a guest star on many popular programs. These included Laramie, Gunsmoke, and The Monkees. He also appeared in four episodes of the detective show Perry Mason.

From 1960 to 1961, MacLane was a regular on the western TV series Outlaws. He played Marshal Frank Caine in 27 episodes. His last movie was Buckskin (1968).

In 1965, MacLane got a very memorable role as General Martin Peterson on the comedy show I Dream of Jeannie. He appeared in 35 episodes of the show between 1965 and 1969. Some of these episodes even aired after he passed away.

Personal Life

Barton MacLane was a talented musician. He could play the violin, piano, and guitar. In 1939, he married actress Charlotte Wynters. From the 1940s until his death, he owned a ranch where he raised cattle in Madera County, California. This was his home when he wasn't busy acting. He and his wife also adopted a daughter.

Death and Recognition

Barton MacLane died on New Year's Day, January 1, 1969, in Santa Monica, California. He was 66 years old and passed away from double pneumonia. He was buried at Valhalla Memorial Park Cemetery.

For his amazing work in television, Barton MacLane has a special star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. You can find it at 6719 Hollywood Boulevard.

Selected Filmography

Television Credits