Gene Barry facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Gene Barry
Barry in 1959
Born	Eugene Klass (1919-06-14)June 14, 1919 New York City, U.S.
Died	December 9, 2009(2009-12-09) (aged 90) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Resting place	Hillside Memorial Park, Culver City
Occupation	Actor, singer
Years active	1942–2005
Spouse(s)	Betty Claire Kalb ​ ​ (m. 1944; died 2003)​
Children	3

Gene Barry (born Eugene Klass, June 14, 1919 – December 9, 2009) was an American actor and singer. He performed on stage, in movies, and on television.

Barry is best known for his main roles in the films The Atomic City (1952) and The War of The Worlds (1953). He also played the main characters in the TV shows Bat Masterson and Burke's Law.

Gene Barry's Early Life

Gene Barry was born Eugene Klass on June 14, 1919, in New York City. His parents were Eva and Martin Klass. All of his grandparents were Jewish immigrants from Russia.

Barry grew up in Brooklyn. He went to New Utrecht High School. From a young age, Barry showed talent in singing and playing the violin. He later studied music at the Chatham Square School of Music for two years. He received a scholarship for his singing ability.

Gene Barry's Acting Career

Barry chose his professional name, Gene Barry, to honor another famous actor, John Barrymore. He first appeared on Broadway in 1942. He played Captain Paul Duval in a show called The New Moon.

He later acted in other Broadway shows like Rosalinda (1942) and The Merry Widow (1943). In 1950, Barry started acting on television in the NBC Television Opera Theatre.

First Movie Roles

In 1951, Barry got his first movie role. He played Dr. Frank Addison in The Atomic City (1952). In 1953, he was cast as Dr. Clayton Forrester in the science fiction movie The War of the Worlds.

Many years later, Barry also made a short appearance in Steven Spielberg's remake of War of the Worlds (2005). His co-star from the 1953 film, Ann Robinson, also appeared.

Gene Barry as Bat Masterson

In 1955, Barry joined the TV show Our Miss Brooks. He played Gene Talbot, a physical education teacher. His character was a new love interest for the show's star, Eve Arden. The show ended in 1956.

Becoming a TV Star

Barry's character in Our Miss Brooks was a charming man who liked fancy things. This character type became a model for three of his later TV shows.

His next big role was in Bat Masterson. This show, from 1958 to 1961, told a made-up story about the real-life U.S. Marshal, gambler, and gunman, Bat Masterson. Barry played Masterson again in two episodes of Guns of Paradise in 1990.

In his next TV series, Burke's Law, Barry played a rich detective. His character, Amos Burke, solved crimes while being driven around in his Rolls-Royce car. This show aired from 1963 to 1965. Barry won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in 1965 for his role.

In the show's last season (1965–66), its name changed to Amos Burke, Secret Agent. The Burke's Law series returned to TV in 1994 for two seasons. Barry played the main role again, this time working with his son Peter (Peter Barton).

With Robert Stack and Tony Franciosa in The Name of the Game (1968–1971)

Barry's third TV series was The Name of the Game (1968–1971). He played a smart publisher who owned several magazines. He was one of three main characters, along with Robert Stack and Tony Franciosa. They took turns being the main character each week.

Before The Name of the Game started filming, Barry played a wealthy psychiatrist in a TV movie called Prescription: Murder. This movie later became the start of the famous TV series Columbo.

In 1972, Barry starred in the British TV series The Adventurer. He played Gene Bradley, a government agent who pretended to be a famous American movie star.

Broadway and Awards

Gene Barry returned to Broadway twice more. In 1962, he was in The Perfect Setup. In 1983, he starred in the musical La Cage aux Folles. Barry was nominated for a Tony Award for his role as Georges in La Cage aux Folles.

For his work in live theater, Gene Barry received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. This is a special sidewalk with stars honoring famous people. He also has a Golden Palm Star on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars in Palm Springs, California.

Gene Barry's Personal Life

On October 22, 1944, when he was 25, Gene Barry married Betty Claire Kalb. They met while working on the show Catherine Was Great. Betty was an actress known as Julie Carson. They were married until Betty passed away in 2003.

Gene Barry's Death

Gene Barry died on December 9, 2009. He was 90 years old. He was buried next to his wife Betty at the Hillside Memorial Park Cemetery in Culver City, California.

Filmography

Television credits

See also

In Spanish: Gene Barry para niños