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Barbara Britton

Known For
Acting

Known Credits
49

Gender
Female

Birthday
September 26, 1920 (105 years old)

Place of Birth
Long Beach, California, USA

Barbara Britton

Biography

Barbara Britton (born Barbara Maurine Brantingham; September 26, 1919 – January 17, 1980) was an American film and television actress. She is best known for her Western film roles opposite Randolph Scott, Joel McCrea, and Gene Autry and for her two-year tenure as inquisitive amateur sleuth Pam North on the television and radio series Mr. and Mrs. North.

In 1941, while appearing in a Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade, a photo of Britton was used on the front page of a local newspaper. A talent scout took notice, and she was soon signed to a Paramount Pictures contract. (Another source says that a talent scout spotted her as the lead in the production of The Old Maid at her college, and "three weeks later she was signed by Paramount Pictures as a stock player.")

That same year, she appeared in her first two films: the William Boyd Western Secrets of the Wasteland and Louisiana Purchase starring Bob Hope. Her first major film appearance was in a small role in the John Wayne film Reap the Wild Wind (1942).

During the 1940s Britton starred in three films for which she is most recognized today, two of which co-starred Randolph Scott. The first was the 1945 film Captain Kidd with Scott, followed by The Virginian in 1946 opposite Joel McCrea. The third was the 1947 Randolph Scott film Gunfighters. She teamed with Scott again in the 1948 Western Albuquerque, and that same year she starred opposite Gene Autry in Loaded Pistols. In total, she starred or appeared in 26 films during that decade.

Britton starred in the 1950s television show Mr. and Mrs. North, a Thin Man-like mystery show, with Richard Denning and Francis De Sales. She was probably best known for being the spokesperson for Revlon products in the 1950s and 1960s, appearing in advertisements and commercials that included live spots on The $64,000 Question. She also portrayed Laura Petrie in Carl Reiner's Head of the Family, the 1959 pilot for the later Dick Van Dyke Show.

One of Britton's last roles was on the daytime television soap opera One Life to Live in 1979.

Known For

Acting

2015Mary Tyler Moore: A Celebrationas Laura Petrie / Pilot-Head of the Family (archive footage)
1990Caroline?as Hilary
1967Mounted Banditsas US diplomat daughter Teresa
1959The Big Partyas Self
1959The Big Partyas Self – Hostess
1955The Spoilersas Helen Chester
1955A Date With Lifeas
1955Night Freightas Wanda
1955Ain't Misbehavin'as Pat Beaton
1955The $64,000 Questionas Assistant
1954Climax!as Duana Clarke
1954The George Gobel Showas Self
1954Dragonfly Squadronas Donna Cottrell
1952Ride the Man Downas Lottie Priest
1952The Raidersas Elizabeth Ainsworth
1952Mr. & Mrs. Northas
1952Bwana Devilas Alice Hayward
1951Schlitz Playhouse of Starsas Pamela
1950The Bandit Queenas Zarra Montalvo, alias Lola Belmont
1950Lux Video Theatreas Hilda
1950Champagne for Caesaras Gwenn Bottomley
1950Robert Montgomery Presentsas
1950Robert Montgomery Presentsas Liz
1949Lights Outas
1949I Shot Jesse Jamesas Cynthy Waters
1949Cover Upas Anita Weatherby
1948Loaded Pistolsas Mary Evans
1948The Untamed Breedas Cherry Lucas
1948Mr. Recklessas Betty Denton
1948Albuquerqueas Letty Tayler
1947Gunfightersas Bess Banner
1946The Return of Monte Cristoas Angela Picard
1946The Fabulous Suzanneas Suzanne
1946The Virginianas Molly Wood
1946They Made Me a Killeras June Reynolds
1945Captain Kiddas Lady Anne Dunstan
1945The Great John L.as Kathy Harkness
1944Till We Meet Againas Sister Clothilde aka Louise Dupree
1944The Story of Dr. Wassellas Ruth
1943The Last Will and Testament of Tom Smithas Grace
1943So Proudly We Hailas Lt. Rosemary Larson
1943Young and Willingas Marge Benson Dennison
1943Freedom Comes Highas
1942Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patchas Lucy Olcott
1942Wake Islandas Sally Cameron (uncredited)
1942Reap the Wild Windas Charleston Lady #1
1942The Fleet's Inas Eileen Wright
1941Louisiana Purchaseas Louisiana Belle
1941Secret of the Wastelandsas Jennifer Kendall

Production