Barbara Darrow
Barbara Darrow | |
|---|---|
 Darrow in 1958. | |
| Born | Barbara Georgine Wittlinger November 18, 1931 |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1950–1977 |
| Spouse | Thomas Tannenbaum (1956–2001, his death) |
| Children | Madelyn, Audrey, Eric |
Barbara Darrow (born November 18, 1931[1]) is an American motion picture and television actress.
Biography
Barbara Darrow was born Barbara Georgine Wittlinger in Hollywood, California to a motion picture landscape artist and a former silent screen actress.[2] She took her stage name from her uncle, actor turned agent, John Darrow.[3]
In 1951, Howard Hughes signed Darrow to a contract with RKO Studios. She made mostly B-movie films in the 1950s, including The Monster That Challenged The World and Queen of Outer Space. She replaced Marla English opposite Spencer Tracy in The Mountain, after English had an adverse reaction to a smallpox vaccine. By 1955 she was one of only three actors under contract to RKO.
Darrow made several appearances in one or two episodes of popular television shows in the 1950s. Some of these include The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show, Bachelor Father, The Bob Cummings Show, M Squad, and Peter Gunn.[1]
Personal life
Darrow married Thomas David Tannenbaum, son of David Tannenbaum, who served as mayor of Beverly Hills, California for two terms in 1952 and 1956,[4][5] on September 28, 1956; they remained married until his death on December 1, 2001.[2] A talent agent at MGM, he would later go on to be the founding president of Viacom.[6] They have three children:[1] daughters Madelyn C. (born May 17, 1960) and Audrey C. (born June 29, 1961), and son Eric T. (born August 28, 1963).[2]
Her youngest daughter Audrey Darin married Bobby Darin and Sandra Dee's only child, Dodd Darin.[7] Her son Eric Tannenbaum became president of Columbia TriStar Television at age 33;[8] he would go on to executive produce Two and a Half Men.
Darrow's uncle is John Darrow, a silent film star turned successful agent, from whom she borrowed her stage name. Her older sister Madelyn Darrow became a model.[2]
Filmography
Movies
- Tall Story - Frieda Jensen (1960)[1][9]
- Queen of Outer Space - Kaeel (1958)[1][9]
- The Monster That Challenged the World - Jody Sims (1957)[1][9]
- The Mountain - Simone (1956)[1][9]
- The Best Things in Life Are Free - Brenda (uncredited, 1956)[1]
- Diane - Lady in Waiting (uncredited, 1956)[1]
- Susan Slept Here - Miss Jennings (1954)[10]
- The French Line - Donna Adams (1953)[1]
- Grounds for Marriage - Pretty Girl (uncredited, 1951)[1]
- A Life of Her Own (uncredited, 1950)[1]
Television
- Switch - Nurse, Willie (2 episodes, 1977)[1]
- Doctors Hospital - Nurse Forester (1975)[1][9]
- Mission: Impossible - Proprietress (1972)[1]
- Love, American Style - Helen, Elizabeth (2 segments, 1970–1971)[1]
- Alcoa Theatre - The Silent Kill, Linda Hollander (1960)[1]
- Tightrope - Lois (1 episode, 1959)[1]
- Markham - Helen Dunhill (1 episode, 1959)[1]
- Adventure Showcase - Linda Hollander (1 episode, 1959)[1]
- Colt .45 - Nita (1 episode, 1959)[1]
- M Squad - Shelly Dana (1 episode, 1959)[1]
- Peter Gunn - Virginia Pelgram (1 episode, 1959)[1]
- The Bob Cummings Show - Betty Jean, Lola (2 episodes, 1958–1959)[1]
- Goodyear Theatre - Oma Jean (1 episode, 1958)[1]
- Bachelor Father - Carol Spencer (1 episode, 1958)[1]
- Mike Hammer - Sharon O'Closky (1 episode, 1958)[1]
- The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show - Barbara Parker, Peggy, Sylvia (3 episodes, 1957–1958)[1]
- G.E. True Theater - Rita (1 episode, 1957)[1]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac Barbara Darrow at Internet Movie database, retrieved January 28, 2012
- ^ a b c d Barbara Darrow at Glamour Girls of the Silver Screen, retrieved January 28, 2012
- ^ http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0201690/bio?ref_=nm_ov_bio_sm
- ^ http://boards.ancestry.com/surnames.tannenbaum/47/mb.ashx
- ^ List of mayors of Beverly Hills, California
- ^ http://variety.com/2001/scene/people-news/tom-tannenbaum-1117856687/
- ^ http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20104376,00.html
- ^ http://articles.latimes.com/1996-10-07/news/mn-51456_1_young-executives
- ^ a b c d e Barbara Darrow at TVguide, retrieved January 28, 2012
- ^ Susan Slept Here at TCM Movie Database
External links
- Barbara Darrow at IMDb
- Barbara Darrow at TVguide
- Barbara Darrow at Glamour Girls of the Silver Screen
- Barbara Darrow at Rotten Tomatoes