Barbara Britton (born Barbara Maurine Brantingham, September 26, 1920 – 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 Orvon Grover "Gene" Autry (September 29, 1907 – October 2, 1998), nicknamed the Singing Cowboy, was an American singer, songwriter, actor, musician, rodeo performer, and baseball owner who gained fame largely by singing in a crooning s ...

and for her two-year tenure as inquisitive amateur sleuth Pam North on the television and radio series '' Mr. and Mrs. North''.

Early life

Britton was born September 26, 1920, in

Long Beach, California Long Beach is a city in Los Angeles County, California. It is the 42nd-most populous city in the United States, with a population of 466,742 as of 2020. A charter city, Long Beach is the seventh-most populous city in California. Incorporate ...

. Her involvement with stage productions began when she was 14. She attended Polytechnic High School and Long Beach City College, majoring in speech with the intention of working as a speech and drama teacher. While in school, she began to show an interest in acting and working on local stage productions. Britton was a Republican, and she campaigned for Dwight D. Eisenhower in both 1952 and

1956 Events January * January 1 – The Anglo-Egyptian Condominium ends in Sudan. * January 8 – Operation Auca: Five U.S. evangelical Christian missionaries, Nate Saint, Roger Youderian, Ed McCully, Jim Elliot and Pete Fleming, are kille ...

Career

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 Paramount Pictures Corporation is an American film and television production company, production and Distribution (marketing), distribution company and the main namesake division of Paramount Global (formerly ViacomCBS). It is the fifth-oldes ...

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.")

Film

That same year, she appeared in her first two films: the

William Boyd William, Willie, Will or Bill Boyd may refer to: Academics * William Alexander Jenyns Boyd (1842–1928), Australian journalist and schoolmaster * William Boyd (educator) (1874–1962), Scottish educator * William Boyd (pathologist) (1885–1979), ...

Western ''

Secret of the Wastelands ''Secret of the Wasteland'' is a 1941 American Western film directed by Derwin Abrahams and written by Gerald Geraghty. The film stars William Boyd, Andy Clyde, Brad King, Soo Yong, Barbara Britton, Douglas Fowley and Keith Richards. The film ...

'' and ''

Louisiana Purchase The Louisiana Purchase (french: Vente de la Louisiane, translation=Sale of Louisiana) was the acquisition of the territory of Louisiana by the United States from the French First Republic in 1803. In return for fifteen million dollars, or ap ...

'' starring

Bob Hope Leslie Townes "Bob" Hope (May 29, 1903 – July 27, 2003) was a British-American comedian, vaudevillian, actor, singer and dancer. With a career that spanned nearly 80 years, Hope appeared in more than 70 short and feature films, with ...

. Her first major film appearance was in a small role in the

John Wayne Marion Robert Morrison (May 26, 1907 – June 11, 1979), known professionally as John Wayne and nicknamed The Duke or Duke Wayne, was an American actor who became a popular icon through his starring roles in films made during Hollywood's Go ...

film '' Reap the Wild Wind'' (1942). In 1944, she gave a very affecting performance with Ray Milland in '' Till We Meet Again''. 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 Gunfighters, also called gunslingers (), or in the 19th and early 20th centuries gunmen, were individuals in the American Old West who gained a reputation of being dangerous with a gun and participated in gunfights and shootouts. Today, the te ...

''. She teamed with Scott again in the 1948 Western ''

Albuquerque Albuquerque ( ; ), ; kee, Arawageeki; tow, Vakêêke; zun, Alo:ke:k'ya; apj, Gołgéeki'yé. abbreviated ABQ, is the most populous city in the U.S. state of New Mexico. Its nicknames, The Duke City and Burque, both reference its founding i ...

'', and that same year she starred opposite

in '' Loaded Pistols''. In total, she starred or appeared in 26 films during that decade.

Television

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 spokeswoman 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.

Magazines

Over a 24-month span, Britton's picture appeared on more than 100 magazine covers, including those of ''

Ladies Home Journal ''Ladies' Home Journal'' was an American magazine last published by the Meredith Corporation. It was first published on February 16, 1883, and eventually became one of the leading women's magazines of the 20th century in the United States. In ...

, Woman's Home Companion'', and ''

McCall's ''McCall's'' was a monthly American women's magazine, published by the McCall Corporation, that enjoyed great popularity through much of the 20th century, peaking at a readership of 8.4 million in the early 1960s. It was established as a small-f ...

''. In 1949, a newspaper article reported, "Today, Barbara Britton's picture has appeared on more national magazine covers than any other motion picture actress in the world."

Personal life

Reportedly, in 1944, Britton suffered from nervous exhaustion due to overwork and was advised to seek the help of physician and psychoanalyst Dr. Eugene J. Czukor. Britton and Czukor, who was 22 years her senior, were married on April 2, 1945. At one time, the couple had a home on Victoria Drive in

Laguna Beach, California Laguna Beach (; ''Laguna'', Spanish for "Lagoon") is a seaside resort city located in southern Orange County, California, in the United States. It is known for its mild year-round climate, scenic coves, environmental preservation efforts, an ...

.. They moved to

Manhattan Manhattan (), known regionally as the City, is the most densely populated and geographically smallest of the five boroughs of New York City. The borough is also coextensive with New York County, one of the original counties of the U.S. state ...

in 1957. For many years, Britton and her husband lived in a rambling, red-shingled farmhouse in

Bethel, Connecticut Bethel () is a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. Its population was 11,988 in 2022 according to World Population Review. The town includes the Bethel Census Designated Place. Interstate 84 passes through Bethel, and it h ...

. Sharing their love of antiques, they opened a shop in an early American barn in the antique-gallery enclave of Woodbury, Connecticut. They had two children, Ted and Christina. Their marriage lasted for 34 years until Britton's death. She died of pancreatic cancer at her Manhattan apartment on January 17, 1980, at the age of 59.

Honors and awards

In 1948, Britton was given a key to the City of

. On February 8, 1960, she received a star for television on the

Hollywood Walk of Fame The Hollywood Walk of Fame is a historic landmark which consists of more than 2,700 five-pointed terrazzo and brass stars embedded in the sidewalks along 15 blocks of Hollywood Boulevard and three blocks of Vine Street in Hollywood, Calif ...

; her star is located at 1719 Vine Street.

Filmography

Films

* '' Secrets of the Wasteland'' (1941) - Jennifer Kendall * ''

'' (1941) - Louisiana Belle * '' The Fleet's In'' (1942) - Eileen Wright * '' Reap the Wild Wind'' (1942) - Charleston Lady * '' Beyond the Blue Horizon'' (1942) - Pamela, Girl at Circus (uncredited) * ''

Wake Island Wake Island ( mh, Ānen Kio, translation=island of the kio flower; also known as Wake Atoll) is a coral atoll in the western Pacific Ocean in the northeastern area of the Micronesia subregion, east of Guam, west of Honolulu, southeast of T ...

'' (1942) - Sally Cameron (uncredited) * ''

Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch ''Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch'' is a 1901 novel by American author Alice Hegan Rice, about a southern family humorously coping with poverty. It was highly popular on its release,Lowell Hayes Harrison, ''A New History of Kentucky'' (1997), p. ...

'' (1942) - Miss Lucy Olcott * '' Freedom Comes High'' (1943, Short) - Ellen Blanding * '' Young and Willing'' (1943) - Marge Benson Dennison * '' So Proudly We Hail!'' (1943) - Lt. Rosemary Larson * ''

The Story of Dr. Wassell ''The Story of Dr. Wassell'' is a 1944 American World War II film set in the Dutch East Indies, directed by Cecil B. DeMille, and starring Gary Cooper, Laraine Day, Signe Hasso and Dennis O'Keefe. The film was based on a book of the same name by ...

'' (1944) - Ruth * '' Till We Meet Again'' (1944) - Sister Clothilde aka Louise Dupree * ''

The Great John L. ''The Great John L.'' is a 1945 American biographical drama film directed by Frank Tuttle and written by James Edward Grant. The film stars Linda Darnell, Barbara Britton, Greg McClure, Otto Kruger, Wallace Ford and George Mathews. The film was ...

'' (1945) - Kathy Harkness * '' Captain Kidd'' (1945) - Lady Anne Dunstan * '' The Virginian'' (1946) - Molly Wood * ''

They Made Me a Killer ''They Made Me a Killer'' is a 1946 American film noir crime film directed by William C. Thomas, and written by Daniel Mainwaring, Winston Miller and Kae Salkow, based on story by Owen Franes. It stars Barbara Britton and Robert Lowery, and m ...

'' (1946) - June Reynolds * ''

The Fabulous Suzanne ''The Fabulous Suzanne'' is a 1946 American romantic comedy film directed by Steve Sekely and starring Barbara Britton, Rudy Vallee and Otto Kruger. A waitress inherits a fortune from one of her customers. Plot The young and beautiful Suzanne ...

'' (1946) - Suzanne * '' The Return of Monte Cristo'' (1946) - Angel Picard * ''

'' (1947) - Bess Banner * ''

'' (1948) - Letty Tyler * '' Mr. Reckless'' (1948) - Betty Denton * '' The Untamed Breed'' (1948) - Cherry Lucas * '' Loaded Pistols'' (1948) - Mary Evans * ''

I Shot Jesse James ''I Shot Jesse James'' is a 1949 American Western film directed by Samuel Fuller about the murder of Jesse James by Robert Ford and Robert Ford's life afterwards. The story is built around a fictional rivalry between Ford and his eventual kill ...

'' (1949) - Cynthy * '' Cover Up'' (1949) - Anita Weatherby * '' Champagne for Caesar'' (1950) - Gwenn Bottomley * '' The Bandit Queen'' (1950) - Zara Montalvo aka Lola Belmont * '' The Raiders'' (1952) - Elizabeth Ainsworth * ''

Ride the Man Down ''Ride the Man Down'' is a 1952 American Western film directed by Joseph Kane, written by Mary C. McCall, Jr., and starring Brian Donlevy, Rod Cameron, Ella Raines, Forrest Tucker, Barbara Britton, Chill Wills and J. Carrol Naish. The film was ...

'' (1952) - Lottie Priest * ''

Bwana Devil ''Bwana Devil'' is a 1952 American adventure B movie written, directed, and produced by Arch Oboler, and starring Robert Stack, Barbara Britton, and Nigel Bruce. ''Bwana Devil'' is based on the true story of the Tsavo maneaters and filmed with ...

'' (1952) - Alice Hayward * ''

Dragonfly Squadron ''Dragonfly Squadron'' is a 1954 American war film directed by Lesley Selander and starring John Hodiak, Barbara Britton and Bruce Bennett. The film is set in the period shortly before and during the invasion of South Korea by North Korean troops. ...

'' (1954) - Donna Cottrell * '' Ain't Misbehavin''' (1955) - Pat Beaton * ''

Night Freight ''Night Freight'' is a 1955 American drama film directed by Jean Yarbrough and written by Steve Fisher. The film stars Forrest Tucker, Barbara Britton, Keith Larsen, Thomas Gomez, Michael Ross and Myrna Dell. The film was released on August 28 ...

'' (1955) - Wanda * '' The Spoilers'' (1955) - Helen Chester * ''Majeok'' (1967)

Television series

* '' Armstrong Circle Theatre'' (1950–1951) * '' Pulitzer Prize Playhouse'' (1951) * ''

Lux Video Theatre ''Lux Video Theatre'' is an American television anthology series that was produced from 1950 until 1957. The series presented both comedy and drama in original teleplays, as well as abridged adaptations of films and plays. Overview The ''Lux Vid ...

'' (1951) - Hilda * '' Lights Out'' (1951) * ''

Cameo Theatre ''Cameo Theatre'' is an American anthology series that aired on NBC during the Golden Age of Television, from 1950 to 1955. Television in the round The live series, produced by Albert McCleery, introduced to television the concept of theater-in- ...

'' (1951) * '' Schlitz Playhouse'' (1952) - Pamela * '' Mr. and Mrs. North'' (1952–1954) - Pamela North / Kitty Pomeroy * ''

Danger Danger is a lack of safety and may refer to: Places * Danger Cave, an archaeological site in Utah * Danger Island, Great Chagos Bank, Indian Ocean * Danger Island, alternate name of Pukapuka Atoll in the Cook Islands, Pacific Ocean * Danger Is ...

'' (1954) * '' Climax!'' (1955) - Duana Clarke * ''Appointment with Adventure'' (1955) * '' Robert Montgomery Presents'' (1950–1955) - Liz * ''The Christophers'' (1955) * '' The Ford Television Theatre'' (1955) - Alice / Kathy Collins * '' Head of the Family'' (Pilot for what would become ''

The Dick Van Dyke Show ''The Dick Van Dyke Show'' is an American television sitcom created by Carl Reiner that initially aired on CBS from October 3, 1961 to June 1, 1966, with a total of 158 half-hour episodes spanning five seasons. It was produced by Calvada Prod ...

'') (1959) * ''The Comedy Spot'' (1960) - Laura Petrie * '' One Life to Live'' (1968) - Fran Craig Gordon #1 (1979-1980) (final appearance)

Radio

* ''Stars in the Air'' (1952) Episode: '' Weekend for Three'' * ''Mr. and Mrs. North'' (1953-1955)

References

External links

* * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Britton, Barbara American television actresses American film actresses Deaths from cancer in New York (state) Deaths from pancreatic cancer Long Beach City College alumni 1920 births 1980 deaths 20th-century American actresses Paramount Pictures contract players Actresses from Long Beach, California Long Beach Polytechnic High School alumni