Barbara Whiting was an American actress who is best known for Dangerous When Wet, Beware, My Lovely, and Home, Sweet Homicide.
Personal and Family Life
Born on May 19, 1931, in Los Angeles, California, Barbara was the daughter of composer Richard A. Whiting and the younger sister of singer/actress Margaret Whiting. She was married to Gail Smith, who was the director of advertising at General Motors, and they had one son named Richard, who earned his Ph.D. in nuclear physics. Barbara and Gail were married twice after a brief divorce, and she also had two stepdaughters.
Career
Barbara began her career as a teenager, signing a contract with 20th Century-Fox in the 1940s. Despite her talent, she mostly received small roles and made a limited impact with her film debut in Junior Miss (1945). She returned to acting after finishing school, appearing in various supporting roles, but she was never given the chance to take on a lead role in any film.
Death and Legacy
Barbara Whiting passed away on June 9, 2004, in Pontiac, Michigan, due to cancer. Despite her limited filmography, she is remembered for her contribution to television, notably with her series Those Whiting Girls, which featured her and her sister. Her performances continue to be appreciated by fans of classic television and film.
Filmography
| Title | Release Date | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Beware, My Lovely | 1952-08-29 | Ruth Williams |
| City Across the River | 1949-04-07 | Annie Kane |
| Home, Sweet Homicide | 1946-10-02 | Jo-Ella Holbrook |
| Carnival in Costa Rica | 1947-03-28 | Maria Molina |
| Centennial Summer | 1946-07-10 | Susanna Rogers |
| I Can Get It for You Wholesale | 1951-04-05 | Ellen Cooper |
| Paris Follies of 1956 | 1955-11-27 | Barbara Walton |
| Junior Miss | 1945-06-16 | Fuffy Adams |
| Rainbow ‘Round My Shoulder | 1952-03-01 | Suzy Milligan |
| Dangerous When Wet | 1953-06-18 | Suzie Higgins |
| The Wizard of Oz | 1991-10-12 | West Witch |
| South Pacific | Dinah White | |
| Dragnet | 1951-12-16 | |
| The Ed Sullivan Show | 1948-06-20 | Self |
| Those Whiting Girls | 1955-07-04 | |
| The Jimmy Durante Show | 1954-10-02 | Self |
| Public Defender | 1954-03-11 | |
| Those Whiting Girls | 1955-07-04 | Barbara Whiting |