Jess Barker was an American actor who is best known for Cover Girl, Scarlet Street, and Reign of Terror. Born on June 4, 1912, in Greenville, South Carolina, he spent much of his career in Hollywood films and television.
Personal and Family Life
Jess Barker, whose birth name was Jesse Thomas Barker, had a notable personal life marked by his marriage to actress Susan Hayward. They were married on July 23, 1944, but divorced in 1954 after a turbulent relationship, during which they fought a custody battle for their twin sons, Timothy and Gregory, born in 1945. Despite their conflicts, Jess reportedly kept pictures of Susan in his North Hollywood apartment until his later years.
Death and Legacy
Jess Barker passed away on August 8, 2000, in North Hollywood, California, due to cirrhosis of the liver. His contributions to cinema during the 1940s and 1950s, particularly in “B” films, left a lasting impression, and many remember him for his diverse roles in the film industry.
Filmography
| Title | Release Date | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Cover Girl | 1944-03-22 | Coudair as a young man |
| Take One False Step | 1949-08-14 | Arnold Sykes |
| Senorita from the West | 1945-10-12 | Tim Winters |
| Reign of Terror | 1949-10-15 | Saint-Just |
| The Night Walker | 1964-12-30 | Malone |
| Shack Out on 101 | 1955-12-04 | Artie |
| Scarlet Street | 1945-12-25 | David Janeway |
| Government Girl | 1943-11-05 | Dana McGuire |
| Three Bad Sisters | 1956-01-01 | George Gurney |
| Good Luck, Mr. Yates | 1943-06-29 | Oliver Yates |
| Girl on the Spot | 1946-01-11 | Rick Crane |
| Jam Session | 1944-04-13 | George Carter Haven |
| Keep Your Powder Dry | 1945-04-01 | Junior Vanderheusen |
| Dragonfly Squadron | 1954-03-21 | Dixon |
| This Love of Ours | 1945-11-02 | Chadwick |
| The Peacemaker | 1956-11-01 | Ed Halcomb |
| Kentucky Rifle | 1956-07-01 | Daniel Foster |
| She’s a Soldier Too | 1944-06-29 | Dr. Bill White |
| Marry Me Again | 1953-09-22 | Jenkins |
| The Daltons Ride Again | 1945-11-23 | Jeff Colton |
| The Milkman | 1950-10-17 | John Carter |
| Idea Girl | 1946-02-08 | Larry Brewster |
| The Time of Their Lives | 1946-08-13 | Thomas Danbury |
| Mobs, Inc. | 1956-03-21 | Jim Edwards |
| The Trail of the Lonesome Pine | 1936-03-13 | Merd Falin (as Philip Barker) |
| Perry Mason | 1957-09-21 | Walter Eastman |
| Adam-12 | 1968-09-21 | Paul Carter |
| The Millionaire | 1955-01-19 | Felix Lombard |
| Matinee Theater | 1955-10-31 | |
| Racket Squad | 1951-06-07 | |
| The Whistler | 1954-07-13 | |
| Perry Mason | 1957-09-21 | Doug Hamilton |