BARBARA BRITTON BIOGRAPHY & FILMOGRAPHY:
Barbara Britton was born on September 26th, 1919 in Long Beach, California with the birth name Barbara Brantingham. She attended Polytechnic High School and after completing High School she attended Long Beach City
College
majoring in Speech with the intention of working as a speech and drama teacher. However, while in School she began to show an interest in acting and began working on local stage productions.
When Britton was in a Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade a photo of her was put on
the front page
of the local newspaper. A Talent scout took notice of her and she was signed to a Paramount Pictures Contract.
Her film debut was in, "
Secret of the Wastelands
" (1941) starring
William Boyd
as
Hopalong Cassidy
, followed by some small roles in such films as, "
Louisiana Purchase
" (1941) starring
Bob Hope
, Vera Zorina,
Victor Moore
, Irene Bordoni and
Max 'Slapsie Maxie' Rosenbloom
,
Academy Award
winner "
Reap the Wild Wind
" (1942) with
John Wayne
,
Ray Milland
,
Paulette Goddard
,
Robert Preston
,
Susan Hayward
, Louise
Beavers
,
Raymond Massey
,
Charles Bickford
and
Hedda Hopper
, "
So Proudly We Hail!
" (1943) starring
Claudette Colbert
,
Paulette Goddard
,
Veronica Lake
,
Walter Abel
and
John Litel
and "Till We Meet Again" (1944) co-starring
Ray Milland
and
Walter Slezak
. As her film career progressed she was continuing to get cast in a number of films but never as a lead role. She added to her resume roles in such films as, "
The Virginian
" (1946) starring
Joel McCrea
,
Brian Donlevy
, Sonny Tufts,
Fay Bainter
,
William Frawley
,
Tom Tully
, Henry O'Neill and Paul Guilfoyle, "The Return of Monte Cristo" (1946) starring with
Louis Hayward
and
George Macready
, "Albuquerque" (1948) starring alongside
Randolph Scott
,
George 'Gabby' Hayes
,
Lon Chaney
Jr.,
George Cleveland
,
Irving Bacon
and
Russell Hayden
and "The Bandit Queen" (1950) also starring
Willard Parker
and
Barton MacLane
. In total during the 40's she worked on twenty six films, but none earning her any
Academy Award
nominations or helping her achieve the level of stardom she dreamed of.
Frustrated with not being able to reach her full potential in the film industry, Britton returned back to working as a stage actress and also turned her career towards working as a television actress. She starred in the 1950's television series, "
Mr. and Mrs. North
" starring with
Richard Denning
, "
Climax!
", "
Lights Out
" and also did some commercial work. She is well known for her role as the spokesperson for the Revlon products in the 1950's and 1960's.
On occasion, Britton would return to film making taking on roles in such films as, "Dragonfly Squadron" (1954) co-starring
John Hodiak
and
Bruce Bennett
, "Night Freight" (1955) starring with
Forrest Tucker
and
Keith Larsen
, "
The Spoilers
" (1955) starring
Anne Baxter
,
Jeff Chandler
,
Rory Calhoun
,
Ray Danton
,
Wallace Ford
,
John McIntire
,
Willis Bouchey
and
Roy Barcroft
and the musical film "Ain't Misbehavin'" (1955) starring
Rory Calhoun
,
Piper Laurie
,
Reginald Gardiner
,
Jack Carson
and
Mamie Van Doren
. Just one year before she passed away she was still making appearances on television with her last role being on a daytime
soap
opera called, "One Life to Live" (1979).
Britton married only one time during her lifetime, to her physician and psychoanalyst, Dr. Eugene Czukor in 1945 and they remained together until she passed away. The couple had four children together, two of whom went on to pursue careers in the entertainment industry as well. Just one year after Britton appeared on "One Life to Live", Britton passed away from gastric cancer in
New York City
, New York on January 17th, 1980 at the age of sixty. She was survived by her husband and only two of her four children, Christina and Theodore.
Barbara Britton was honored with a star on the
Hollywood Walk of Fame
for her contribution to Television at 1719 Vine Street on February 8, 1960.
Filmography
1968 One Life to Live
1960 The Comedy Spot
1955
The Spoilers
1955 The Ford Television Theatre
1955 The Christophers
1950-1955
Robert Montgomery
Presents
1955 Night Freight
1955 Appointment with Adventure
1955 Ain't Misbehavin'
1955
Climax!
1954 Danger
1952-1954 Mr. & Mrs. North
1954 Dragonfly Squadron
1952 Bwana Devil
1952 The Raiders
1952 Ride the Man Down
1952 Schlitz Playhouse
1951 Cameo Theatre
1950-1951 Armstrong Circle Theatre
1951
Lights Out
1951 Lux Video Theatre
1951 Pulitzer Prize Playhouse
1950 The Bandit Queen
1950 Champagne for Caesar
1949 I Shot Jesse James
1949 Cover Up
1948
Loaded Pistols
1948 The Untamed Breed
1948 Mr.
Reckless
1948 Albuquerque
1947 Gunfighters
1946 The Return of Monte Cristo
1946 The Fabulous
Suzanne
1946
They Made Me a Killer
1946
The Virginian
1945
Captain Kidd
1945 The Great John L.
1944 Till We Meet Again
1944 The Story of Dr. Wassell
1944 Showboat Serenade
1943 The Last Will and Testament of Tom Smith
1943
So Proudly We Hail!
1943 Young and Willing
1943
Freedom Comes High
1942 Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch
1942
Wake Island
1942 Beyond the Blue Horizon
1942
Reap the Wild Wind
1942 The Fleet's In
1941
Louisiana Purchase
1941
Secret of the Wastelands