Barbara Britton

Born: 1919-09-26

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Barbara Britton (born Barbara Maurine Brantingham, September 26, 1919 – 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 and for her two-year tenure as inquisitive amateur sleuth Pam North on the television and radio series Mr. and Mrs. North. 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 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.") That same year, she appeared in her first two films: the William Boyd Western Secrets of the Wasteland and Louisiana Purchase starring Bob Hope. Her first major film appearance was in a small role in the John Wayne film Reap the Wild Wind (1942). 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. She teamed with Scott again in the 1948 Western Albuquerque, and that same year she starred opposite Gene Autry in Loaded Pistols. In total, she starred or appeared in 26 films during that decade. 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 spokesperson 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.


Placeholder

Reap the Wild Wind

as Charleston Lady #1
Released: 1942-03-26

The Florida Keys in 1840, where the implacable hurricanes of the Caribbean scream, where the...

Movie page

Captain Kidd

as Lady Anne Dunstan
Released: 1945-11-22

Cutthroat pirate William Kidd captures Admiral Blayne's treasure ship and hides the bounty in a...

Movie page

Gunfighters

as Bess Banner
Released: 1947-07-15

Gunfighter "Brazos" Kane lays aside his guns "forever" when he is forced to shoot his best...

Movie page

So Proudly We Hail

as Lt. Rosemary Larson
Released: 1943-09-09

During the start of the Pacific campaign in World War II, Lieutenant Janet Davidson is the head...

Movie page

Loaded Pistols

as Mary Evans
Released: 1948-12-15

A singing cowboy clears a boy accused of murder by finding the real killer.

Movie page

Wake Island

as Sally Cameron (uncredited)
Released: 1942-08-11

In late 1941, with no hope of relief or re-supply, a small band of United States Marines tries...

Movie page

Dragonfly Squadron

as Donna Cottrell
Released: 1954-03-21

A Korean War film with a secondary plot of the training of South Korean pilots, to fly fighters...

Movie page

The Virginian

as Molly Wood
Released: 1946-05-05

Arriving at Medicine Bow, eastern schoolteacher Molly Woods meets two cowboys, irresponsible...

Movie page

The Story of Dr. Wassell

as Ruth
Released: 1944-07-04

As the Japanese sweep through the East Indies during World War II, Dr. Wassell is determined to...

Movie page

I Shot Jesse James

as Cynthy Waters
Released: 1949-02-26

Bob Ford murders his best friend Jesse James in order to obtain a pardon that will free him to...

Movie page

Champagne for Caesar

as Gwenn Bottomley
Released: 1950-05-11

When jobless genius Beauregard Bottomley interviews with Burnbridge Waters for a position at...

Movie page

They Made Me a Killer

as June Reynolds
Released: 1946-05-03

A fugitive receives help from a victim's sister as he tries to clear his name of robbery and...

Movie page

Albuquerque

as Letty Tayler
Released: 1948-02-20

Cole Armin comes to Albuquerque to work for his uncle, John Armin, a despotic and hard-hearted...

Movie page

The Spoilers

as Helen Chester
Released: 1955-12-23

In 1899 Alaska, miners have to protect themselves from a phony legal team trying to steal their...

Movie page

The Great John L.

as Kathy Harkness
Released: 1945-05-25

Portrait of legendary fighter John L. Sullivan, aka "The Boston Strong Boy", and his meteoric...

Movie page

Caroline?

as Hilary
Released: 1990-04-29

Hallmark Hall of Fame presents the story of a mysterious woman claiming to be the deceased...

Movie page

Mr. Reckless

as Betty Denton
Released: 1948-03-26

An oil well digger tries to win back his former girlfriend, now engaged to another man.

Movie page

Till We Meet Again

as Sister Clothilde aka Louise Dupree
Released: 1944-08-30

An American pilot is shot down over Nazi-occupied France and is taken to a convent by the...

Movie page

Ride the Man Down

as Lottie Priest
Released: 1952-11-25

After Celia's father dies, a war erupts over control of his land.

Movie page

Cover Up

as Anita Weatherby
Released: 1949-02-25

Insurance investigator Sam Donovan is looking into the apparent suicide of a man in a small...

Movie page

Bwana Devil

as Alice Hayward
Released: 1952-08-22

British railway workers in Kenya are becoming the favorite snack of two man-eating lions. Head...

Movie page

The Fleet's In

as Eileen Wright
Released: 1942-01-24

Shy sailor Casey Kirby suddenly becomes known as a sea wolf when his picture is taken with a...

Movie page

Louisiana Purchase

as Louisiana Belle
Released: 1941-12-31

A bumbling senator investigating graft in Louisiana is the target of a scheme involving a...

Movie page

The Untamed Breed

as Cherry Lucas
Released: 1948-10-20

A cowboy sets out to capture an escaped Brahma bull that is terrorizing local ranchers. Based on...

Movie page

Night Freight

as Wanda
Released: 1955-08-28

Trucker tries to put a railroad man out of business.

Movie page

The Raiders

as Elizabeth Ainsworth
Released: 1952-11-20

A rancher who has staked a claim during the California gold rush goes after the gang of...

Movie page

The Last Will and Testament of Tom Smith

as Grace
Released: 1943-09-09

Tom Smith, an American pilot, is shot down and captured by the Japanese. While imprisoned and...

Movie page

Young and Willing

as Marge Benson Dennison
Released: 1943-02-05

For those, if any, who have wondered why so many Paramount contractees appeared in United...

Movie page

Mary Tyler Moore: A Celebration

as Laura Petrie / Pilot-Head of the Family (archive footage)
Released: 2015-10-13

Not only did Mary Tyler Moore “turn the world on with her smile,” as her show’s theme song...

Movie page

Ain't Misbehavin'

as Pat Beaton
Released: 1955-06-30

Rowdy young girl crashes high society when wealthy older man falls for her.

Movie page

The Return of Monte Cristo

as Angela Picard
Released: 1946-12-19

Louis Hayward, star of 1940's Son of Monte Cristo, returns to Alexandre Dumas territory in...

Movie page

The Fabulous Suzanne

as Suzanne
Released: 1946-12-15

Suzanne, a waitress, comes up with a sure-fire method for winning at the racetrack and, later,...

Movie page

Secret of the Wastelands

as Jennifer Kendall
Released: 1941-11-15

Hoppy is leading a scientific expedition and the Chinese who have a hidden settlement nearby are...

Movie page

The Bandit Queen

as Zarra Montalvo, alias Lola Belmont
Released: 1950-12-22

Zara Montalve, half Spanish and half America, returns to her native California in time to see...

Movie page

Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch

as Lucy Olcott
Released: 1942-10-01

In the shanty town called the Cabbage Patch, Mrs. Wiggs scrabbles for survival with her brood of...

Movie page

Robert Montgomery Presents

as uncredited
First aired: 1950-01-30

Robert Montgomery Presents is an American dramatic television series which was produced by NBC...

TV Show page

Robert Montgomery Presents

as Liz
First aired: 1950-01-30

Robert Montgomery Presents is an American dramatic television series which was produced by NBC...

TV Show page

The Dick Van Dyke Show

as Laura Petrie
First aired: 1961-10-03

The Dick Van Dyke Show centers around the work and home life of television comedy writer Rob...

TV Show page

Climax!

as Duana Clarke
First aired: 1954-10-07

Climax! is an American anthology series that aired on CBS from 1954 to 1958. The series was...

TV Show page

Lights Out

as uncredited
First aired: 1949-07-19

Lights Out was an extremely popular American old-time radio program, an early example of a...

TV Show page

Mr. & Mrs. North

as uncredited
First aired: 1952-10-03

Mr. & Mrs. North is an American comedy/mystery television series that aired on CBS from October...

TV Show page

The $64,000 Question

as Assistant
First aired: 1955-06-07

The $64,000 Question is an American game show broadcast from 1955–1958, which became embroiled...

TV Show page

Schlitz Playhouse of Stars

as Pamela
First aired: 1951-10-05

Schlitz Playhouse of Stars is an anthology series that was telecast from 1951 until 1959 on CBS....

TV Show page