( b. Jun 14, 1919 New York, New York, USA - d. Dec 09, 2009 Woodland Hills, California, USA ) Male
Also known as:
Eugene Klass [Birthname]
Gene Barry was born in New York to Martin Klass, a jeweler, and Eva Klass. He studied violin and singing as a boy and got his start in show business while attending New Utrecht High School in Brooklyn, when he won a singing contest and a scholarship to the Chatham Square School of Music. Soon, he was working on stage and, by 1942, Broadway. He changed his name to Gene Barry in honor of his idol John Barrymore.
Mr. Barry went to Hollywood in 1951. Movie roles followed, including scientist Dr. Clayton Forrester in "War of the Worlds" based on the H. G. Wells novel; "Soldier of Fortune," with Clark Gable and Susan Hayward; and "Thunder Road" with Robert Mitchum.
Real fame, however, came with the 1958 series "Bat Masterson," in which he played, for three seasons, the famous Wild West lawman as a charming, dapper, handsome gambler who sports a cane and a derby. From 1963 to 1966, he was jet-setting detective Amos Burke in "Burke's Law." His third hit series was "The Name of the Game," from 1968 to 1971.
His fame had dimmed a bit by the time 'La Cage' revived his fortunes. After a year on Broadway, he joined the road company in San Francisco and played Los Angeles for a long stint. He also appeared in a one-man cabaret show entitled 'Gene Barry in One.'
His final role was a bit part in the 2005 Tom Cruise remake of his old film, "The War of the Worlds."
