TV Star Gene Barry Dies at 90

By PopEater / Wire Services Posted Dec 11th 2009 07:15AM

Gene Barry, who for three decades played the tall, well-dressed tough guy in TV shows like 'Bat Masterson,' 'Burke's Law' and 'The Name of the Game,' has died at age 90. The cause of his death was not stated.

'Bat Masterson'

'Burke's Law'

Fredric James Barry, the actor's son, said his father died Wednesday at a rest home in the Los Angeles neighborhood of Woodland Hills.

Gene Barry essentially played the same character in all three series, which spanned the 1950s to the 1970s. Always fashionably dressed, the tall, handsome actor with the commanding voice dominated his scenes as he bested the bad guys in each show.

In the first of the three, the Western "Bat Masterson," he was a frontier dandy who rarely resorted to gunplay, choosing instead to beat his rivals senseless with a gold-handled cane.

Before he landed the role in 1958, Barry's movie career appeared to be on the rise, and he was at first reluctant to play Bat Masterson. He had starred in the science-fiction classic "War of the Worlds" in 1953 and opposite Clark Gable in "Soldier of Fortune" in 1955.

He said he was won over to TV when he learned that lawman Masterson had worn a derby and carried a gold-handled cane in real life.

"I went over to the wardrobe department, picked out a brocaded vest, looked in the mirror, and there was this elegant gentleman," he recalled in 1999. "I said, 'Hey, that's Bat! That's me!"'

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Recent Losses in TV Land

Gene Barry, Dec. 9: The 'Bat Masterson' and 'Burke's Law' actor died of unspecified causes at the age of 90, according to his son.

Kevin Winter, Getty Images

Recent Losses in TV

Gene Barry, Dec. 9: The 'Bat Masterson' and 'Burke's Law' actor died of unspecified causes at the age of 90, according to his son.

Kevin Winter, Getty Images

Ken Ober, Nov. 15: The 'Remote Control' host was found dead at his Santa Monica home at the age of 52. Cause of death is unknown.

Peter Kramer, Getty Images

Soupy Sales, Oct. 22: The comedian whose real name was Milton Supman built a career on his physical comedy and seemingly rubber face, which was the target of countless pies during his decades as a comedian. He was 83 years old.

CBS Photo Archive / Getty Images

Vic Mizzy, Sept. 17: The songwriter who composed the catchy themes for the 1960s sit-coms 'The Addams Family' and 'Green Acres,' has died at age 93. His manager Jonathan Wolfson said he didn't know the cause of death. Mizzy is survived by a brother, daughter and two grandchildren.

Mathew Imaging / WireImage

Henry Gibson, Sept. 14: The actor known for roles in 'Blues Brothers,' 'The Burbs' and 'Laugh-In' died at his home in Malibu after battling cancer. He was 73.

Kevin Winter, Getty Images

Harry Towb, July 24: The Irish actor died of cancer in his London home at the age of 83, after more than 60 years on the stage and screen.

WENN

Alexis Cohen, July 25: The ex-'American Idol' hopeful, whose famous rejection meltdown made her a viral sensation in early 2008, was struck and killed by a hit-and-run driver in New Jersey. Viewers better know Cohen as Glitter Girl, for her sparkly makeup. The aspiring singer and comedienne was 25.

AP Photo/FOX, Michael Becker, File

Les Lye, July 21: You know him as the foil to all those silly kids on 'You Can't Do That on Television' during the show's heyday. Lye died at age 84. Watch him in his numerous characters here.

YouTube

Gidget, July 21: The Chihuahua who became synonymous with Taco Bell thanks to their 'Yo Quiero Taco Bell' ad campaign died at the age of 15.

Taco Bell / AP

Billy Mays, June 28: The TV pitchman died of a heart attack, though an autopsy report showed that cocaine use played a part in Mays' death.

Chris O'Meara, AP

After two decades as a TV star, Barry found himself typecast as a television actor and never returned to prominence in films. Instead, he stayed active with stage appearances and dozens of TV guest appearances.

He sang in such musicals as "Kismet" and "Destry Rides Again," and created the Broadway role of Georges, the gay night club owner in Jerry Herman's hit musical "La Cage aux Folles." That role brought him a Tony nomination in 1984.

Barry appeared in the last season of Eve Arden's hit sitcom "Our Miss Brooks" - as a P.E. teacher who pines for Miss Brooks - before landing "Bat Masterson" in 1958.

After the show ended its run on NBC in 1961, Barry moved to ABC to star as an LA detective in "Burke's Law," which lasted until 1966. The show was revived on CBS nearly 30 years later with Barry again in the lead but lasted only one season.

"The Name of the Game" (1968-1972) offered an innovation: three suave actors - Barry, Robert Stack and Anthony Franciosa -alternating weekly in their own self-contained adventures. The only connective element: All were part of an investigative magazine of which Barry was the flamboyant owner.

When the series folded, Barry filmed a syndicated show, "The Adventurer," in England.

He was born Eugene Klass in New York City in 1919, and he met his wife, Betty Claire Kalb, when both were performing in the city. They were married 58 years, until her death in 2003.

Barry is survived by his three children, Michael, Fredric and Elizabeth, as well as three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

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Comments

(52)

Friday 11 December

By Mark

Vote down Vote up Report this

He may have been Bat Masterson and Burke, but he'll always be Dr. Clayton Forrester in The War Of The Worlds to me. Anyone else notice he and the actress who played Sylvia in that movie did a cameo at the end of Steven Spielberg's remake in 2005?

By Joe Myers

You take a guy like gene and he gets one or two lines about his death but take a child molester like michael jackson and everyone says how wonderful he was news covergage for months RIP Gene burn in hell m jackson

By WT

If you asked 100 people on the street if they knew who played Bat Masterson probably 5 would know.

If you asked the same 100 people if they remember the guy with the glasses in WAR OF THE WORLDS, probably 50 would say yes.

By Bill

Gene Barry was one of the classiest actors that ever lived. Hw was right up there with Errol Flynn. I'm not talking about their private lives but the characters they portrayed. Also, Burke's Law had about the coolest theme song ever on TV. How can you not love a cool guy in a Rolls Royce, tooling around LA solving crime?

By Maria

I really liked Gene Barry. I just saw "War of the Worlds" a week or so ago. I believe his last movie appearance was in the re-make with Tom Cruise. He was in the last seen when Cruise finally gets to his X wives place and Gene is standing there.
RIP and god bless!

By Robert

The 1953 version of, "War of the Worlds" was and always will be my favorite sci-fi movie (there are a lot of close seconds). That, and the television series, "Bat Masterson" bring back great movie and T.V. memories! Thanks Gene - rest in peace!

By rphall

RIP Mr Barry. They aren't turning out actors like you any more. You had both talent and class and it always came through. "Bat Masterson" and "Burke's Law" are genuine classics, thanks to your work.

By Joanne

A very talented man -- I loved his shows and movies. God bless Mr. Barry.

By jnzcram@aol.com

A very dapper talented gentleman.

By Marshall

Oh oh! Two more are on the way. Who will it be?

By Dee

Gene Barry, rest in peace!!

By Dean

Gene Barry..an actor with real class,something hard to find today.

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