Gene Barry was a talented actor and singer who rose to fame in the 1950s and 1960s with his effortless class and elegant charm.
Born Eugene Klass in New York City on June 14, 1919, to Martin and Eva Klass, Gene showed a gift for music at an early age, inheriting his father's talent for the violin. He graduated Valedictorian from New Utrecht High School in Brooklyn, New York, and went on to study singing at the Chatham Square School of Music.
Gene began his career in nightclubs, choirs, and variety shows, and made his Broadway debut in 1942 with the musical "New Moon". He later appeared in the 1944 musical "Catherine Was Great", where he met and married chorus girl Betty Barry.
Gene's breakthrough in Hollywood came in the 1950s, after gaining notice on the program "Hollywood Screen Test". He signed a contract with Paramount and appeared in a string of films, including "The Atomic City", "Those Redheads from Seattle", and "Alaska Seas".
Gene's most recognizable role during this period was as Dr. Clayton Forrester in the cult science-fiction classic "The War of the Worlds" (1953). He also starred in the TV series "Bat Masterson" (1958) and "Burke's Law" (1963),for which he won a Golden Globe.
Gene continued to work in television and film throughout his career, appearing in shows such as "The Name of the Game" (1968) and "The War of the Worlds" (2005). He also made a triumphant return to Broadway in 1983, starring in the musical "La Cage aux Folles".
Gene was a devoted husband to his wife Betty, whom he married in 1942, and they had two sons and a daughter together. He passed away on December 9, 2009, at the age of 90.
