Gene Barry

Birth Name:

Eugene Klass

Birth Place:

New York City, New York, United States

Profession

Actor, Soundtrack, Writer, Producer

His performance in the Broadway musical "La Cage aux Folles" earned him a Tony nomination
Won a Critic's Circle Award for his leading role in an Equity Library production of "Idiot's Delight․"
After performing in bistros around Manhattan, he made his Broadway debut in "Pins and Needles․"
While studying in New York, he started singing on the WHN radio station
Won a singing contest during high school that offered him a scholarship to the Chatham Square School of Music
Quote: "[on "Bat Masterson"] "I went to wardrobe and found that hat and cane and an elegant swallowtail coat and shiny black boots․ I looked at myself in the mirror, and I knew exactly how to play this man․""
Quote: "[on "La Cage Aux Folles] "I'm not playing a homosexual--I'm playing a person who cares deeply about another person․""
His best known film role was as scientist Dr․ Clayton Forrester in the classic film "War of the Words," and he also made a small appearance in the Steven Spielberg remake as the ex-father-in-law of the main character
Played dapper, debonair lead characters on several television series
Almost turned down his famous title role in "Bat Masterson" until he learned that the character would wear a derby and carry a gold-headed cane

Fast Facts