Actress Claudia Barrett has died
She was not on the list.
Palm Desert - Claudia Barrett, 91, local poet, watercolor
artist, and former actor, died of natural causes at her home in Palm Desert on
April 30, 2021. She was born Imagene Williams on Nov 3, 1929 in West Los
Angeles to Arvilla Benton and Iman Williams, who ran a lunch counter near the
Sepulveda VA, where the gassed veterans could taste Arvilla's extra spicy
chili.
After Claudia's birth and the onset of the depression, the
family moved to Van Nuys to start a business processing and wholesaling eggs,
when the San Fernando Valley was still mostly rural. With the help of a large
extended family they built a house and barn on an acre of what is now prime
real estate. The family practiced Christian Science, so both boys were placed
in the Medical Corps in WWII. Fain was killed in New Guinea. Arvilla and Iman
divorced after the war.
Imagene was an extremely shy child, and her mother enrolled
her in acting, dancing, and singing lessons to help her overcome this trait.
The training was successful, and Imagene studied with Harriet Holt through high
school, where she was also active in drama activities. She won Miss Sherman
Oaks in a local beauty contest, and after graduating from Van Nuys High School,
she studied at the Pasadena Playhouse for a year. That summer she acted in a
little theater production, where in 2½ months she met, fell in love with, and
married actor Alan Wells, then 24 to Imagene's 18. She and Alan divorced in
1957.
Her career took off. She got an agent, signed with Warner
Brothers, and had her name changed to Claudia Barrett. She was one of the last
actors in the studio system, where she studied acting, dancing, singing,
beauty, diction, comportment, modeling, the works. She worked steadily for the
next 15 years, mainly in television westerns. She could ride horses, thanks to
a childhood in the Scouts and working as a counselor at a Girl Scout camp in
her 20s and early 30s. She also taught method acting to young people in a drama
school started by Mickey Rooney. To this day, she still receives fan mail and
requests for photos.
Under her new name, Claudia Barrett, Warners gave her juicy
secondary parts in several films, and freelance work with Republic Pictures
earned her leads in a number of horse operas. In 1953 she starred in what would
become her most noted picture, Robot Monster (1953), opposite George Nader.
Released by third-string distributor Astor Pictures, the film is of an
uncommonly low quality, and has generated a wide cult following with fans of
bad and campy movies. Following this dubious project, Ms. Barret acted
extensively on television for several years. After leaving show business
entirely in the early 1960s, she spent 14 years working for AMPAS. More recently,
she has kept busy as an artist, whose work is represented in galleries and has
been commercially published.
Although she loved acting, by the mid 60s she realized her
career wasn't advancing, so she switched to ancillary jobs in film
distribution, publicity, and PR, but was not satisfied. However, in 1981 she
found her dream job at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS).
She worked in the division that produced the awards for scientific and
technical advances, got to go to the Academy Awards Show every year, and was
able to give tickets to family members in the early years.
Shortly thereafter, Claudia moved to Palm Desert, where her
best friend (briefly) lived. Claudia was a life-long learner. She was active in
the Coachella Valley Watercolor Society. She joined the Rancho Mirage Public
Library Poetry Group, wrote her memoirs, and published a book of her poetry and
watercolors. She'd been a follower of Science of Mind for decades, and became
active in what became the Center for Spiritual Living, where she volunteered in
the gift shop and studied topics including Emerson.
Claudia was loved by many people, and kept friends for life.
She was known for her sweet personality, kindness, and cheerfulness. She was an
excellent and thoughtful gift giver who loved Christmas and other holidays with
her family.
Claudia was predeceased by her parents, Iman Williams and
Arvilla Benton Williams Carson, her brothers Fain and Bob Williams, Bob's wife
Jeanne, their son Bruce, her special aunt Bernice Retlaw Warner, cousin Marijac
Retlaw Comer, lifelong friend and teacher Harriett Holt, and many other family
and friends.
She is survived by her niece Bonnie Lloyd (Bob, stepson
Brendan), nephew Ron (Jackie, children Alexis, Ronnie, Chris, Pat, Melanie, and
their children), numerous cousins and friends.
Actress (75 credits)
1964 Taggart
Lola Manners
1962 Escape from
Zahrain
Nurse (uncredited)
1961 Shotgun Slade
(TV Series)
Martha Blair
- Little Sister (1961) ... Martha Blair
1961 You Have to Run
Fast
Fran
1961 The Last Time I
Saw Archie
Lola
1961 The Jack Benny
Program (TV Series)
3rd Nurse
- Jack Becomes Surgeon (1961) ... 3rd Nurse
1961 Coronado 9 (TV
Series)
Barbara
- Man from Way Down Yonder (1961) ... Barbara
1961 77 Sunset Strip
(TV Series)
Gloria Phillips
- The College Caper (1961) ... Gloria Phillips
1960 Pony Express (TV
Series)
Molly
- The Deadly Sniper (1960) ... Molly
1960 Lawman (TV
Series)
Missie Fenway
- The Catcher (1960) ... Missie Fenway
1960 Seven Ways from
Sundown
Gilda
1960 Lock Up (TV Series)
May Harlow
- Voice of Doom (1960) ... May Harlow
1960 Colt .45 (TV
Series)
Janice Benson
- Alibi (1960) ... Janice Benson
1960 Peter Gunn (TV
Series)
Carole Webber
- The Long, Long Ride (1960) ... Carole Webber
1960 Not for Hire (TV
Series)
Linda
- Big Man (1960) ... Linda
1959 Man with a
Camera (TV Series)
Jane Cowan
- The Bride (1959) ... Jane Cowan
1959 The Rough Riders
(TV Series)
Sister Loretta
- Paradise Gap (1959) ... Sister Loretta
1954-1959 Death
Valley Days (TV Series)
Lee Whipple / Jeanie Porter / Nella Corning
- Stagecoach Spy (1959) ... Lee Whipple
- Gold Is Where You Find It (1956) ... Jeanie Porter
- 11,000 Miners Can't Be Wrong (1954) ... Nella Corning
1959 Behind Closed Doors
(TV Series)
Lauren
- The Alaskan Story (1959) ... Lauren
1958 Mann of Action
(TV Movie)
Susan Castle
1958 Flight (TV
Series)
- Texas Fliers
1958 Trackdown (TV
Series)
Dora McHenry
- The End of the World (1958) ... Dora McHenry
1958 The Californians
(TV Series)
Judith Grafton
- Panic on Montgomery Street (1958) ... Judith Grafton
1957 The Gray Ghost
(TV Series)
Melinda
- Father and Son (1957) ... Melinda
1957 Tales of Wells
Fargo (TV Series)
Emily Handsfelt
- Ride with the Killer (1957) ... Emily Handsfelt
1957 Captain David
Grief (TV Series)
Lorraine Pankburn
- Pangburn's Pride (1957) ... Lorraine Pankburn
1957 Chain of
Evidence
Harriet Owens
1956 The Count of
Monte Cristo (TV Series)
Odette
- The Duel (1956) ... Odette
1956 Schlitz
Playhouse (TV Series)
Jenny
- Flowers for Jenny (1956) ... Jenny
1956 Science Fiction
Theatre (TV Series)
Jean Richardson
- The Human Experiment (1956) ... Jean Richardson
1956 Fury (TV Series)
Martha Stanhope
- The Baby (1956) ... Martha Stanhope
1956 Crossroads (TV
Series)
Angela
- Two-Fisted Saint (1956) ... Angela
1956 The Millionaire
(TV Series)
Ella Weaver
- The Story of Tom Mead (1956) ... Ella Weaver
1955 The Roy Rogers
Show (TV Series)
Maybelle York / Susan Wagner / Ellen Corbin
- Treasure of Paradise Valley (1955) ... Maybelle York
- Ranch War (1955) ... Susan Wagner
- The Showdown (1955) ... Ellen Corbin
1955 The Loretta
Young Show (TV Series)
Ann Marie
- A Pattern of Deceit (1955) ... Ann Marie
- Moment of Decision (1955)
1955 Highway Patrol
(TV Series)
Ann
- Radioactive (1955) ... Ann
1955 Adventures of
Wild Bill Hickok (TV Series)
Ellie
- The Mountain Men (1955) ... Ellie
1955 Your Play Time
(TV Series)
- Duel (1955)
1955 The Lineup (TV
Series)
Madge Kasino
- The Kasino Case (1955) ... Madge Kasino
1955 The Touch of
Steel (TV Movie)
Fanny
1955 Buffalo Bill,
Jr. (TV Series)
Martha Clayton / Alice Barton
- Hooded Vengeance (1955) ... Martha Clayton
- The Black Ghost (1955) ... Alice Barton
1955 A Life at Stake
Madge Neilan
1953-1955 The Cisco
Kid (TV Series)
Terry Monahan / Sally Phillips
- Vendetta (1955) ... Terry Monahan
- The Raccoon Story (1953) ... Sally Phillips
1955 The Talking Wire
(TV Movie)
Mabel Hubbard
1955 Stories of the
Century (TV Series)
Sue Evans
- Sontag and Evans (1955) ... Sue Evans
1954 Mayor of the
Town (TV Series)
Claire
- The Composer (1954) ... Claire
1954 Waterfront (TV
Series)
Sally Mason
- The Rift (1954) ... Sally Mason
1953-1954 The Lone
Ranger (TV Series)
Mary Tanner / Janie Owens
- Colorado Gold (1954) ... Mary Tanner
- The Sheriff's Son (1953) ... Janie Owens
1954 Studio 57 (TV
Series)
- The Duel (1954)
1954 Public Defender
(TV Series)
Sue Bennett
- A Call in the Night (1954) ... Sue Bennett
1954 The Lone Wolf
(TV Series)
Pamela deLacey
- The Arena (1954) ... Pamela deLacey
1954 Cavalcade of
America (TV Series)
- Cat with the Crimson Eyes (1954)
1954 The Abbott and
Costello Show (TV Series)
Clara / Dora
- Beauty Contest (1954) ... Clara
- Wife Wanted (1954) ... Dora
1953-1954 General
Electric Theater (TV Series)
Elaine Parker
- Pardon My Aunt (1954) ... Elaine Parker
- The Cat with the Crimson Eyes (1953)
1953-1954 Mr. &
Mrs. North (TV Series)
Laura / Dorothy Lane
- Flight 217 (1954) ... Laura
- Salt in His Blood (1953) ... Dorothy Lane
1953 Robot Monster
Alice
1953 Big Town (TV
Series)
Janet Benson
- Lynch Law (1953) ... Janet Benson
1953 Your Jeweler's
Showcase (TV Series)
- Bridal Suite (1953)
1953 Boston Blackie
(TV Series)
- Keys to the Killer (1953)
1952-1953 Cowboy
G-Men (TV Series)
Martha Jenkins / Gladys' daughter
- Silver Shotgun (1953) ... Martha Jenkins
- Running Iron (1952) ... Gladys' daughter
1953 Hollywood
Opening Night (TV Series)
- The Living Image (1953)
1953 China Smith (TV
Series)
Geraldine
- Year of the Phoenix (1953) ... Geraldine
1952 Hopalong Cassidy
(TV Series)
Judy Marlow
- Lawless Legacy (1952) ... Judy Marlow
1952 The Files of
Jeffrey Jones (TV Series)
- The Careless Killer (1952)
1952 Desperadoes'
Outpost
Kathy
1952 Chevron Theatre
(TV Series)
- From Such a Seed (1952)
1952 Fireside Theatre
(TV Series)
- The Old Order Changeth (1952)
1951 Night Riders of
Montana
Julie Bauer
1950 Rustlers on
Horseback
Carol Reynolds
1950 The Old Frontier
Betty Ames
1950 The Great Jewel
Robber
Marian Blaine (uncredited)
1950 The Happy Years
Miss Dolly Travers
1950 Chain Lightning
Pilot (uncredited)
1949 The Story of
Seabiscuit
Nurse (uncredited)
1949 White Heat
Cashier (uncredited)
Archive footage (4 credits)
2010 Larry Blamire
Geeks Out!: 'Robot Monster' (Video documentary short)
2010 Cinemassacre's
Monster Madness (TV Series documentary)
Alice
- Robot Monster (2010) ... Alice
1986 Horrible Horror
(Video)
Alice, In clips from 'Robot Monster'
1984