Claudia Barrett obit

 Actress Claudia Barrett has died

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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