Joanna Barnes obit

Joanna Barnes, Actress in ‘The Parent Trap’ and ‘Auntie Mame,’ Dies at 87

She also wrote several novels, including the Hollywood-set 'The Deceivers' and the sprawling Gold Rush epic 'Pastora.'

 

She was not on the list.

Joanna Barnes, the actress, author and newspaper columnist who portrayed less than likable young ladies in The Parent Trap and Auntie Mame, has died. She was 87.

Barnes died Friday at her home at The Sea Ranch, California, after dealing with “multiple health problems,” her friend Sally Jackson told The Hollywood Reporter.

Barnes also starred as Jane opposite Denny Miller in Tarzan, the Ape Man (1959), then appeared with Kirk Douglas in Spartacus (1960) and The War Wagon (1967) and with Tony Curtis in Goodbye Charlie (1964) and Don’t Make Waves (1967).

The Boston native played the ex-wife of Peter Falk’s Shakespeare-quoting lawyer on the 1965-66 CBS series The Trials of O’Brien and was a welcome guest star on dozens of other shows, from Maverick, 77 Sunset Strip, Mannix and The Beverly Hillbillies to Barney Miller, Fantasy Island, Hart to Hart and Benson.

A Phi Beta Kappa from Smith College, Barnes interviewed stars and took viewers on tours of showbiz hotspots as host of the 1967 ABC weekday show Dateline: Hollywood — Rona Barrett dished out the gossip on the program — and served as a regular panelist on the CBS game show What’s My Line?

A New York Times book reviewer described Barnes as “Jacqueline Susann with a brain” after her first novel, The Deceivers, about a young actress growing up alienated in Hollywood, was first published in 1970.

Her third novel, 1980’s Pastora, is a 750-page historical epic that, Kevin Mims wrote, “can be fairly described as California’s Gone With the Wind. It does for California’s most famous historical epoch (the Gold Rush) what Margaret Mitchell’s novel did for the American South’s most famous historical epoch (the Civil War).”

Barnes also was a regular book reviewer for the Los Angeles Times and the writer behind “Touching Home,” a syndicated column about interior design.

Barnes received a Golden Globe nomination for most promising female newcomer for her performance as Gloria Upson, the haughty debutante engaged to Roger Smith‘s Patrick Dennis, in Auntie Mame (1958), starring Rosalind Russell.

In The Parent Trap (1961), starring Hayley Mills, she played the wicked gold digger Vicki Robinson out to sink her claws into the twins’ dad (Brian Keith), then returned for the 1998 Lindsay Lohan remake as the mother of that child-hating woman.

Born in Boston on Nov. 15, 1934, Barnes attended Milton Academy and then majored in English at Smith, graduating in 1956 with an offer to join the Time-Life publishing company. She tested for an acting role opposite Louis Jourdan on ABC’s Ford Television Theatre to write about the experience and got the part in 1957.

Barnes followed with appearances on Warner Bros. TV shows, including Colt .45, Cheyenne and Hawaiian Eye, then played Dennis Morgan’s assistant on a 1959 summer detective series called 21 Beacon Street at NBC. She also worked with Smith in the film No Time to Be Young that year.

She also showed up on the big screen in Violent Road (1958), Onionhead (1958), The Purple Hills (1961), Too Many Thieves (1966), and I Wonder Who’s Killing Her Now? (1975).

Barnes was married three times: to Richard Herndon; to actor, director and Naked City narrator Lawrence Dobkin; and, from 1980 until his death in 2012, architect Jack Lionel Warner, whose firm did work for the Bel-Air Country Club and Los Angeles Country Club. She moved with Warner from Montecito to The Sea Ranch in 2005.

Survivors include her sisters, Lally and Judith, and her stepchildren, John, Laura and Louise.

Actress (100 credits)

 2000 Then Came You (TV Series)

Lilian

- Then Came the Monthiversary (2000) ... Lilian

 1998 The Parent Trap

Vicki Blake

 1989 Cheers (TV Series)

Valerie Crandell

- The Visiting Lecher (1989) ... Valerie Crandell

 1987 Dolly (TV Series)

Mrs. Fullbright

- A Down Home Country Christmas (1987) ... Mrs. Fullbright

 1987 Murder, She Wrote (TV Series)

Lydia Barnett

- The Way to Dusty Death (1987) ... Lydia Barnett

 1986 Benson (TV Series)

Reba Sennett

- Reel Murder: Part 2 (1986) ... Reba Sennett

- Reel Murder: Part 1 (1986) ... Reba Sennett

 1980-1985 Trapper John, M.D. (TV Series)

Teresa Hillyer / Roz Tremor

- In the Eyes of the Beholder (1985) ... Teresa Hillyer

- Girl Under Glass: Part 2 (1980) ... Roz Tremor

 1983 Remington Steele (TV Series)

Claudette Crockett

- My Fair Steele (1983) ... Claudette Crockett

 1983 Secrets of a Mother and Daughter (TV Movie)

Carina

 1982 Hart to Hart (TV Series)

Rosemary Wentworth

- Hart's Desire (1982) ... Rosemary Wentworth

 1982 Barney Miller (TV Series)

Miss Caroline Fitzjames

- Chinatown: Part 2 (1982) ... Miss Caroline Fitzjames

- Chinatown: Part 1 (1982) ... Miss Caroline Fitzjames

 1980 When the Whistle Blows (TV Series)

Mrs. Hamilton

- Macho Man (1980) ... Mrs. Hamilton

 1980 The Last Resort (TV Series)

- Gone with a Whim (1980)

 1979 Charlie's Angels (TV Series)

Julia Lathrop

- Angels on Skates (1979) ... Julia Lathrop

 1978-1979 Fantasy Island (TV Series)

Miss Ridges / Miss Betty Wendover / Liz Perry

- Amusement Park/Rock Stars (1979) ... Miss Ridges

- War Games/Queen of the Boston Bruisers (1978) ... Miss Betty Wendover

- The Over-the-Hill Caper/Poof, You're a Movie Star (1978) ... Liz Perry

 1978 The Betty White Show (TV Series)

- Play Misty for John (1978)

 1976 Executive Suite (TV Series)

Sharon Cody

- Re: Who Shall Hall Bring Mercy (1976) ... Sharon Cody

- Re: Power Play (1976) ... Sharon Cody

- Re: The Serpent's Tooth (1976) ... Sharon Cody

 1976 Quincy M.E. (TV Series)

Margo Bentley

- Who's Who in Neverland (1976) ... Margo Bentley

 1975 I Wonder Who's Killing Her Now?

Clarice Oliver

 1975 Ellery Queen (TV Series)

Camellia Justice

- The Adventure of the Blunt Instrument (1975) ... Camellia Justice

 1975 Matt Helm (TV Series)

Hannah Bigelow

- Think Murder (1975) ... Hannah Bigelow

 1975 S.W.A.T. (TV Series)

Andrea

- Death Carrier (1975) ... Andrea

 1974 Planet of the Apes (TV Series)

Carsia

- Up Above the World So High (1974) ... Carsia

 1973 Marcus Welby, M.D. (TV Series)

Noreen Saunders / Laura Daniels

- Death Is Only a Side Effect (1973) ... Noreen Saunders

- The Working Heart (1973) ... Laura Daniels

 1973 McCloud (TV Series)

Karen Chandler

- The Solid Gold Swingers (1973) ... Karen Chandler

 1973 The New Perry Mason (TV Series)

Mrs. Ballinger

- The Case of the Ominous Oath (1973) ... Mrs. Ballinger

 1973 Love, American Style (TV Series)

Agnes (segment "Love and the Legend")

- Love and the Cryptic Gift/Love and the Family Hour/Love and the Legend/Love and the Sexpert (1973) ... Agnes (segment "Love and the Legend")

 1972 Cool Million (TV Series)

- Assault on Gavaloni (1972)

 1972 Hawaii Five-O (TV Series)

Bonnie Soames

- Didn't We Meet at a Murder? (1972) ... Bonnie Soames

 1971 Alias Smith and Jones (TV Series)

Mrs. Hanley / Janet Judson

- Miracle at Santa Marta (1971) ... Mrs. Hanley

- How to Rob a Bank in One Hard Lesson (1971) ... Janet Judson

 1971 O'Hara, U.S. Treasury (TV Series)

Hannah

- Operation: Payoff (1971) ... Hannah

 1971 Eddie (TV Movie)

Sylvia

 1971 B.S. I Love You

Jane Ink

 1970 Nanny and the Professor (TV Series)

Lynn Carlisle

- The Scientific Approach (1970) ... Lynn Carlisle

 1969 The Name of the Game (TV Series)

Ardith Williams

- The Perfect Image (1969) ... Ardith Williams

 1969 Judd for the Defense (TV Series)

Julie Livingston

- An Elephant in a Cigar Box (1969) ... Julie Livingston

 1968 Mannix (TV Series)

Phyllis Richards

- Fear I to Fall (1968) ... Phyllis Richards

 1967 Don't Make Waves

Diane Prescott

 1967 The War Wagon

Lola

 1966 Too Many Thieves

Katie

 1965-1966 The Trials of O'Brien (TV Series)

Katie / Katie O'Brien / Katie O'Brien (ex-wife)

- The Greatest Game: Part 1 (1966) ... Katie O'Brien

- No Justice for the Judge (1965) ... Katie

- Dead End on Flugel Street (1965) ... Katie

- Picture Me a Murder (1965) ... Katie

- Charlie's Got All the Luck (1965) ... Katie O'Brien

1965 Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre (TV Series)

Connie

- Simon Says Get Married (1965) ... Connie

 1965 Dr. Kildare (TV Series)

Dr. Suzanne Shary

- Make Way for Tomorrow (1965) ... Dr. Suzanne Shary

 1964 Goodbye Charlie

Janie Highland

 1964 The Farmer's Daughter (TV Series)

Monica

- The Next Mrs. Morley (1964) ... Monica

 1964 Arrest and Trial (TV Series)

Melinda Parsons

- A Circle of Strangers (1964) ... Melinda Parsons

 1963 77 Sunset Strip (TV Series)

Lisa Cabot

- 88 Bars (1963) ... Lisa Cabot

 1963 The Beverly Hillbillies (TV Series)

Cynthia Fenwick

- The Clampett Look (1963) ... Cynthia Fenwick

- Elly Starts to School (1963) ... Cynthia Fenwick

 1963 Philbert (Three's a Crowd) (Short)

Angela

 1963 Empire (TV Series)

Neva Bradford

- Down There, the World (1963) ... Neva Bradford (uncredited)

 1962-1963 Alcoa Premiere (TV Series)

Aggie McCrae / Sylvia Dorn

- The Glass Palace (1963) ... Aggie McCrae

- Mr. Easy (1962) ... Sylvia Dorn

 1963 The Eleventh Hour (TV Series)

Dr. Sarah Crowley

- My Name Is Judith, I'm Lost, You See (1963) ... Dr. Sarah Crowley

 1962 Have Gun - Will Travel (TV Series)

Penelope Lacey

- Penelope (1962) ... Penelope Lacey

 1962 Sam Benedict (TV Series)

Cordelia Montagne

- Tears for a Nobody Doll (1962) ... Cordelia Montagne

 1962 Laramie (TV Series)

Lucy Barton / Ruth Craik

- War Hero (1962) ... Lucy Barton

- The Barefoot Kid (1962) ... Ruth Craik

 1962 Bachelor Father (TV Series)

Barbara Thorne

- What Men Don't Know (1962) ... Barbara Thorne

 1961 Rio (TV Movie)

Marcia

 1961 Cain's Hundred (TV Series)

Carol Tredman

- Five for One (1961) ... Carol Tredman

 1961 Follow the Sun (TV Series)

Doris #1

- The Primitive Clay (1961) ... Doris #1

 1961 The Purple Hills

Amy Carter

 1961 Target: The Corruptors! (TV Series)

Ann Fielding

- The Golden Carpet (1961) ... Ann Fielding

 1961 The Investigators (TV Series)

Georgette

- In a Mirror, Darkly (1961) ... Georgette

 1961 The Bob Cummings Show (TV Series)

Amanda Caulfield

- Executive Sweet (1961) ... Amanda Caulfield

 1961 The Parent Trap

Vicky Robinson

 1961 The Untouchables (TV Series)

Marcie McKuen

- 90-Proof Dame (1961) ... Marcie McKuen

 1961 The Tab Hunter Show (TV Series)

Isabelle / Michael Carruthers

- Dream Boy (1961) ... Isabelle

- Portia Go Home (1961) ... Michael Carruthers

 1961 Stagecoach West (TV Series)

Ruby Sanders

- The Outcasts (1961) ... Ruby Sanders

 1961 Michael Shayne (TV Series)

Nora

- Final Settlement (1961) ... Nora

 1961 Bringing Up Buddy (TV Series)

Marcia Sutter

- Buddy's Transfer (1961) ... Marcia Sutter

 1960 Adventures in Paradise (TV Series)

Diane Winthrope

- Incident in Suva (1960) ... Diane Winthrope

 1960 The Jim Backus Show (TV Series)

Cooper's Wife

- Painting Caper (1960) ... Cooper's Wife

 1957-1960 Maverick (TV Series)

Daphne Tolliver / Felice de Lassignac #1 / Abby Taylor / ...

- Arizona Black Maria (1960) ... Daphne Tolliver

- The Resurrection of Joe November (1960) ... Felice de Lassignac #1

- The Lonesome Reunion (1958) ... Abby Taylor

- The Burning Sky (1958) ... Mrs. Baxter

- Ghost Rider (1957) ... Mary Shane

 1960 Spartacus

Claudia Marius

 1960 Dante (TV Series)

Amy

- One for the Birds (1960) ... Amy

 1960 Richard Diamond, Private Detective (TV Series)

Joyce Long

- The Lovely Fraud (1960) ... Joyce Long

 1960 Alcoa Theatre (TV Series)

Eve Fremont

- 333 Montgomery (1960) ... Eve Fremont

 1960 General Electric Theater (TV Series)

Princess Camilla

- The Ugly Duckling (1960) ... Princess Camilla

 1960 Mr. Lucky (TV Series)

Laura Lawrence

- Taking a Chance (1960) ... Laura Lawrence

 1960 The Man from Blackhawk (TV Series)

Colette

- Remember Me Not (1960) ... Colette

 1960 The Millionaire (TV Series)

Karen Summers

- Millionaire Karen Summers (1960) ... Karen Summers

 1960 Philip Marlowe (TV Series)

Lois Conway

- Death Takes a Lover (1960) ... Lois Conway

 1960 M Squad (TV Series)

Tammy Worth

- The Twisted Way (1960) ... Tammy Worth

 1959 Beach Patrol (TV Movie)

Edie West

 1959 Hawaiian Eye (TV Series)

Rikki

- A Dime a Dozen (1959) ... Rikki

 1959 Tarzan, the Ape Man

Jane Parker

 1959 21 Beacon Street (TV Series)

Lola / Joana

- Dilemma (1959) ... Lola

- The Trap (1959) ... Lola

- The Hostage (1959) ... Joana

- The Trojan Horse (1959) ... Lola

- Break In (1959) ... Lola

1958 Steve Canyon (TV Series)

Joan Richards

- Operation Diplomat (1958) ... Joan Richards

 1958 Auntie Mame

Gloria Upson

 1958 Home Before Dark

Cathy Bergner

 1958 Onionhead

Snobbish Girl at Party (uncredited)

 1957-1958 Cheyenne (TV Series)

Adelaide Marshall / Alice Claney

- Dead to Rights (1958) ... Adelaide Marshall

- Devil's Canyon (1957) ... Alice Claney

 1958 Violent Road

Peg Lawrence

 1958 Too Much, Too Soon

Party Girl (uncredited)

 1958 Colt .45 (TV Series)

Kate Henniger

- Ghost Town (1958) ... Kate Henniger

 1957 No Time to Be Young

Jeannie (uncredited)

 1957 Conflict (TV Series)

Laura Ferris / Betty Callister

- The Velvet Cage (1957) ... Laura Ferris

- Anything for Money (1957) ... Betty Callister

 1957 The Garment Jungle

Bit Model (uncredited)

 1957 Playhouse 90 (TV Series)

Ellen Blackwell

- The Blackwell Story (1957) ... Ellen Blackwell

 1957 The Ford Television Theatre (TV Series)

Ileana

- The Man Who Beat Lupo (1957) ... Ileana

 1956 Tales of the 77th Bengal Lancers (TV Series)

Cymanthia

- The Regiment (1956) ... Cymanthia