Barbra Fuller

Barbra Fuller (born Barbara Deane Fuller; July 31, 1921) is an American retired film, television, and radio actress.

Barbra Fuller
Born
Barbara Deane Fuller

(1921-07-31) July 31, 1921[1]
Nahant, Massachusetts, U.S.
OccupationActress
Years active1930s–1973
Spouse
​
​
(m. 1951; div. 1952)​

Career

The Nahant, Massachusetts-born Barbara Deane Fuller[1][2] signed a contract with Republic Pictures in 1949.[3] Her father Ralph Fuller died when she was three years old. She had worked in radio shows since the 1930s.[4] She appeared frequently in B-movies and television series in the 1950s. She changed her hair color frequently for film roles. Its hue varied from platinum to brunette in her four movies released by Republic Pictures in 1950. She returned to blonde as Laurel Vernon in Lonely Heart Bandits (1950).[5] Her first screen credit is for The Red Menace (1949). This was followed by roles in Flame of Youth (1949) and Crosswinds (1951). In The Red Menace she played "Mollie O'Flaherty", a character used by the Communist Party as bait. In City of Bad Men (1953), a Western adventure, she played a minor character. Afterward, she was mostly involved in television work. Her last parts as a movie actress came in How Sweet It Is! (1968) and The Roommates (1973).

Radio

Fuller acted in a number of soap operas.[6] She played Claudia in One Man's Family, winner of the prestigious Peabody Award[7] and arguably the first soap opera having begun in 1932 and running three decades.[8] She did her first radio work in Chicago between the ages of 9 and 11.[2] By age 18 she had appeared in 25 radio serials.[8] Fuller was heard in Whispering Streets, The Guiding Light, Ma Perkins, Today's Children,[6] Scattergood Baines, Madame Courageous, Road of Life, and Stepmother.[2]

Television

Fuller's television performances are numerous, beginning with a 1953 episode of Adventures of Superman. Other series in which she participated include Four Star Playhouse (1955–1956), Ford Television Theater (1957), Trackdown (1958), State Trooper (1958), Colgate Theater (1958), My Three Sons (1960), Perry Mason (1960, 1964), and Daniel Boone (1970).

Personal life

Fuller married Western motion picture star Lash LaRue on February 23, 1951, in Yuma, Arizona. They had a godson, child actor J.P. Sloane.[9] The couple divorced on June 2, 1952.[10]

References
  1. DeLong, Thomas A. (1996). Radio Stars: An Illustrated Biographical Dictionary of 953 Performers, 1920 through 1960, pg. 100, McFarland & Company, Inc.; ISBN 978-0-7864-2834-2.
  2. Grunwald, Edgar A., ed. (1940). Variety Radio Directory 1940-1941 (PDF). New York, New York: Variety, Inc. p. 940. Retrieved May 7, 2016.
  3. "Republic Pact for Radio's Barbara Fuller". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. Brooklyn, NY. May 7, 1949. p. 14. Retrieved May 7, 2016 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  4. Fitzgerald, Michael G.; Magers, Boyd (February 2, 2006). Ladies of the Western: Interviews with Fifty-One More Actresses from the Silent Era to the Television Westerns of the 1950s and 1960s. McFarland. pp. 51–57. ISBN 978-0786426560. Retrieved October 30, 2021.
  5. Heyn, Howard C. (September 21, 1949). "Life in Hollywood". The Times. California, San Mateo, CA. p. 16. Retrieved May 7, 2016 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  6. Sies, Luther F. (2014). Encyclopedia of American Radio, 1920-1960, 2nd Edition. McFarland & Company, Inc. ISBN 978-0-7864-5149-4. P. 245.
  7. "One Man's Family, Volume 1". RadioArchives.com.
  8. Parsons, Louella O. (May 7, 1949). "Picture Halts London Trip". The Galveston Daily News. Texas, Galveston. INS. p. 2. Retrieved May 7, 2016 – via Newspapers.com. closed access
  9. The Nashville Banner(US) June 1, 1991, pg. Front Page Sec B, by: Leon Alligood Senior Staff Writer, "Special 'Uncles' Provide Star-studded Childhood
  10. "Wife, 26, Divorces Movie Cowboy". The Salt Lake Tribune. Salt Lake City, Utah. United Press. June 3, 1952. p. 40. Retrieved May 7, 2016 – via Newspapers.com. open access

Sources
  • "Broadway Comedienne Joins Hope Picture". Los Angeles Times. June 3, 1949. p. B7.
  • "Red Menace Deals Strong Blow To Communistic Idea". Los Angeles Times. June 10, 1949. p. B6.
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