Barbara Barondess (July 4, 1907 – May 31, 2000) was an American stage and film actress.[1] [2]

Barbara Barondess
Born(1907-08-04)August 4, 1907
DiedMay 31, 2000(2000-05-31) (aged 92)
OccupationActress
Years active1925–1940 (film)

Barondess was born in New York City, but her family returned to Russia because of the luxury that life held for them there. Her uncle was a lumber magnate in Ukraine. By 1921, however, they left Russia to escape "anarchy and death".[3] The family went from Russia to England and traveled in steerage from there to the United States with their jewels sewn into their underwear. Barondess was 14 years old when the family arrived at Ellis Island.[3]

After Barondess left acting she became a dress designer, an interior decorator,[4] and "a broker of fine arts and antiques".[5] Clients for her interior design work included "many prominent motion picture personalities", and she created a room for the 10th Annual National Home-Furnishings Show in 1959.[6]

On October 24, 1933, Barondess filed for divorce from producer Irving Jacobs after four years of marriage.[7] She was married to the actor Douglas MacLean from 1938 to 1946.[8] On May 28, 1953, she obtained a divorce from attorney Nathaniel S. Ruvell.[9] Later in the 1950s she was married to Leonard J. Knaster.[4]

Barondess founded the Barbara Barondess Theatre Lab Alliance in 1981 as a way to help performing arts professionals who were struggling[10] and worked with it for 17 years.[11] She wrote a memoir, One Life Is Not Enough (Communications Creativity, 1990).[10]

Barondess died of cardiac arrest in New York City on May 31, 2000.[11]

Selected filmography

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ Fleming p.275
  2. ^ Pitts p.234
  3. ^ a b Davis, L. J. (September 2, 1990). "Island of hope and tears". Arizona Daily Star. Arizona, Tucson. p. H 1. Archived from the original on April 14, 2024. Retrieved April 14, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ a b "Jewelry Insured for $48,300 Is Seized In East Side Home by Selective Thieves". The New York Times. March 7, 1957. p. 24. Retrieved April 13, 2024.
  5. ^ Banner, Lois W. (September 15, 2023). Ideal Beauty: The Life and Times of Greta Garbo. Rutgers University Press. ISBN 978-1-9788-0651-1. Retrieved April 13, 2024.
  6. ^ Law, Aline (December 23, 1959). "Barbara Barondess MacLean Creates 'Study for Collector'". Valley Times. p. 17. Retrieved April 14, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Miss Barondess Asks Divorce". The New York Times. October 25, 1933. p. 5. Retrieved April 13, 2024.
  8. ^ Golden, Eve (November 13, 2015). Golden Images: 41 Essays on Silent Film Stars. McFarland. p. 87. ISBN 978-0-7864-8354-9. Retrieved April 14, 2024.
  9. ^ "Husband Divorced as Too Critical". Los Angeles Times. May 29, 1953. p. 2. Archived from the original on April 14, 2024. Retrieved April 14, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ a b Bisbort, Alan (September 7, 1990). "83-year-old offers book of memoirs". Simi Valley Star. Maturity News Service. p. 18. Archived from the original on April 14, 2024. Retrieved April 14, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ a b Willis, John (March 2003). Theatre World 1999-2000. Hal Leonard Corporation. p. 250. ISBN 978-1-55783-476-8. Retrieved April 13, 2024.

Bibliography

edit
  • Fleming E. J. Paul Bern: The Life and Famous Death of the MGM Director and Husband of Harlow. McFarland, 2009.
  • Pitts, Michael R. Poverty Row Studios, 1929–1940: An Illustrated History of 55 Independent Film Companies, with a Filmography for Each. McFarland & Company, 2005.
edit