Gene Barry (born Eugene Klass, June , â€" December , ) was an
American stage, screen, and television actor. Barry is best remembered
for his leading roles in the films The Atomic City () and The War of
The Worlds () and for his portrayal of the title characters in the TV
series Bat Masterson and Burke's Law, among many roles.Barry was born
Eugene Klass on June , , in New York City, the son of Eva (née Conn)
and Martin Klass; all of his grandparents were Jewish immigrants from
Russia. Barry grew up in Brooklyn and attended New Utrecht High
School. Barry exhibited early artistic skills with singing and playing
violin as a child and later spent two years at the Chatham Square
School of Music in Greenwich Village on a scholarship awarded for his
vocal ability.Barry chose his professional name in honor of John
Barrymore and made his Broadway debut as Captain Paul Duval in the
revival of Sigmund Romberg's The New Moon. He later portrayed Falke in
Rosalinda (), Nova Kovich in The Merry Widow (), Lieutenant Bunin in
Catherine Was Great (), Dorante and Comte De Chateau-Gaillard in The
Would-Be Gentleman (), The Doctor in Happy as Larry (), and played a
variety of roles in the musical revue Bless You All ().
American stage, screen, and television actor. Barry is best remembered
for his leading roles in the films The Atomic City () and The War of
The Worlds () and for his portrayal of the title characters in the TV
series Bat Masterson and Burke's Law, among many roles.Barry was born
Eugene Klass on June , , in New York City, the son of Eva (née Conn)
and Martin Klass; all of his grandparents were Jewish immigrants from
Russia. Barry grew up in Brooklyn and attended New Utrecht High
School. Barry exhibited early artistic skills with singing and playing
violin as a child and later spent two years at the Chatham Square
School of Music in Greenwich Village on a scholarship awarded for his
vocal ability.Barry chose his professional name in honor of John
Barrymore and made his Broadway debut as Captain Paul Duval in the
revival of Sigmund Romberg's The New Moon. He later portrayed Falke in
Rosalinda (), Nova Kovich in The Merry Widow (), Lieutenant Bunin in
Catherine Was Great (), Dorante and Comte De Chateau-Gaillard in The
Would-Be Gentleman (), The Doctor in Happy as Larry (), and played a
variety of roles in the musical revue Bless You All ().
Share this
SUBSCRIBE OUR NEWSLETTER
SUBSCRIBE OUR NEWSLETTER
Join us for free and get valuable content delivered right through your inbox.