Barbara Ruick
Biography
An American actress and singer, Barbara Ruick began by singing in clubs and acting in Little Theater productions, then found success in radio and signed with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer as a contract player. Radio listeners heard her on the original Dragnet, and she recorded songs for MGM Records. In the 1950s she starred as Kay on the first LP recording of songs from the Gershwins' Oh, Kay!. She worked on the talent show Hollywood Screen Test and made guest appearances on television, becoming a regular on The Johnny Carson Show in 1955. MGM signed her in 1951 for Invitation (1952), and her first four movies gave her bit parts, among them The Band Wagon (1953), before she graduated to supporting roles. Her best remembered parts came from Rodgers and Hammerstein: Carrie Pipperidge in Carousel (1956) and Esmerelda, a wicked stepsister, in the 1965 television Cinderella.
41years old at death
- Born Pasadena
- Died Reno
- Star sign: CapricornThe sign runs December 22 to January 19
Movie Career
- Films
- 5
- Career span
- 21 years1953 to 1974
Every film, newest first
- 1974California SplitIMDb rating 7.1
- 1965CinderellaIMDb rating 7.6
- 1956CarouselIMDb rating 6.5
- 1953Confidentially ConnieIMDb rating 5.8
- 1953I Love MelvinIMDb rating 6.6
Genres
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Beyond film
In the 1950s, Ruick took the part of Kay in the first LP recording of songs from the Gershwins' 1926 Broadway musical Oh, Kay!, a Columbia Records studio cast led by Lehman Engel.
A change of course
After building a radio career, Ruick became a contract player at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Listeners heard her in the original radio version of Dragnet, and she recorded several songs for MGM Records.
Barbara Ruick movies on Netflix
Worked with
Barbara Ruick shares two films with Gene Lockhart, and one with each of the others. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.
Films together
Gene Lockhart's page
Jeff Goldblum's page
Kathleen Freeman's page
Elliott Gould's page
Byron Foulger's page
Cameron Mitchell's page
All films by Robert Altman
Henry KingDirector, 1 film, 1956
All films by Henry King
Charles S. DubinDirector, 1 film, 1965
All films by Charles S. Dubin
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.