Barbara McNair, Acting - KorPlix:Korean Person Archives

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Barbara McNair
Acting

Barbara McNair
Known For
Acting
Birthday
1934-03-04,Chicago, Illinois, USA
Gender
Female
Biography
Barbara Jean McNair (March 4, 1934 – February 4, 2007) was an African-American singer and actress. Born Barbara Joan McNair in Chicago, Illinois and raised in Racine, Wisconsin, McNair studied music at the American Conservatory of Music in Chicago. Her big break came with a win on Arthur Godfrey's TV show Talent Scouts, which led to bookings at The Purple Onion and the Cocoanut Grove. She soon became one of the country's most popular headliners and a guest on such television variety shows as The Steve Allen Show, Hullabaloo, The Bell Telephone Hour, and The Hollywood Palace, while recording for the Coral, Signature, and Motown labels. Among her hits were "You're Gonna Love My Baby" and "Bobby". In the early 60s, Barbara made several musical shorts for Scopitone, a franchise of coin-operated machines that showed what were the forerunners of today's music videos. McNair's acting career began on television, guesting on series such as Dr. Kildare, The Eleventh Hour, I Spy, Mission: Impossible, Hogan's Heroes and McMillan and Wife. McNair posed nude for Playboy in the October 1968 issue. She caught the attention of the movie-going public with her much-publicized nude sequences in the gritty crime drama If He Hollers Let Him Go (1968) opposite Raymond St. Jacques, then donned a nun's habit alongside Mary Tyler Moore for Change of Habit (1969), Elvis Presley's last feature film. She portrayed Sidney Poitier's wife in They Call Me MISTER Tibbs! (1970) and its sequel, The Organization (1971). McNair's Broadway credits include The Body Beautiful (1958), No Strings (1962), and a revival of The Pajama Game (1973). McNair starred in her own 1969 television variety series, but it lasted only one season, despite the wattage provided by A-list guests like Tony Bennett and Sonny and Cher, and offers began to dwindle. On December 15, 1976, her husband, Rick Manzi, was murdered, and Mafia boss-turned-FBI-informant Jimmy Fratianno later claimed in his book The Last Mafioso that Manzi had been a Mafia associate who tried to put a contract on the life of a mob-associated tax attorney with whom he had a legal dispute. The ensuing publicity did little to help McNair's floundering career. Her recordings include Livin' End, I Enjoy Being a Girl, and The Ultimate Motown Collection, a 2-CD set with 48 tracks that include her two albums for the label plus a non-album single and B-side and an entire LP that never was released. Into her seventies, McNair resided in the Los Angeles area, playing tennis and skiing to keep in shape on a regular basis and touring on occasion. She died on February 4, 2007, of throat cancer, survived by her husband Charles Blecka.

Filmography

9

Neon Signs
1996-01-01

They Call Me Mister Tibbs!

5.9

They Call Me Mister Tibbs!
1970-07-10

5.4

Venus in Furs
1969-08-19

Spencer's Mountain

6.8

Spencer's Mountain
1963-05-16

Change of Habit

5.35

Change of Habit
1969-11-10

The Organization

6.262

The Organization
1971-10-20

If He Hollers, Let Him Go!

5.6

If He Hollers, Let Him Go!
1968-10-08

5.3

Stiletto
1969-07-30

5.5

Fatal Charm
1990-09-19

The Unkissed Bride

4

The Unkissed Bride
1966-10-12

Rowan & Martin at the Movies

4.5

Rowan & Martin at the Movies
1968-01-01

The Lonely Profession

7

The Lonely Profession
1969-10-21

Friend to Friend: Armenian Earthquake Relief

0

Friend to Friend: Armenian Earthquake Relief
1989-01-31

7.3

The Jeffersons
1975-01-18

The Merv Griffin Show

6.8

The Merv Griffin Show
1962-10-01

6.1

The Mod Squad
1968-09-24

7.5

Hogan's Heroes
1965-09-17

American Bandstand

8.2

American Bandstand
1957-08-05

Mission: Impossible

7.596

Mission: Impossible
1966-09-17

To Rome with Love

7

To Rome with Love
1969-09-28

6.9

Vega$
1978-09-20

6.4

Police Woman
1974-09-13

The Hollywood Palace

5

The Hollywood Palace
1964-01-04

10

Hullabaloo
1965-01-12

The Jim Nabors Hour

7

The Jim Nabors Hour
1969-09-25

The Flip Wilson Show

5.1

The Flip Wilson Show
1970-09-17

6

Hell Town
1985-09-11

The Steve Allen Show

6.2

The Steve Allen Show
1956-06-24

The Barbara McNair Show

0

The Barbara McNair Show
1969-09-13

5.7

Dr. Kildare
1961-09-27

7.1

The Oscars
1953-03-19

The Mike Douglas Show

5.8

The Mike Douglas Show
1961-12-11

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

7.562

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
1962-10-01

The Ed Sullivan Show

6.8

The Ed Sullivan Show
1948-06-20

The Carol Burnett Show

7.7

The Carol Burnett Show
1967-09-11

The Carol Burnett Show

7.7

The Carol Burnett Show
1967-09-11

Tonight Starring Jack Paar

7.5

Tonight Starring Jack Paar
1957-07-29

The Danny Kaye Show

7

The Danny Kaye Show
1963-09-25

Kraft Music Hall

5.4

Kraft Music Hall
1958-10-08

6.3

Snoops
1989-09-22

0

Tony Awards
1956-04-01

The New Steve Allen Show

7.7

The New Steve Allen Show
1961-09-27