Jess Barker
Jess Barker | |
---|---|
Scarlet Street (1945) | |
Born | |
Died | August 8, 2000 | (aged 88)
Occupation | Actor |
Years active | 1943–1977 |
Spouse | Susan Hayward (1944–1954) |
Children | 2 |
Jess Barker (June 4, 1912 – August 8, 2000) was an American film actor of the 1930s and 1940s.He is probably most famous for being the first husband of actress Susan Hayward.[1]
Early years
Barker was born in Greenville, South Carolina.[2]
Career
Barker began his film career credited as Philip Barker until changing his stage name to Jess Barker in the early 1940s.
Barker's movie career was damaged because of the publicity resulting from a custody dispute, but he still managed to find work as an actor on radio and films in supporting roles. Barker appeared in Scarlet Street (1945) and the Abbott and Costello film The Time of Their Lives (1946). He also made two guest appearances on Perry Mason. In 1961 he played defendant Walter Eastman in "The Case of the Injured Innocent," and in 1965 he played Doug Hamilton in "The Case of the Murderous Mermaid."
Personal life
Barker wed Hayward on July 23, 1944.[3] They had twin sons together during their ten-year marriage, whose custody was won by Hayward after a bitter court battle.
Paternity suit
In 1956, Barker lost a paternity suit in Los Angeles. Judge Walter H. Odemar ruled that Barker was the father of Morgana, a daughter born to actress Yvonne Doughty.[4]
Partial Filmography
- The Trail of the Lonesome Pine (1936)
- Good Luck, Mr. Yates (1943)
- Government Girl (1944)
- Cover Girl (1944)
- She's a Soldier Too (1944)
- Jam Session (1944)
- The Daltons Ride Again (1945)
- Keep Your Powder Dry (1945)
- Senorita from the West (1945)
- This Love of Ours (1945))
- Scarlet Street (1945)
- Girl on the Spot (1946)
- Idea Girl (1946)
- The Time of Their Lives (1946)
- Take One False Step (1949)
- Reign of Terror (1949)
- The Milkman (1950)
- Marry Me Again (1953)
- Dragonfly Squadron (1954)
- Kentucky Rifle (1955)
- Shack Out on 101(1955)
- Night Walker (1964)
- Murph the Surf (1975)
- Sudden Death (1977)
References
- ^ "Persuaded Barker to Marry Her---Hayward". The Bakersfield Californian. June 18, 1954. p. 26. Retrieved April 24, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Lentz, Harris M. III (2001). Obituaries in the Performing Arts, 2000: Film, Television, Radio, Theatre, Dance, Music, Cartoons and Pop Culture. McFarland. pp. 14–15. ISBN 9780786452057. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
- ^ "Susan Hayward and Jess Barker Wedded". The Piqua Daily Call. July 24, 1944. p. 1. Retrieved April 24, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Actor Jess Barker Loses Court Fight In Paternity Suit". Moberly Monitor-Index. December 28, 1956. p. 8. Retrieved April 24, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
External links
- Jess Barker at IMDb
- Jess Barker at AllMovie