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Jess Barker

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Jess Barker
Born(1912-06-04)June 4, 1912
DiedAugust 8, 2000(2000-08-08) (aged 88)
OccupationActor
Years active1936–1977
Spouse
(m. 1944; div. 1954)
Children3

Jess Barker (June 4, 1912 – August 8, 2000) was an American actor who was active between the 1940s and 1970s. He was best known as the first husband of actress Susan Hayward.

Early years

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Barker was born in Greenville, South Carolina.[1]

Career

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Barker began his film career credited as Philip Barker until changing his stage name to Jess Barker in the early 1940s.[citation needed]

Barker's movie career was damaged because of the publicity resulting from a bitter custody dispute, but he still managed to find work as an actor on radio and films in supporting roles.[citation needed] Barker appeared as an art critic in Fritz Lang's 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

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Barker wed Susan Hayward on July 23, 1944.[2][3] They had twin sons together during their ten-year marriage, whose custody was won by Hayward after a bitter court battle.[citation needed]

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]

Barker died of liver failure in 2000.[1]

Filmography

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Year Title Role Notes
1936 The Trail of the Lonesome Pine Merd Falin Film debut
1943 Good Luck, Mr. Yates Oliver B. Yates
Government Girl Dana McGuire
1944 Cover Girl John Coudair as a Young Man
Jam Session George Carter Haven
She's a Soldier Too Dr. Bill White
1945 Keep Your Powder Dry Junior Vanderheusen
Senorita from the West Tim Winters
This Love of Ours Chadwick
The Daltons Ride Again Jeff Colton
Scarlet Street Damon Janeway
1946 Girl on the Spot Rick Crane
Idea Girl Larry Brewster
The Time of Their Lives Thomas Danbury
1949 Take One False Step Arnold Sykes
Reign of Terror Saint Just
1950 The Milkman John Carter
1953 Marry Me Again Jenkins
1954 Dragonfly Squadron Dixon
1955 Kentucky Rifle Daniel Foster
Shack Out on 101 Artie
1956 Three Bad Sisters George Gurney
The Peacemaker Ed Halcomb
1961-1965 Perry Mason Walter Eastman/Doug Hamilton 2 episodes
1964 Night Walker Malone
1968 The Green Berets Soldier Uncredited
1975 Murph the Surf Museum Guard
1977 Sudden Death Barnett Final film

References

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  1. ^ a b 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.
  2. ^ "Persuaded Barker to Marry Her---Hayward". The Bakersfield Californian. The Bakersfield Californian. June 18, 1954. p. 26. Retrieved April 24, 2015 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  3. ^ "Susan Hayward and Jess Barker Wedded". The Piqua Daily Call. The Piqua Daily Call. July 24, 1944. p. 1. Retrieved April 24, 2015 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  4. ^ "Actor Jess Barker Loses Court Fight In Paternity Suit". Moberly Monitor-Index. Moberly Monitor-Index. December 28, 1956. p. 8. Retrieved April 24, 2015 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
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