Barbara Bates

Biography

Barbara Jane Bates (August 6, 1925 – March 18, 1969) was a notable American singer and actress, celebrated primarily for her role as Phoebe in the acclaimed 1950 drama, All About Eve, and for her character Katy Morgan in the television series It's a Great Life, which aired from 1954 to 1956.

Born in Denver, Colorado, Bates was the eldest of three sisters. During her youth in Denver, she pursued ballet and worked as a fashion model. Her life took a turn when she entered and won a local beauty pageant, earning two round-trip tickets to Hollywood, California. Just before returning to Denver, she met Cecil Coan, a publicist with United Artists, who would eventually become her husband.

In September 1944, at the age of 19, Bates secured a contract with Universal Pictures through Coan's connections with producer Walter Wanger. She soon landed a role as one of the "Seven Salome Girls" in the 1945 film Salome Where She Danced. Shortly thereafter, Bates fell in love with Coan, who was still married at the time. After his divorce, they secretly wed in Chihuahua, Mexico, on March 25, 1945. Over the next few years, she worked as a stock actress, appearing in minor roles and modeling for magazines. In 1947, she was signed by Warner Bros., which enhanced her image as a "girl-next-door," leading to collaborations with major stars, including Bette Davis and Danny Kaye.

Bates auditioned for the role of Phoebe in All About Eve in late 1949 and triumphed over other contenders, ultimately delivering a memorable performance. Following this success, she starred in Cheaper by the Dozen and its sequel, Belles on Their Toes. She also appeared alongside MacDonald Carey and Claudette Colbert in Let's Make It Legal and featured with Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis in