# Barbara Whiting > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Barbara_Whiting > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Barbara_Whiting.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbara_Whiting > Source revision: 1349904413 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|American actress and singer (1931–2004)}} {{Use American English|date=September 2021}} {{Use mdy dates|date=September 2021}} {{Infobox person | name = Barbara Whiting | image = Barbara Whiting 1955.JPG | alt = Barbara Whiting 1955 | caption = Whiting in 1955 | birth_name = | birth_date = {{Birth date|1931|05|19|mf=yes}} | birth_place = [Los Angeles](/source/Los_Angeles), [California](/source/California), U.S. | death_date = {{Death date and age|2004|06|09|1931|05|19|mf=yes}} | death_place = [Pontiac, Michigan](/source/Pontiac%2C_Michigan), U.S. | other_names = Barbara Whiting Smith | occupation = {{hlist|Actress|Singer}} | years_active = 1945–1957 | spouse = {{marriage|Gail Smith|1959|1991|reason=died}} | children = 1 | father = [Richard A. Whiting](/source/Richard_A._Whiting) | relatives = [Margaret Whiting](/source/Margaret_Whiting) (sister) }} '''Barbara Whiting Smith''' (May 19, 1931 – June 9, 2004) was an American actress and singer. == Early life == Whiting was born in [Los Angeles](/source/Los_Angeles), [California](/source/California), the daughter of music manager Eleanor Youngblood Whiting and composer [Richard A. Whiting](/source/Richard_A._Whiting).{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/2963235/the_indexjournal/|title=Film Actress Barbara Whiting Smith Dies|newspaper=The Index-Journal |date=June 13, 2004|accessdate=August 6, 2015|agency=The Index-Journal|page=4|via=[Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com)}} {{Open access}}{{Cite news|last=Heckman|first=Dan|date=January 13, 2011|title=Margaret Whiting dies at 86; pop singer mentored by Johnny Mercer|work=[Los Angeles Times](/source/Los_Angeles_Times)|url=https://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-me-margaret-whiting-20110113-story.html}} Her older sister was singer [Margaret Whiting](/source/Margaret_Whiting). ==Career== Her movie career began with the 1945 film, ''[Junior Miss](/source/Junior_Miss)'', a movie based on her popular radio show by the same name. This was followed by nine other starring roles until she married Gail Smith and retired. On television, she co-starred with her sister, Margaret in ''Those Whiting Girls'' on [CBS](/source/CBS). The program debuted July 4, 1955, as a summer replacement for ''[I Love Lucy](/source/I_Love_Lucy)''.{{cite news|title=Premiere Set for New Show|newspaper=The Daily Herald |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/2963438/the_daily_herald/|agency=The Daily Herald|date=June 27, 1955|page=17|via=Newspapers.com|accessdate=August 6, 2015}} {{Open access}} Whiting's radio career was what she was most known for during her lifetime. In 1948 she began to star in [CBS](/source/CBS)'s ''[Junior Miss](/source/Junior_Miss)''. It was one of the most successful radio shows of the time especially with younger audiences.{{Citation needed |date=February 2020}} On February 8, 1960, Barbara was honored with a star at 6443 Hollywood Boulevard, in the television section of the Hollywood Walk of Fame.{{cite web|url=http://www.walkoffame.com/barbara-whiting-smith|title=Barbara Whiting Smith|website=Hollywood Walk of Fame|accessdate=7 August 2015}} ==Personal life and death== On May 7, 1959, Whiting married Gail Smith, an advertising professional. It was her first marriage and his second.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/2963336/the_times/|title=Barbara Whiting And Ad Man Marry|newspaper=The Times |date=May 11, 1959|accessdate=August 6, 2015|agency=The Times|page=27|via=[Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com)}} {{Open access}} They had a son, Richard Whiting Smith. Barbara was a "longtime volunteer" at St. Joseph Mercy Oakland Hospital, Pontiac, Michigan. She lived a quiet life, dedicated to her son Richard. Whiting died of cancer, in [Pontiac, Michigan](/source/Pontiac%2C_Michigan), aged 73, June 9, 2004. She was survived by her sister and a son. == Filmography == === Select film credits === * ''[Junior Miss](/source/Junior_Miss_(film))'' (1945) - Fuffy Adams * ''[Centennial Summer](/source/Centennial_Summer)'' (1946) - Susanna Rogers * ''[Home, Sweet Homicide](/source/Home%2C_Sweet_Homicide)'' (1946) - Jo-Ella Holbrook * ''[Carnival in Costa Rica](/source/Carnival_in_Costa_Rica)'' (1947) - Maria Molina * ''[City Across the River](/source/City_Across_the_River)'' (1949) - Annie Kane * ''[I Can Get It for You Wholesale](/source/I_Can_Get_It_for_You_Wholesale_(film))'' (1951) - Ellen Cooper * ''[Beware, My Lovely](/source/Beware%2C_My_Lovely)'' (1952) - Ruth Williams * ''Rainbow 'Round My Shoulder'' (1952) - Suzy Milligan * ''[Dangerous When Wet](/source/Dangerous_When_Wet)'' (1953) - Suzie Higgins * ''[Paris Follies of 1956](/source/Paris_Follies_of_1956)'' (1955){{cite news|title=(movie ad)|newspaper=Brownwood Bulletin |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/2963385/brownwood_bulletin/|agency=Brownwood Bulletin|date=June 13, 1956|page=2|via=Newspapers.com|accessdate=August 6, 2015}} {{Open access}} (with sister [Margaret Whiting](/source/Margaret_Whiting)) - Barbara Walton === Select television appearances === * ''[The Ed Sullivan Show](/source/The_Ed_Sullivan_Show)'' * ''[Starlight Theatre](/source/Starlight_Theatre_(TV_series))'' (1950) * ''[The Bigelow Theatre](/source/The_Bigelow_Theatre)'' (1951) * ''[Dragnet](/source/Dragnet_(TV_series))'' (1954) * ''[The Public Defender](/source/The_Public_Defender_(TV_series))'' (1954) - Elly Black / Torry * [Those Whiting Girls](/source/Those_Whiting_Girls_(1955-1957_TV_series)) - Desilu Studios (1955-1957) (TV serial) * ''[Fireside Theatre](/source/Fireside_Theatre)'' (1955) - Marian * ''[The Jimmy Durante Show](/source/The_Jimmy_Durante_Show)'' (1955) - Herself - Suzy the Hatcheck Girl * ''[TV Reader's Digest](/source/TV_Reader's_Digest)'' (1956) - Birdie * ''[The Tennessee Ernie Ford Show](/source/The_Tennessee_Ernie_Ford_Show)'' (1956) - Herself - Singer * ''[Men of Annapolis](/source/Men_of_Annapolis)'' (1957) - Willie (Wilhelmina) === Select radio credits === * ''[Hollywood Star Time](/source/Hollywood_Star_Time_(dramatic_anthology))'' * ''[Meet Corliss Archer](/source/Meet_Corliss_Archer)'' * ''[The Screen Guild Theater](/source/The_Screen_Guild_Theater)'' * ''[The Great Gildersleeve](/source/The_Great_Gildersleeve)'' * ''[Family Theater](/source/Family_Theater)'' * ''[The Bing Crosby Show](/source/The_Bing_Crosby_Show_(1964_TV_series))'' * ''[Escape](/source/Escape_(radio_program))'' * ''[The Railroad Hour](/source/The_Railroad_Hour)'' * ''[Suspense](/source/Suspense_(radio_drama))'' * ''[Broadway Is My Beat](/source/Broadway_Is_My_Beat)'' * ''[On Stage](/source/On_Stage_(radio_show))'' * ''[Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar](/source/Yours_Truly%2C_Johnny_Dollar)'' == References == {{Reflist}} == External links == * [http://www.margaretwhiting.com/barbarawhiting.htm Short Biography] * {{IMDb name|0925991}} * {{Find a Grave|8931014}} {{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Whiting, Barbara}} Category:1931 births Category:2004 deaths Category:20th-century American actresses Category:20th-century American singers Category:20th-century American women singers Category:American film actresses Category:American radio actresses Category:American television actresses Category:Deaths from cancer in Michigan Category:Actresses from Los Angeles Category:21st-century American women --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Barbara Whiting](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbara_Whiting) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbara_Whiting?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.