Barbara Pepper was an attractive starlet who turned an alcoholic after her husband’s demise
She was born Marion Pepper on Might 31, 1915 in New York Metropolis. Her household moved to Albany when her father, Dave Pepper, was employed to be the supervisor of the Hampton Lodge. Barbara attended Fairfax Corridor, a prep faculty for women in Virginia. On the age of fifteen she auditioned for producer Lee Shubert and was employed to be in George White’s Scandals. In 1932 she danced within the Ziegfeld Follies. Then she was chosen to be one of many Goldwyn Ladies and appeared within the movies Roman Scandals and Child Tens of millions. She turned shut associates with fellow Goldwyn Lady Lucille Ball. Throughout the Thirties she had supporting roles in quite a few movies together with Waterfront Woman, Too Many Wives, and The Singing Vagabond. The vivacious blonde additionally starred within the 1936 Wheeler and Woolsey comedy Mummy’s Boys. In 1937 she married actor Leon Janney. They break up up simply three weeks later. Barbara married actor Craig Reynolds on April 28, 1943. The couple had two sons collectively – John and Dennis. She continued to get bit elements in movies like Cowl Lady and The Snake Pit.
Though she made multiple hundred films she by no means turned an A-list star. In an interview she stated “I’ve carried out just a few very dangerous roles, one or two good ones, and loads of in-between ones.” Tragically in 1949 her husband Craig was killed in a bike accident. Barbara was devastated by his demise. She started to drink and achieve weight. Her pal Lucille Ball wished he to play the position of Ethel Mertz on I Love Lucy. Sadly her alcoholism had gotten so dangerous she couldn’t take the half. Barbara did visitor star on a number of episodes of I Love Lucy. She additionally appeared on the reveals Perry Mason, Mister Ed, and Gunsmoke. When her appearing jobs did not pay the payments she labored in a laundry. From 1964 till 1968 she performed Doris Ziffell on the favored comedy Inexperienced Acres. As she acquired older her consuming started to have an effect on her well being. Her remaining appearing position was within the 1969 movie Hook, Line, And Sinker. On July 18, 1969 she died from coronary thrombosis. Barbara was solely fifty-four years outdated. She was buried at Hollywood Ceaselessly cemetery in Los Angeles, California.
