1. Barbara Jane Bates was an American singer and actress, best known for her portrayal of Phoebe in the 1950 drama film All About Eve and as Katy Morgan on It's a Great Life.
21 Facts About Barbara Bates
1. 2.
The eldest of three daughters, Bates was born in Denver, Colorado.
3.
Two days before returning to Denver, Barbara Bates met Cecil Coan, a United Artists publicist, whom she would later marry.
4.
In September 1944,19-year-old Barbara Bates signed a contract with Universal Pictures after Cecil Coan introduced her to producer Walter Wanger.
5.
Barbara Bates spent the next few years as a stock actress, landing bit parts in movies and doing cheesecake layouts for magazines such as Yank, the Army Weekly and Life.
6.
In late 1949, Barbara Bates auditioned for the small role of Phoebe in Fox's upcoming All About Eve.
7.
In competition for the part were Zsa Zsa Gabor and others, but Barbara Bates impressed the producers and was given the part.
8.
Barbara Bates made a short but important appearance as the devious schemer, Phoebe, at the end of the film.
9.
Barbara Bates's image is enshrined in the film's last scene, posing in front of a three-way mirror, while holding the award won by her idol Eve Harrington, played by Anne Baxter.
10.
Barbara Bates co-starred with Donna Reed as the love interests of Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis in the 1953 hit comedy The Caddy.
11.
Barbara Bates became a victim of extreme mood swings, insecurity, ill health, and chronic depression.
12.
Barbara Bates tried to salvage her career and traveled to England to find work.
13.
Barbara Bates was signed on as a contract player with the Rank Organisation, only to be replaced in two leading roles before filming began.
14.
Barbara Bates continued to be too emotionally unstable to work, and in 1957, her contract with the Rank Organisation was cancelled.
15.
Later that year, Barbara Bates made her last film, Apache Territory, which was released in September 1958.
16.
Barbara Bates then appeared in two television commercials, one for floor wax and another endorsing a now unknown product with Buster Keaton.
17.
Barbara Bates put her career on hold to care for her ailing husband.
18.
Barbara Bates attempted suicide by slashing her wrists and was rushed to Cedars-Sinai Hospital, where she soon recovered.
19.
Barbara Bates made her final onscreen appearance in an episode of The Saint that aired in November 1962.
20.
On March 18,1969, just months after her marriage to Reed, Barbara Bates died from suicide in her mother's garage by carbon monoxide poisoning.
21.
Barbara Bates is buried at Crown Hill Cemetery in Jefferson County, Colorado.