Barbara Jean McNair was an American singer and theater, television, and film actress.
21 Facts About Barbara McNair
2.
In 1958, Barbara McNair released her debut single for Coral Records, "Till There Was You", which was a commercial success.
3.
Barbara McNair performed all across the world, touring with Nat King Cole and later appearing in his Broadway stage shows I'm with You and The Merry World of Nat King Cole in the early 1960s.
4.
Barbara McNair died from throat cancer on February 4,2007, at the age of 72.
5.
Barbara McNair briefly attended UCLA because she had been raised to believe that whatever people planned to do with their lives they had to go to college to learn how to do it.
6.
Barbara McNair dropped college after one year when she felt it had nothing to do with what she wanted to accomplish.
7.
Barbara McNair's acting career began on television, as a guest on series such as Dr Kildare, The Eleventh Hour, I Spy, Mission: Impossible, Hogan's Heroes, and McMillan and Wife.
8.
Barbara McNair posed nude for Playboy in the October 1968 issue.
9.
Barbara McNair then donned a nun's habit alongside Mary Tyler Moore for Change of Habit, Elvis Presley's last feature film.
10.
McNair starred in her own 1969 television variety series The Barbara McNair Show, becoming one of the first black women to host her own musical variety show.
11.
Barbara McNair was a headliner at Las Vegas hotels like the Sahara.
12.
Barbara McNair appeared on TV game shows in the 1960s and '70s, including You Don't Say, Hollywood Squares, and The Match Game.
13.
Barbara McNair was a VIP guest on the talk shows of Johnny Carson, Joey Bishop, Mike Douglas, and Merv Griffin.
14.
Barbara McNair was quickly replaced by Helen O'Connell as she was deemed too young to fit in with the rest of the group.
15.
From 1963 until 1971, Barbara McNair was married to Jack Rafferty.
16.
Three years after Manzie's death, Barbara McNair married Ben Strahan in 1979.
17.
In October 1972, Barbara McNair was arrested for possession of heroin at the Playboy Club in New Jersey.
18.
The charges stemmed from Barbara McNair signing for a package containing drugs that was delivered to her home.
19.
Barbara McNair stated she had no knowledge of the contents of the package or who sent it.
20.
Barbara McNair filed for bankruptcy in September 1987, with debts totaling $458,399.
21.
Barbara McNair died on February 4,2007, after a seven-year battle with throat cancer, in Los Angeles, California.