19 Facts About Barbara Ruick

Barbara Ruick was an American actress and singer.

Barbara Ruick did little acting in high school but joined a school band at the age of 14.

Early in her career, Barbara Ruick sang in clubs and acted in Little Theater productions.

Barbara Ruick was heard in the original radio version of Dragnet.

Barbara Ruick landed a job on Hollywood Screen Test, a talent show which aired on ABC from 1948 to 1953.

Barbara Ruick appeared on the Kraft Television Theatre, soap operas, and The College Bowl, which was hosted by Chico Marx.

Barbara Ruick performed for fifteen weeks on The Jerry Colonna Show.

Barbara Ruick made guest appearances on The Millionaire, The Public Defender, The Brothers Brannagan, The 20th Century Fox Hour, and Climax Mystery Theater.

In 1951, Barbara Ruick was signed by MGM for a role in the film Invitation.

Barbara Ruick had bit parts in her first four films, one of them being The Band Wagon, and then graduated to supporting roles.

Barbara Ruick's best remembered roles both came from Rodgers and Hammerstein.

Barbara Ruick played Carrie Pipperidge in the film version of Carousel and Esmerelda, one of the wicked stepsisters, in the 1965 TV version of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella.

Barbara Ruick released several singles of her singing on the MGM label in 1952 and 1953, including some with arrangements by Nelson Riddle.

Barbara Ruick had co-starred with Horton in the movie Apache War Smoke the previous year.

Barbara Ruick then married the young composer John Williams, who later became famous for Star Wars and many other films.

Barbara Ruick died in Reno, Nevada, aged 41, while playing a small role on location in Robert Altman's California Split.

Barbara Ruick was found dead the afternoon of March 3,1974, in her hotel room, where her body had been lying for 10 to 12 hours.

Barbara Ruick had complained of nausea and headache the previous night.

Barbara Ruick was interred at the Columbarium of Blessedness, Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale, California.