Barbara Read

Barbara French Read, also known as Barbara Reed, (December 29, 1917 – December 12, 1963) was a Canadian-American film actress of the 1930s and 1940s, who appeared in 21 films during her career.

Early life Born Barbara French Read on December 29, 1917, the daughter of contractor John Howard Read and Nancy Elizabeth Collier, in Port Arthur, Ontario. Read moved to California in the mid-1930s. She got her first movie contract while living in Laguna Beach, California, after which she entered a six-month contract with the production company.

Film career Her first film appearance was one of the three principal girls in the 1936 comedy film Three Smart Girls, which also starred Deanna Durbin and Nan Grey. From 1937 through 1939, Read appeared in nine films, most notably starring in The Spellbinder, opposite Lee Tracy. From 1940 through 1948, she appeared in 11 films. Her most remembered role was that of Margo Lane, portrayed in three films from The Shadow series, starring opposite Kane Richmond. She and Richmond teamed together in The Shadow Returns, Behind the Mask, and The Missing Lady, all in 1946. Her last role was alongside Randolph Scott and Marguerite Chapman in the 1948 Western Coroner Creek.

Personal life In September 1936, Read eloped to Mexico with a young artist named William Paul III, but they divorced two months later. Read married talent agent Bill Josephy in Santa Barbara on December 27, 1947. They had two boys, Damon Josephy and Quentin Josephy. She married actor William Talman in 1953 and had one daughter, Barbie, and one son, William Whitney Talman III. The couple divorced on August 23, 1960.

Suicide and death She died by suicide on December 11, 1963 at her Laguna Beach (CA) home when she turned on the gas jets of her stove and sealed the doors and windows. She left a note blaming "ill health".

Selected filmography Year Title Role Notes 1936 Three Smart Girls Kay Craig 1937 The Man Who Cried Wolf Nan 1937 Merry-Go-Round of 1938 Clarice Stockbridge 1937 The Road Back Lucie 1937 Make Way for Tomorrow Rhoda Cooper 1937 The Mighty Treve Aileen Fenno 1938 The Crime of Doctor Hallet Claire Saunders 1938 Midnight Intruder Patricia Hammond 1939 The Spellbinder Janet Marlowe 1939 Sorority House Dotty Spencer 1940 Married and in Love Helen Yates 1940 Curtain Call Helen Middleton 1942 Rubber Racketeers Mary Dale 1942 Too Many Women Linda Pearson 1946 The Shadow Returns Margo Lane 1946 The Missing Lady Margo Lane 1946 Death Valley Mitzi 1946 Behind the Mask Margo Lane 1946 Ginger Peggy Sullivan 1947 Key Witness Martha Higby 1948 Coroner Creek Abbe Miles