Barbara Walden

Barbara Walden (born 1930) is an American former actress, dancer and businesswoman who founded one of the first American cosmetic companies offering products for Black women to be sold in major department stores. She was inspired to create these cosmetics after discovering a lack of suitable makeup during her Hollywood dancing and acting career.

Early life Walden grew up in Camden, New Jersey, with her parents, four brothers and two sisters. She graduated from Camden Catholic High School, Eckles College of Mortuary Science in Philadelphia and from the Vogue School of New York City. Her father was a mortician. Walden worked in the mortuary business to earn money to travel to California to follow her dream to dance there. Among the audience one evening were actress Joan Crawford and gossip columnist Louella Parsons, who later met with Walden to encourage her to explore studio opportunities. Crawford even used her influence to persuade a producer to cast Walden as a dancer in an Ida Lupino film. An aspect of the production that angered Walden was being told not to touch actor Rooney during the filming. Later, it was noted one of Walden's dance scenes was so “torrid” in the final film that it was cut from the US version, but kept for the European markets.

Filmography Selected productions in which Walden acted or danced.

Year Film Role Notes 1955Untamed uncredited uncredited Starring Charlton Heston and Yul Brynner 1956 Carmen Jones uncredited part Starring Julie London, Agnes Morehead, Nat King Cole 1960 The Private Lives of Adam and Eve Dancer Starring John Astin, Jodie Foster, Barbara Harris

Walden turned down parts in movies that offered submissive or demeaning roles for Blacks including Raintree Country (1957) and Cleopatra (1963), both starring Elizabeth Taylor.

Barbara Walden Cosmetics Walden felt disheartened by the makeup used during her professional acting jobs, as it often left her skin looking unnatural. Determined to find a solution, she decided to create her own makeup. Remembering that a friend's father was a chemist, she collaborated with him to experiment on makeup and moisturizers specifically designed for Black women's skin.

Walden partnered with Los Angeles advertising executive Dan Raeburn. Each contributed $350 starting capital to establish Barbara Walden Cosmetics, Inc. in 1968. The company opened an office in Watts and trained women to sell the product door-to-door and through house parties.

In 1972, the cosmetics line expanded distribution to departments chains, starting with I. Magnin, in Los Angeles. followed by the May Co., the Broadway, Chicago's Carson Pirie Scott and others.

By 1979, the Barbara Walden Cosmetics company had generated $1 million in sales.

In interviews, Walden attributed the success of the company to her faith in God The charter was granted on June 1, 1962, with Hathaway serving as president and board members including Walden and attorney James L. Tolbert.

Walden was motivated to change the stereotyped programs and racism experienced in Hollywood through the organization. Additionally, she waged a letter-writing campaign to urge the film industry to portray Blacks more positively.