Jess Barker

Jess Barker (June 4, 1912 – August 8, 2000) was an American actor who was active between the 1940s and 1970s. He was best known as the first husband of actress Susan Hayward.

Early years Barker was born in Greenville, South Carolina.

Career Barker began his film career credited as Philip Barker until changing his stage name to Jess Barker in the early 1940s.

Barker's movie career was damaged because of the publicity resulting from a bitter custody dispute, but he still managed to find work as an actor on radio and films in supporting roles. Barker appeared as an art critic in Fritz Lang's Scarlet Street (1945) and the Abbott and Costello film The Time of Their Lives (1946). He also made two guest appearances on Perry Mason. In 1961 he played defendant Walter Eastman in "The Case of the Injured Innocent," and in 1965 he played Doug Hamilton in "The Case of the Murderous Mermaid."

Personal life Barker wed Susan Hayward on July 23, 1944. They had twin sons together during their ten-year marriage, whose custody was won by Hayward after a bitter court battle.

In 1956, Barker lost a paternity suit in Los Angeles. Judge Walter H. Odemar ruled that Barker was the father of a daughter born to actress Yvonne Doughty.

Barker died of liver failure in 2000.

Filmography Year Title Role Notes 1936 The Trail of the Lonesome Pine Merd Falin Film debut1943 Good Luck, Mr. Yates Oliver B. Yates Government Girl Dana McGuire 1944 Cover Girl John Coudair as a Young Man Jam Session George Carter Haven She's a Soldier Too Dr. Bill White 1945 Keep Your Powder Dry Junior Vanderheusen Senorita from the West Tim Winters This Love of Ours Chadwick The Daltons Ride Again Jeff Colton Scarlet Street Damon Janeway 1946 Girl on the Spot Rick Crane Idea Girl Larry Brewster The Time of Their Lives Thomas Danbury 1949 Take One False Step Arnold Sykes Reign of Terror Saint Just 1950 The Milkman John Carter 1953 Marry Me Again Jenkins 1954 Dragonfly Squadron Dixon 1955 Kentucky Rifle Daniel Foster Shack Out on 101 Artie 1956 Three Bad Sisters George Gurney The Peacemaker Ed Halcomb 1961-1965 Perry Mason Walter Eastman/Doug Hamilton 2 episodes 1964 Night Walker Malone 1968 The Green Berets Soldier Uncredited 1975 Murph the Surf Museum Guard 1977 Sudden Death Barnett Final film