Known for:	War of the Worlds, The War of the Worlds, Thunder Road
Birth name:	Eugene Klass
Birthday:	14 June 1921, New York, New York, USA

Father of director Michael Barry. An avid political activist, he was among the many campaign supporters with Robert F. Kennedy at the Ambassador Hotel in L.A. when the politician was assassinated. Met his wife Betty (her stage name was Julie Carson) during rehearsals of the 1944 Broadway show "Catherine Was Great." Betty was fired before opening night because she was a blonde and Mae West, the star, would not have competing blondes in her show. Betty had disguised her hair color with a dark black wig. Gene and Betty married later that year and lived a long happy life together until her death in 2003. Sons Michael Lewis Barry and Frederick James Barry were born in 1946 and 1953, respectively. They adopted daughter Elizabeth (Liza) in 1967. Changed his name to Gene Barry in honor of his idol, John Barrymore. Was nominated for Broadway's 1984 Tony Award as Best Actor (Musical) for "La Cage aux Folles."

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