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Lex Barker

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Cause of death
  
Heart attack

Role
  
Actor

Name
  
Lex Barker


Years active
  
1945-1970

Occupation
  
Actor

Siblings
  
Frederica Amelia Barker

Lex Barker Blog Archive Lex Barker

Full Name
  
Alexander Crichlow Barker, Jr.

Born
  
May 8, 1919 (
1919-05-08
)
Rye, New York, U.S.

Died
  
May 11, 1973, New York City, New York, United States

Spouse
  
Carmen Cervera (m. 1965–1973)

Children
  
Christopher Barker, Lynn Thurlow Barker, Alexander Crichlow Barker III

Movies
  
Apache Gold, Old Shatterhand, Treasure of the Silver Lake, Winnetou: The Last Shot, Last of the Renegades

Similar People
  
Pierre Brice, Ralf Wolter, Karl May, Harald Reinl, Marie Versini

Movie legends lex barker


Alexander Crichlow "Lex" Barker Jr. (May 8, 1919 – May 11, 1973) was an American actor best known for playing Tarzan of the Apes and leading characters from Karl May's novels.

Contents

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Lex barker


Youth

Lex Barker wwwdoctormacrocomImagesBarker20LexBarker2

Alexander Crichlow Barker, Jr. was born on May 8, 1919 in Rye, New York. He was the second child of Alexander Crichlow Barker, Sr., a wealthy Canadian-born building contractor, and his American wife, the former Marion Thornton Beals.

Lex Barker LEX BARKER FREE Wallpapers amp Background images

His father later worked as a stockbroker. Barker had an elder sister, Frederica Amelia "Freddie" Barlow (1917–1980). She was married three times, to Frederic Clifton Soldwedel, Richard Neuhaufer, and Robert Henry Schlesinger. Raised in New York City and Port Chester, New York, Lex Barker attended the Fessenden School and graduated from Phillips Exeter Academy. He played football as well as the oboe. He attended Princeton University, but dropped out to join a theatrical stock company, much to the chagrin of his family.

Career

Lex Barker Lex Barker

Barker made it to Broadway once, in a small role in a short run of Shakespeare's The Merry Wives of Windsor in 1938. He also had a small role in Orson Welles's disastrous Five Kings, which met with so many problems in Boston and Philadelphia that it never made it into New York City.

In February 1941, ten months before the attack on Pearl Harbor, Barker left his fledgling acting career and enlisted in the US Army. He rose to the rank of major during the war. He was wounded in action (in the head and leg) fighting in Sicily.

Back in the USA, he recuperated at an Arkansas military hospital, then upon his discharge from service, traveled to Los Angeles. Within a short time, he landed a small role in his first film, Doll Face (1945). A string of small roles followed, the best of which was as Emmett Dalton in the Western Return of the Bad Men (1948). Barker soon found the role that would bring him fame.

In Tarzan's Magic Fountain (1949), Barker became the tenth official Tarzan of the movies. His blond, handsome, and intelligent appearance, as well as his athletic, now 6'4" frame, helped make him popular in the role Johnny Weissmuller had made his own for sixteen years. Barker made only five Tarzan films, but he remains one of the actors best known for the role. In 1957, as he found it harder to find work in American films, Barker moved to Europe (he spoke French, Italian, Spanish, and some German), where he found popularity and starred in over 40 European films, including two movies based on the novels by Italian author Emilio Salgari (1862–1911). In Italy, he also had a short but compelling role as Anita Ekberg's fiancé in Federico Fellini's La Dolce Vita (1960).

In Germany, he had his greatest success. There he starred in two movies based on the "Doctor Mabuse" stories (formerly filmed by Fritz Lang), in the movies Doctor Sibelius and Breakfast in Bed, and in 12 movies based on novels by German author Karl May (1842–1912), playing such well-known May characters as Old Shatterhand (seven movies), Kara Ben Nemsi (three movies), and Dr. Karl Sternau (two movies).

In 1966, Barker was awarded the "Bambi Award" as "Best Foreign Actor" in Germany, where he was a major, very popular, star. He even recorded two songs in German: "Ich bin morgen auf dem Weg zu dir" ("I'll be on the way to you tomorrow", composed by Martin Böttcher, the composer of some of the soundtracks of the Karl May movies) and "Mädchen in Samt und Seide" ("Girl in Silk and Velvet", composed by Werner Scharfenberger). He returned to the United States occasionally and made a handful of guest appearances on American television episodes, but Europe, and especially Germany, was his professional home for the remainder of his life.

Personal life

Barker was married five times:

  • Constance Rhodes Thurlow (1918-1975) (married June 27, 1942–divorced 1950). She was a daughter of Leon Rhodes Thurlow, a vice president of the Decorated Metal Manufacturing Company. They had one daughter, Lynn Thurlow Barker (April 11, 1943 – 2010) and a son, Alexander "Zan" Crichlow Barker III (March 25, 1947 – October 2, 2012). In 1952 Constance Barker married her second husband, John Lawrence Adams, a descendant of John Quincy Adams.
  • Actress Arlene Dahl (married 1951–divorced 1952)
  • Actress Lana Turner (married September 8, 1953–divorced July 22, 1957). In Detour: A Hollywood Tragedy - My Life With Lana Turner, My Mother (1988), written by Turner's daughter Cheryl Crane, Crane claimed Barker repeatedly molested and raped her from the ages of 10 to 13, and that it was after she informed her mother of this that they divorced. According to Crane, Turner ordered him out of the house at gunpoint the morning after she learned of this.
  • Irene Labhardt (married 1957–Dead (Leukemia) in 1962), a Swiss actress. They had one son, Christopher (born 1960), who became an actor and singer.
  • Tita Cervera (married 1965–divorced 1972, although divorce not deemed legally valid). Voted Miss Spain in 1962, Tita Barker later became the wife of movie producer Espartaco Santoni in 1975 (the marriage turned out to be bigamous) and later still, in 1985, the fifth and final wife of billionaire art collector Baron Hans Heinrich Thyssen-Bornemisza.
  • Death

    Barker died three days after his 54th birthday, on May 11, 1973, of a heart attack while walking down a street in New York City on his way to meet his fiancée, actress Karen Kondazian. The funeral was in New York. He was cremated and the ashes were taken by Tita Cervera, his last wife, to Spain.

    Discography

  • "Ich bin morgen auf dem Weg zu dir" / "Mädchen in Samt und Seide" 1965, Single, Decca D 19 725
  • Winnetou du warst mein Freund 1996, CD, Bear Family Records
  • Filmography

    Actor
    1972
    Night Gallery (TV Series) as
    Charlie McKinley (segment "The Waiting Room")
    - The Waiting Room/Last Rites for a Dead Druid (1972) - Charlie McKinley (segment "The Waiting Room")
    1971
    Die Rudi Carrell Show (TV Series) as
    Old Shatterhand
    - Schule (1971) - Old Shatterhand
    1971
    The F.B.I. (TV Series) as
    Owen Stuart
    - Three-Way Split (1971) - Owen Stuart
    1971
    The Name of the Game (TV Series) as
    Will Cheyenne
    - The Man Who Killed a Ghost (1971) - Will Cheyenne
    1970
    Wenn du bei mir bist as
    Kapitän Hannes Schneider
    1970
    Aoom as
    Ristol
    1969
    It Takes a Thief (TV Series) as
    Kurt 'Matt' Matson
    - The King of Thieves (1969) - Kurt 'Matt' Matson
    1968
    The Valley of Death as
    Old Shatterhand
    1967
    The Torture Chamber of Dr. Sadism as
    Roger Mont Elise / Roger von Marienberg
    1967
    Mister Dynamit - Morgen küßt euch der Tod as
    Bob Urban / Mr. Dynamit
    1967
    Woman Times Seven as
    Rik (segment "Super Simone")
    1966
    Winnetou and the Crossbreed as
    Old Shatterhand
    1966
    Killer's Carnival as
    Glenn Cassidy (Rio segment)
    1966
    Who Killed Johnny R.? as
    Sam Dobie / Johnny Ringo
    1965
    Kingdom of the Silver Lion as
    Kara Ben Nemsi
    1965
    Winnetou: The Last Shot as
    Old Shatterhand
    1965
    Wild Kurdistan as
    Kara Ben Nemsi
    1965
    Place Called Glory City as
    Clint Brenner
    1965
    24 Hours to Kill as
    The Crew: Jamie Faulkner
    1965
    Pyramid of the Sun God as
    Dr. Karl Sternau
    1965
    Treasure of the Aztecs as
    Dr. Karl Sternau
    1964
    Winnetou: The Red Gentleman as
    Old Shatterhand
    1964
    The Yellow One as
    Kara Ben Nemsi
    1964
    Code 7, Victim 5 as
    Steve Martin
    1964
    Old Shatterhand as
    Old Shatterhand
    1963
    Winnetou as
    Old Shatterhand
    1963
    Il mistero del tempio indiano as
    Maj. Ford
    1963
    Kali Yug, la dea della vendetta as
    Maj. Ford
    1963
    The Executioner of Venice as
    Sandrigo Bembo
    1963
    The Death Eye of Ceylon as
    Larry Stone
    1963
    Breakfast in Bed as
    Victor H. Armstrong
    1963
    Berlin-Melodie - Vom Zille-Ball zum Jazzlokal (TV Movie)(rumored)
    1962
    The Treasure of the Silver Lake as
    Old Shatterhand
    1962
    Frauenarzt Dr. Sibelius as
    Dr. Georg Sibelius
    1962
    The Invisible Dr. Mabuse as
    FBI-Agent Joe Como
    1961
    The Return of Dr. Mabuse as
    Joe Como - alias 'Nick Scappio', alias 'Bob Arco'
    1961
    The Secret of the Black Falcon as
    Captain Don Carlos de Herrera
    1961
    El secreto de los hombres azules as
    Fred
    1960
    Robin Hood and the Pirates as
    Robin Hood
    1960
    Pirates of the Coast as
    Luis Monterrey
    1960
    Il cavaliere dai cento volti as
    Riccardo d'Arce
    1960
    Tales of the Vikings (TV Series) as
    König Gordar
    - The Shield (1960) - König Gordar
    1960
    La Dolce Vita as
    Robert - marito di Sylvia
    1960
    Terror of the Red Mask as
    Marco
    1959
    Mission in Morocco as
    Bruce Reynolds
    1959
    The Pirate and the Slave Girl as
    Dragon Drakut
    1959
    Son of the Red Corsair as
    Il conte Enrico di Ventimiglia
    1958
    Captain Falcon as
    Pietro, detto Capitan Fuoco
    1958
    Female Fiends as
    Peter Chance
    1957
    The Deerslayer as
    Deerslayer
    1957
    Jungle Heat as
    Dr. Jim Ransom
    1957
    The Girl in Black Stockings as
    David Hewson
    1957
    The Girl in the Kremlin as
    Steve Anderson
    1957
    War Drums as
    Mangas Coloradas
    1956
    Studio 57 (TV Series) as
    Brad / Robin Ridour
    - Outpost (1957) - Brad
    - The Old Lady's Tears (1956) - Robin Ridour
    1956
    Away All Boats as
    Cmdr. Quigley
    1956
    The Price of Fear as
    Dave Barrett
    1956
    Lux Video Theatre (TV Series) as
    Stephen Dexter
    - Hired Wife (1956) - Stephen Dexter
    1955
    Duel on the Mississippi as
    André Tulane
    1955
    The Man from Bitter Ridge as
    Jeff Carr
    1954
    The Yellow Mountain as
    Andy Martin
    1954
    Black Devils of Kali as
    Tramal Naik
    1954
    Mystery of the Black Jungle as
    Tremal-Naik
    1953
    Thunder Over the Plains as
    Capt. Bill Hodges
    1953
    Tarzan and the She-Devil as
    Tarzan
    1952
    Battles of Chief Pontiac as
    Lt. Kent McIntire
    1952
    Tales of Tomorrow (TV Series) as
    Kurt
    - Red Dust (1952) - Kurt
    1952
    Tarzan's Savage Fury as
    Tarzan
    1951
    Tarzan's Peril as
    Tarzan
    1950
    Tarzan and the Slave Girl as
    Tarzan
    1949
    Tarzan's Magic Fountain as
    Tarzan
    1948
    Return of the Bad Men as
    Emmett Dalton
    1948
    The Velvet Touch as
    Paul Banton
    1948
    Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House as
    Carpenter Foreman
    1947
    Dick Tracy Meets Gruesome as
    City Hospital Driver (uncredited)
    1947
    Unconquered as
    Royal American Officer (uncredited)
    1947
    Under the Tonto Rim as
    Deputy Joe
    1947
    Crossfire as
    Harry
    1947
    The Farmer's Daughter as
    Olaf
    1946
    Cloak and Dagger as
    Man Rescued at End (uncredited)
    1946
    Two Guys from Milwaukee as
    Fred - the Usher (uncredited)
    1946
    Do You Love Me as
    Party Guest (uncredited)
    1945
    Doll Face as
    Jack - Coast Guardsman (uncredited)
    Self
    1972
    Appelez-moi Lise (TV Series) as
    Self (1973)
    1971
    The Merv Griffin Show (TV Series) as
    Self
    - Marriage (1972) - Self
    - Thor Heyerdahl, Otis Carney, Lex Barker, Pamela Mason, Linda Ronstadt (1972) - Self
    - Hugh Downs (1971) - Self
    - Tarzan Actors with guests Johnny Weismuller, Buster Crabbe, Ron Ely, Jock Mahoney, Lex Barker, James Pierce, Gardner McKay (1971) - Self
    1969
    Stars in der Manege (TV Series documentary) as
    Self
    - 1969 (I) (1969) - Self
    1969
    Neues aus der Welt des Films (TV Series) as
    Self
    - Episode #5.1 (1969) - Self
    1968
    Der goldene Schuß (TV Series) as
    Self
    - Episode dated 25 January 1968 (1968) - Self
    1967
    Hinter der Leinwand (TV Series documentary) as
    Self
    - Episode dated 9 July 1967 (1967) - Self
    1965
    Charly May (Documentary short) as
    Self (uncredited)
    1965
    ...Geist und ein wenig Glück (TV Movie documentary) as
    Self
    1963
    Winnetou in den Schluchten des Balkan (TV Movie documentary) as
    Self
    1960
    Reflets de Cannes (TV Series documentary) as
    Self
    - Episode dated 19 May 1960 (1960) - Self
    1959
    Die Abendschau (TV Series documentary) as
    Self
    - Interview mit Lex Barker (1959) - Self
    1956
    It Could Be You (TV Series) as
    Self
    - Episode dated 23 August 1956 (1956) - Self
    1956
    Lux Video Theatre (TV Series) as
    Self - Intermission guest
    - The Corrigan Case (1956) - Self - Intermission guest
    1956
    Climax! (TV Series) as
    Self
    - The Louella Parsons Story (1956) - Self
    1954
    The 26th Annual Academy Awards (TV Special) as
    Self - Presenter
    1952
    The Linkletter Show (TV Series) as
    Self
    - Episode #1.57 (1952) - Self
    1952
    The Bob Hope Show (TV Series) as
    Self
    - Sid Caesar, Imogene Coca, Jimmy Durante, Rex Harrison, Lili Palmer, Eddie Cantor, Faye Emerson, Janis Paige, Jinx Falkenburg, Ted McCrary, Lex Barker, Arlene Dahl (1952) - Self
    1952
    That Reminds Me (TV Series) as
    Self
    - Episode dated 27 February 1952 (1952) - Self
    1951
    Screen Snapshots: Jimmy McHugh's Song Party (Short) as
    Self
    Archive Footage
    2020
    The Truth About La Dolce Vita (Documentary) as
    Robert - marito di Sylvia (uncredited)
    2020
    Cane Fire (Documentary) as
    Dr. Jim Ransom in Jungle Heat
    2020
    The Last Movie Painter (Documentary) as
    Self (uncredited)
    2018
    Hollywood, la vie rêvée de Lana Turner (TV Movie documentary) as
    Self
    2016
    Mythos Winnetou (TV Movie documentary) as
    Self - Old Shatterhand
    2016
    Roy Black. Eine Legende. Unvergessen. (TV Movie documentary) as
    Kapitän Hannes Schneider (uncredited)
    2010
    Lex Barker Documentary (Documentary) as
    Self
    2010
    Terra X - Rätsel alter Weltkulturen (TV Series documentary) as
    Old Shatterhand / Kara Ben Nemsi
    - Karl May. Das letzte Rätsel (2010) - Old Shatterhand / Kara Ben Nemsi
    2006
    El genio tranquilo as
    Ristol
    2004
    Auf den Spuren Winnetous (TV Movie documentary)
    2003
    Dorothy Dandridge: An American Beauty (TV Movie documentary) as
    Tarzan (clip from Tarzan's Peril (1951))
    2003
    Sendung ohne Namen (TV Series)
    - Angst vor der Zukunft? (2003)
    2001
    Timeless Cinema (TV Movie documentary) as
    Self (uncredited)
    2001
    Marlene Dietrich: Her Own Song (Documentary) as
    Self (uncredited)
    1999
    Biography (TV Series documentary) as
    Tarzan (clip from Tarzan's Peril (1951))
    - Dorothy Dandridge: Little Girl Lost (1999) - Tarzan (clip from Tarzan's Peril (1951))
    1996
    Tarzan at the Movies, Part 2: The Many Faces of Tarzan (Video documentary short)
    1977
    Kolossal - i magnifici Macisti (Documentary) as
    Dragon Drakut (as L. Barker)
    1965
    Freispruch für Old Shatterhand - Ein Dokumentarspiel über den Prozeß Karl Mays gegen Rudolf Lebius (TV Movie) as
    Old Shatterhand / Kara Ben Nemsi (uncredited)

    References

    Lex Barker Wikipedia


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