Home> Facts and Trivia > Stars > Barbara Stanwyck
Barbara Stanwyck Facts
| Sign | Cancer |
| Born |
Jul 16, 1907 Brooklyn, NY |
| Died |
Jan 20, 1990 Santa Monica, CA |
| Age | Died at 82 |
| Total Facts | 60 |
William Holden was considered to be too lightweight for the lead role in Golden Boy (1939), but Stanwyck urged producers to keep him in the picture and it was through her efforts he was kept in the picture, and the role made him a star. In 1978, at the The 50th Annual Academy Awards (1978) (TV), before starting the presentation of the sound award, Holden publicly thanked her for what she did. She nearly broke down in tears and kissed Holden, and the exchange received thunderous audience applause.
A Star Is Born (1937) starring Janet Gaynor and Fredric March is said to be modeled after Stanwyck's rise to stardom and first husband Frank Fay's descent into obscurity.
According to biographical film Barbara Stanwyck: Fire and Desire (1991) (TV), Stanwyck became a model for women actors. Such stars as Sally Field and Virginia Madsen have publicly pointed to Stanwyck as their model.
Actors Peter Breck, Lee Majors and Linda Evans were said to be huge fans of hers, as little children. Together, all grown up, all three have co-starred alongside Stanwyck in the successful 1960s, western series, "The Big Valley" (1965).
Ailing, she was replaced by Susan Hayward in Heat of Anger (1972) (TV), which was to have been a pilot for a prospective TV series to be called "Fitzgerald and Pride."
American Film Institute Life Achievement Award. [1987]
As of the age of four, after her mother died and her father, upset by his wife's death, abandoned his kids, Barbara was brought up by her elder sister.
Attended Erasmus Hall High School, Brooklyn, New York before dropping out at age 14.
Best remembered for her role on TV for her starring role as matriarch Victoria Barkley on "The Big Valley" (1965).
Biography in: "The Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives". Volume Two, 1986-1990, pages 796-798. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1999.
Godmother of Bobbie Poledouris.
Godmother of Tori Spelling.
Has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame located at 1751 Vine St.
Her father was a bricklayer.
Her former "The Big Valley" (1965), co-stars, Peter Breck and Linda Evans, both have made guest appearances on her co-star's, Lee Majors, popular 1980s TV series, "The Fall Guy" (1981), but on different episodes.
Her mother died when she was accidentally knocked off a trolley by a drunk. Barbara was four at the time.
Her nickname among co-workers was "Missy" or "The Queen."
Her papers are in the American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming, PO Box 3924, Laramie, WY 82071.
Her performance as Phyllis Dietrichson in Double Indemnity (1944) is ranked #58 on Premiere Magazine's 100 Greatest Movie Characters of All Time list.
Her performance as Phyllis Dietrichson in Double Indemnity (1944) is ranked #98 on Premiere Magazine's 100 Greatest Performances of All Time list (2006).
Her siblings were named Maude, Mable, Mildred ("Millie"), and Malcolm Byron ("Bert") Stevens. Her parents were Byron and Catherine McGee Stevens.
Her son, Dion Anthony "Tony" Fay, was born in February 1932. He was adopted on December 5, 1932.
Her stage name was inspired by a theatrical poster that read "Jane Stanwyck in 'Barbara Frietchie.'".
Her stormy marriage to Frank Fay finally ended after a drunken brawl, during which he tossed their adopted son, Dion, into the swimming pool. Despite rumours of affairs with Marlene Dietrich and Joan Crawford, Stanwyck wed Robert Taylor, who had gay rumours of his own to dispel. Their marriage started off on a sour note when his possessive mother demanded he spend his wedding night with her rather than with Barbara.
Her wicked turn as Phyllis Dietrichson in Double Indemnity (1944) was ranked #8 on the American Film Institute's "100 Greatest Screen Heroes and Villains" list.
In 1944, when she earned $400,000, the government listed her as the nation's highest-paid woman.
In 1957 Tony, her adopted son, was arrested for trying to sell lewd pictures while waiting to cash his unemployment check. When questioned by the press about his famous mother, he replied, "We don't speak." She saw him only a few times after his childhood.
In 1981 she was beaten and robbed in her bedroom by an intruder who woke her up at 1:00 in the morning.
In 1985, her house was destroyed in a fire. She was upset to lose all of Robert Taylor's love letters.
In February 1955 she was mentioned to be one of the female stars of Gunfight at the O.K. Corral (1957) but she never made the film.
In Italy, almost all of her films were dubbed by Lidia Simoneschi. She was occasionally dubbed by Tina Lattanzi and Marcella Rovena. As Leona Stevenson in Sorry, Wrong Number (1948), she was dubbed by Andreina Pagnani. This was the only time the Italian actress lent her voice to Stanwyck.
In the early 1950s, made a television commercial for Lustre Creme shampoo.
Inducted into the Hall of Great Western Performers of the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in 1973.
Lived near Joan Crawford during her marriage to Frank Fay. According to Christina Crawford, Barbara scaled a fence on their property and stayed with the Crawfords for several days.
Measurements: 33 1/4-23-33 1/2 (Source: Celebrity Sleuth magazine).
Often called "The Best Actress Who Never Won an Oscar."
Picked up the starring role in Ball of Fire (1941) after Ginger Rogers dropped out.
Planned to play the lead in Mildred Pierce (1945), but Joan Crawford was faster and got the role.
Profiled in "Back in the Saddle: Essays on Western Film and Television Actors", Gary Yoggy, ed. (McFarland, 1998).
Profiled in "Killer Tomatoes: Fifteen Tough Film Dames" bu Ray Hagen and Laura Wagner (McFarland, 2004).
Profiled in book "Funny Ladies" by Stephen Silverman. [1999]
She became estranged from her son in February 1951.
She did not have a funeral and has no grave. Her ashes are scattered in Lone Pine, California.
She lost a kidney in 1971.
She twice played a character named Jessica Drummond in two completely different movies: My Reputation (1946) and Forty Guns (1957).
She was a member of The Motion Picture Alliance for the Preservation of American Ideals, group that was fervently anti-Communist and counted among its members Ginger Rogers, Clark Gable, Gary Cooper, John Wayne and Irene Dunne.
She was a stauch Republican and conservative.
She was voted the 40th "Greatest Movie Star of All Time" by Entertainment Weekly.
She with Linda Evans in two series: "The Big Valley" (1965) and "Dynasty" (1981).
Sister of actor Bert Stevens.