Barbara Bain
A cool, cerebral presence who broke the mold for female spies on television, winning three consecutive Emmys for 'Mission: Impossible.'
Born 1931 (age 95)·American actress·Birthday: September 13·The Silent Generation
Biography
Barbara Bain brought an arresting, almost aloof intelligence to the screen that made her seem capable of anything. A former model and dancer from Chicago, she arrived in Hollywood with a distinctive look and a serious approach to craft. Her breakthrough was Cinnamon Carter on 'Mission: Impossible,' a role that defied the era's stereotypes. She wasn't a sidekick or a damsel; she was a master of disguise and persuasion, the coolest head in any crisis. Her performance was so definitive it earned her three straight Emmy Awards, a rare feat. After leaving the show, she and her husband, actor Martin Landau, starred in the cult sci-fi series 'Space: 1999,' where she played Dr. Helena Russell, another poised professional in an impossible situation. Bain's career choices were selective, often intertwined with Landau's, and she cultivated an aura of enigmatic grace. She proved that a woman could anchor an action series not with physical force, but with steely nerve and sophisticated cunning.
The Silent Generation
1928–1945
Born between the Depression and the end of WWII. Too young to fight, old enough to remember. They became the conformist middle managers of the 1950s — and the civil rights leaders who quietly dismantled Jim Crow.
Barbara was born in 1931, placing them squarely in The Silent Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Barbara Was Born
The biggest hits of 1931
#1 Movie
Frankenstein
Best Picture
Cimarron
Barbara's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1931Born
The Empire State Building opens as the world's tallest
Gas: $0.17/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Minnie the Moocher" — Cab CallowayBest Picture: Cimarron
1936Started school
Jesse Owens wins four golds at the Berlin Olympics
Gas: $0.19/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"The Way You Look Tonight" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: The Great Ziegfeld
1944Became a teenager
D-Day: Allied forces land at Normandy
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $3,400Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Swinging on a Star" — Bing CrosbyBest Picture: Going My Way
1947Could drive
India gains independence; the Dead Sea Scrolls found
Gas: $0.23/galHome: $6,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Near You" — Francis CraigBest Picture: Gentleman's Agreement
1949Could vote
NATO founded; Mao proclaims the People's Republic of China
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,450Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Riders in the Sky" — Vaughn MonroeBest Picture: All the King's Men
1952Turned 21
Queen Elizabeth II ascends the throne
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $8,350Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Blue Tango" — Leroy AndersonBest Picture: The Greatest Show on Earth
1961Turned 30
Yuri Gagarin becomes the first human in space
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $12,500Min wage: $1.15/hrPresident: John F. Kennedy"Tossin' and Turnin'" — Bobby LewisBest Picture: West Side Story
1971Turned 40
Voting age lowered to 18 in the US
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $18,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Joy to the World" — Three Dog NightBest Picture: The French Connection
1981Turned 50
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1991Turned 60
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
2001Turned 70
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2011Turned 80
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2026Age 95 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won three consecutive Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for 'Mission: Impossible' (1967-1969).
- Starred as the pioneering female lead Cinnamon Carter, defining the role of a cerebral action heroine in a major TV series.
- Played Dr. Helena Russell, the chief medical officer, on the internationally syndicated sci-fi series 'Space: 1999.'
- Nominated for a Golden Globe Award for her performance in 'Mission: Impossible.'
Did You Know?
She was married to actor Martin Landau for over 36 years, until his death in 2017.
She and Martin Landau left 'Mission: Impossible' together after the third season in a contract dispute.
She studied modern dance with the renowned choreographer Martha Graham in her youth.
Her daughter, Juliet Landau, is also an actress, known for her role on 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer.'
“A good agent never reveals her methods.”
