Gene Barry
A suave leading man of early television who defined cool as a dandy lawman in a derby hat and later as a millionaire police captain.
1919–2009 (age 90)·American actor·Birthday: June 14·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Gene Barry carried himself with an old-world elegance that made him a natural for roles requiring charm and a touch of class. Born Eugene Klass in New York, he found early success on Broadway as a singer before Hollywood called. He is best remembered for his film role as the scientist who faces down Martian tripods in the 1953 classic 'The War of the Worlds.' But it was on television that he became a star. As Bat Masterson, he turned the Western lawman into a dapper figure who preferred a gold-topped cane to a brawl. He later traded the frontier for Beverly Hills as the impeccably dressed, Rolls-Royce-driving Captain Amos Burke in 'Burke's Law,' a show that blended police procedural with high-society glamour. Barry's persona—urbane, witty, and unflappable—offered a distinct alternative to the gritty heroes of his era, securing his place in the pop culture landscape.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Gene was born in 1919, placing them squarely in The Greatest 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 Gene Was Born
The biggest hits of 1919
Gene's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1919Born
Treaty of Versailles signed; Prohibition ratified
President: Woodrow Wilson
1924Started school
First Winter Olympics held in Chamonix, France
President: Calvin Coolidge"It Had to Be You" — Isham Jones
1932Became a teenager
Amelia Earhart flies solo across the Atlantic
Gas: $0.18/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Night and Day" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: Grand Hotel
1935Could drive
Social Security Act signed into law
Gas: $0.19/galHome: $3,450President: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Cheek to Cheek" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: Mutiny on the Bounty
1937Could vote
Hindenburg disaster; Golden Gate Bridge opens
Gas: $0.20/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"A-Tisket, A-Tasket" — Ella FitzgeraldBest Picture: The Life of Emile Zola
1940Turned 21
The Blitz: Germany bombs London
Gas: $0.18/galHome: $2,938Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"I'll Never Smile Again" — Tommy DorseyBest Picture: Rebecca
1949Turned 30
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
1959Turned 40
Fidel Castro takes power in Cuba
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $12,400Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"The Battle of New Orleans" — Johnny HortonBest Picture: Ben-Hur
1969Turned 50
Apollo 11: humans walk on the Moon; Woodstock festival
Gas: $0.35/galHome: $15,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Sugar, Sugar" — The ArchiesBest Picture: Midnight Cowboy
1979Turned 60
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1989Turned 70
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1999Turned 80
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2009Died at 90
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
Key Achievements
- Starred as the title character in the popular Western TV series 'Bat Masterson' from 1958 to 1961.
- Played the lead role of Captain Amos Burke in the stylish detective series 'Burke's Law,' which he later revived in the 1990s.
- Portrayed scientist Dr. Clayton Forrester in the seminal sci-fi film 'The War of the Worlds' (1953).
- Won a Theatre World Award for his performance in the 1951 Broadway musical 'The Happy Time.'
Did You Know?
He was offered the role of Captain Jean-Luc Picard in 'Star Trek: The Next Generation' but turned it down; the role went to Patrick Stewart.
He was a trained baritone and performed in musical theater early in his career.
He was a dedicated philanthropist and helped raise millions for the City of Hope medical center.
“A man should stand up straight, even when the world is ending.”
