Actors - Barbi Benton

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	Actors - Barbi Benton

Barbi Benton (born Barbara Klein on 28 January 1950 in New York) is an American model and actress.

In 1952, her family moved to Sacramento, California when her father, a military doctor, was assigned new duties there. Benton attended Rio Americano High School in Sacramento before heading for Los Angeles at age 16, where she began modeling to supplement her allowance.

By the time she met Hugh Hefner in 1968, she was getting regular work on television shows including Playboy After Dark which filmed A-list entertainers performing in Hugh Hefner's mansion surrounded by Playboy Playmates. Benton said she pretended to be Hefner's girlfriend for a couple of episodes and soon found herself living the role full time. She was on her way to becoming a multifaceted icon of 1970s glamor.

Shortly after meeting Hefner, at his suggestion, she changed her name to the more showbiz-friendly Barbi Benton. "When he asked me out," Barbi recalls, "I was 18 and he was 42. I said I'd never gone out with anyone older than 24, and he said, 'That's all right. Neither have I.' We hit it off right away, and it lasted for eight years!"

Benton was Hugh Hefner's own personal playmate throughout the 1970s, but she also became a recording star, a Las Vegas headliner and a movie actress, with credits including Deathstalker, The Naughty Cheerleader and Hospital Massacre. Although none of the films were particular box office successes, they enjoy a cult status among fans of B-movies.

Besides the Hefner connection, Benton is best known for her years as a regular on the country music series Hee Haw as a scantily clad country cutie trading gags and appearing in comic skits with other regulars. She left the program after four seasons to concentrate on a more Hollywood-oriented career. She also starred in the short-lived ABC-TV comedy series about an aspiring female rock group, Sugar (series) in 1977 that's greatest claim to fame may be inspiring one television critic to call it "jiggle tv", a term that was then frequently used to describe the many television series of the era starring attractive, sexy young women.

Barbi Benton was also a recording artist with some success. Her 1975 record, "Brass Buckles", was a top five hit on Billboard's country singles chart. Benton has recorded eight albums, the last of which she personally produced in 1979. She also composed the songs, sang them and played piano. One of her better known songs was "Ain't That Just the Way", which was also a major hit for Lutricia McNeal in the 1990s.

She left Hefner for she eventually realized that he was not really interested in starting a new family. Benton married George Gradow, a successful developer on October 14, 1979. The couple now has two children, 16 and 18 years old. Benton mostly concentrates on building and designing homes now.

Trivia

While being perhaps the best known woman whose fame derives from appearing in Playboy magazine, contrary to popular belief, Barbi Benton has never been featured as a Playmate of the Month centerfold in the magazine.

Discography

Barbi Doll (1974)
Barbi Benton (1975)
Something New (1976)
Ain't That Just The Way (1978)
Kinetic Voyage (1988)

Filmography

Motion Picture

Schulmädchen 1984
Deathstalker, 1983
Hospital Massacre, 1981
For The Love Of It, 1980
Naughty Cheerleader, 1972

Television

Playboy's 50th Anniversary (TV, 2003), as herself.
Entertainment Tonight (TV, 2002), as herself.
Playboy: The party continues (TV, 2000), as herself.
Hugh Hefner: Once upon a time (TV, 1992), as herself.
Barbi Benton Presents: Stripper of the Year (TV, ca 1990), intro-host.
Barbi Benton Presents: Best Buns On The Beach (TV, ca 1990), intro-host.
Riptide (TV, 1986), playing Gina Potter in episode "Playing Hardball" (episode # 3.17).
Murder, She Wrote (TV, 1986) playing Sue Beth in episode "Murder in the Electric Cathedral" (episode # 2.16).
Safe at home (TV, ca 1985) playing Connie Simpson in episode Old flame.
And the Wall Came Tumbling Down (TV, 1984) playing Caroline Trent.
Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer (TV, 1984) playing Susan Lancaster in episode "Catfight" (episode # 2.4).
Matt Houston (TV, 1983) playing Ava Randolph in episode "Purrfect Crime" (episode # 1.13).
The Match Game/Hollywood Squares Hour (TV, 1983) playing Guest Panelist.
I love my life (Theatre, 1982). The play was held January 12-24 at the La Mirada Civic Theatre in California.
Fantasy Island (TV, 1982), playing Courtney/Miss Winslow in episodes "House of dolls" and "Wuthering heights".
Circus of the Stars (TV, 1982, 1980, 1979), performer.
Fantasy Island (TV, 1981), episodes "The Devil and Mr. Roarke", "Ziegfeld Girls", and "Kid Corey Rides Again".
The Love Boat (TV, 1981), playing Cathy Somms in episodes "The Nudist from Sunshine Gardens", "Eye of the beholder" and "Bugged".
Fantasy Island (TV, 1981), playing Marsha Garnett/Carla Baines in episodes "The man from yesterday" and "World's most desirable woman".
CHiPs (TV, 1981) playing Sal in episode "Ponch's Angels, part 1 and 2" (episodes # 4.14/15).
Lobo (TV, 1981) playing country singer Kitty Rhinestone in episode "The Cowboy Connection".
For the love of it (Movie, 1980), playing Anita Carney.
Charlie's Angels (TV, 1980), playing Toni Green in episode "Island Angels" (episode # 5.5).
Fantasy Island (TV, 1980), playing Molly Delahanti in episodes "The love doctor", "Pleasure palace" and "Possessed".
Fantasy Island (TV, 1980), playing Erica Clark in episodes Playgirl and Smith's Valhalla.
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (TV, 1980), guest.
The Love Boat (TV, 1979) playing Lucy in episodes "Not now, I'm dying", "Eleanor's return" and "Too young to love".
Vega$ (TV, 1979), playing Holly in episode "Design For Death" (episode # 2.5).
Fantasy Island (TV, 1979), playing Bunny Kelly in episodes "Baby" and "Marathon: Battle of the sexes".
Fantasy Island (TV, 1978), playing Dee Dee Verona in episodes "The Appointment" and "Mr. Tattoo".
The Hollywood Squares (TV, 1978) playing Guest Panelist.
America 2Night (TV, 1978), as herself, receiving the UBS Liftetime Achievement Award.
The Love Boat (TV, 1978) playing Kiki Atwood in episode "Marooned, part 1 and 2" (episodes # 2.26/27).
The Love Boat (TV, 1978) playing Brigitte in episodes "Computerman", "Parlez-Vous" and "Memories of you".
Fantasy Island (TV, 1978) playing Shirley Russell in episode "Poof, you're a movie star" (episode # 1.12).
Murder at the Mardi Gras (TV, 1978) as herself.
Sugar Time! (TV, 1977), playing Maxx Douglas.
Nashville on the road (TV, 1975), artist.
McCloud (TV, 1975), playing Shannon Forbes in episode "Park Avenue Pirates".
The American Bandstand (TV, 1975), guest artist.
The Third Girl from the Left (TV, 1973), playing Melanie.
The Great American Beauty Contest (TV, 1973) as Miss Iowa.
The Midnight Special (TV, 1973), as herself.
Marcus Welby, M.D. (TV, 1972), playing Liz in episode: "We'll Walk Out of Here Together" (episode # 4.3).
Hee Haw (TV, 1969), as herself.
Playboy After Dark (TV, 1968), as herself.
The Sonny & Cher Show (TV), as herself.
L'Uomo del colpo perfetto (Movie, 1968), as girl in bed.

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