Barbara McNair

Biography

Despite a documenting career that prolonged for nearly 2 decades, including a stint in the famed Motown label, Barbara McNair continues to be better-known as an actress than as a singer, making use of both skills because the star of her own eponymously-titled television variety series. Given birth to January 1, 1934, in Chicago, and elevated in Racine, Wisconsin, McNair started singing as a kid and, after spending annually at UCLA, she relocated to NEW YORK, working like a secretary for the Country wide Basis of Settlements while fruitlessly auditioning for countless Manhattan nightclub gigs. Impresario Maximum Gordon finally booked her in the famous Village Vanguard, accompanied by appearances around the Arthur Godfrey Skill Scout Display and The Ed Sullivan Display. While carrying out at Todas las Vegas’ Metallic Slipper Gambling establishment, McNair found the eye of famed newspapers columnist Walter Winchell, whose beneficial reviews gained her a cope with Coral Information; her debut sole, “Till THERE IS You,” made an appearance in 1958, using the B-side, “Bobby,” learning to be a strike. That same 12 months, she also produced her Broadway debut in the torso Beautiful, later time for the stage within the Pajama Video game. McNair documented three even more singles for Coral in 1958 — “He’s Got depends upon in His Hands,” “Indiscreet,” and “As well Late This Springtime,” respectively — adopted in 1959 by “Goin’ Steady Using the Moon,” “Lover’s Prayer,” and “Phone Discussion,” the second option a duet with Billy Williams. She also toured with Nat Ruler Cole, showing up in his stage displays I’m together with you as well as the Merry Globe of Nat Ruler Cole. McNair after that agreed upon to the Personal label for three 1960 singles — “He’s a Ruler,” “ABOUT Appreciate,” and “Kansas Town” — accompanied by a tenure at Roulette that yielded 1961’s “That’s All I’D LIKE From You,” and the next year’s “Honeymoonin.'” She landed at KC for “CROSS the Bridge,” and in 1963 produced her film debut opposing Henry Fonda in Spencer’s Hill — she also appeared in visitor roles on several TV series, included in this Dr. Kildare, I Spy, and Hogan’s Heroes. Following a one-off 1965 work for Warner Bros., “Needed Me,” afterwards that same season McNair agreed upon to Motown, credit scoring her biggest strike with her label debut “You’re Gonna Like My Baby.” “Everything Can be Great About You” and “My Globe Is Clear Without You” implemented in 1966, as do periods for “Baby a Go-Go,” probably her strongest disk up to now — incredibly, Motown mind Berry Gordy turned down the single, nevertheless, and it proceeded to go unreleased for many years, until bootleg copies gained rave reviews through the DJs and dancers populating Britain’s North Soul membership circuit. (Motown finally gave “Baby a Go-Go” the best release for the 2002 compilation A Cellarful of Motown!) McNair’s Motown work ended with a set of 1968 singles, “Where Would I End up being Without You” and “YOU CAN Never Like Him”; from that time forward she aimed increasingly more of her energies into her performing career, time for the silver screen within the criminal offense crisis If He Hollers, Allow Him Go! implemented in 1969 co-starring with a job within the Elvis Presley automobile Modification of Habit. The syndicated range series The Barbara McNair Present also premiered in 1969, working for three periods; in 1970, McNair have scored her biggest display screen role up to now appearing reverse Sidney Poitier in They Contact Me Mister Tibbs!, the sequel towards the Oscar-winning In heat of the night time. She also co-starred within the follow-up, 1971’s The Analysis, but was mainly from the limelight for the rest of the 10 years, showing up on stage, in nightclubs and the casual TV visitor shot while acquiring time-out in 1976 to record one last solitary for TEC, “Due to You.” In 1984, McNair approved a repeating if short-lived part on the day time cleaning soap opera General Medical center, and in 1996 she came back to feature movies after a one fourth century absence within the little-seen Neon Indicators. Furthermore to her personal headlining nightclub times, she also starred in Advanced Women, a stage tribute towards the music of Duke Ellington.

Quick Facts

• Facts
• Filmography
• Awards
• Salaries
• Quotes
• Trademarks
• Pictures



#	Fact
1	Within a span of four years experienced the losses of her mother - Claudie McNair (August 12, 1976), husband - Rick Manzie (December 15, 1976), mother-in-law - Pearl Manzie (June 1977), and father - Horace McNair (November 14, 1979).
2	During her career Barbara experienced racism from time to time. When she appeared in "No Strings"--a musical by Richard Rodgers set in Paris in which a black fashion model falls in love with a white novelist--she endured obscene phone calls and hate mail. She once walked out of a hotel in Miami that offered her a room but forbade her to swim in the hotel pool. A few times she was forced to eat in the employees' dining room in hotels at which she was performing because blacks weren't allowed to eat in the main dining room.
3	Has a sister, Jacqueline Gaither.
4	Mafia boss-turned-FBI-informant Aladena Fratianno (aka "Jimmy the Weasel") wrote in his book, "The Last Mafioso", that McNair's late husband, Rick Manzie, was a Mafia associate who tried to put a contract on the life of a mob-associated tax attorney with whom he had a legal dispute, but he was murdered in 1976 before the contract was fulfilled.
5	She was once voted one of the most beautiful women in the world.
6	The 1970s were tragic times personally and professionally for her. Professionally, her TV variety show was canceled, she was out of recording contracts and could find no film work. On the personal side, her career suffered after she and husband Rick Manzie were charged in 1972 with heroin possession, even though she was later cleared of the charge. On December 15, 1976, Manzie, who had underworld ties, was executed gangland-style in their Las Vegas home while Barbara was in Chicago performing at a nightclub. Six months later she was testifying against her tax accountant, who cheated the IRS by compromising his rich clients (including Barbara, who wound up owing back taxes of over $137,000). In 1977 her brother Horace was arrested for forgery and burglary and imprisoned for a couple of years (he was found shot to death in 1981). Her father Horace died in 1979.
7	Won Talent Scouts (1948) (aka "Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts") by singing "Lullaby of Broadway."
8	Biggest influences were jazz greats Sarah Vaughan, June Christy and Peggy Lee.
9	Went to UCLA for a year before going to New York.
10	Toured frequently with Nat 'King' Cole in the 1960s.



Actress

Actress

Title	Year	Status	Character
Neon Signs	1996		Grace
Fatal Charm	1990	Video	English Teacher
The Redd Foxx Show	1986	TV Series	Jeri
Hell Town	1985	TV Series
Glitter	1984	TV Series	Marion
The Jeffersons	1984	TV Series	Yvonne McBride
Vega$	1978	TV Series	Beverly
Police Woman	1978	TV Series	Martha Wallace
Mission: Impossible	1973	TV Series	Jena Cole
Mod Squad	1972	TV Series	Amanda
McMillan & Wife	1972	TV Series	Lee Richards
The Organization	1971		Valerie Tibbs
To Rome with Love	1970	TV Series	Celeste
They Call Me Mister Tibbs!	1970		Valerie Tibbs
Change of Habit	1969		Sister Irene
The Lonely Profession	1969	TV Movie	Donna Travers
Venus in Furs	1969		Rita
Stiletto	1969		Ahn Dessie
If He Hollers, Let Him Go!	1968		Lily
Hogan's Heroes	1967	TV Series	Kumasa / Carol Dukes
Spotlight	1967	TV Series
I Spy	1967	TV Series	Leona
Hollywood Talent Scouts	1966	TV Series
Dr. Kildare	1964	TV Series	Mareema Kamba
The Eleventh Hour	1964	TV Series	Sarah Packsey
Spencer's Mountain	1963		Graduation Singer (uncredited)
General Hospital	1963	TV Series	Aunt Bettina (1984)

Soundtrack

Soundtrack

Title	Year	Status	Character
McMillan & Wife	1972	TV Series performer - 1 episode
The Barbara McNair Show	1970-1971	TV Series performer - 2 episodes
99 Women	1969	performer: "The Day I Was Born"
Rowan & Martin at the Movies	1968	Documentary short performer: "For Once In My Life" - uncredited
If He Hollers, Let Him Go!	1968	performer: "A Man Has To Love", "Can't Make It With the Same Man Twice", "So Tired"
Hogan's Heroes	1967	TV Series performer - 1 episode
Center Stage	1967	TV Mini-Series performer - 1 episode
The Dean Martin Show	1966	TV Series performer - 1 episode
Unkissed Bride	1966	performer: "Queen of Soul"
The 38th Annual Academy Awards	1966	TV Special performer: "The Shadow of Your Smile"
The Danny Kaye Show	1964	TV Series performer - 1 episode

Self

Self

Title	Year	Status	Character
The Mike Douglas Show	1962-1980	TV Series	Herself - Co-Host / Herself - Vocalist / Actress / ...
Match Game 73	1975	TV Series	Herself
The Irv Kupcinet Show	1975	TV Series	Herself
Tattletales	1975	TV Series	Herself
You Don't Say	1964-1975	TV Series	Herself
Celebrity Sweepstakes	1974	TV Series	Herself
Jack Paar Tonite	1973	TV Series	Herself
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson	1971-1973	TV Series	Herself
Flip	1972-1973	TV Series	Herself
John Davidson with Love	1972	TV Movie	Herself
The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour	1972	TV Series	Herself
The 26th Annual Tony Awards	1972	TV Special	Herself - Performer
The Dean Martin Show	1965-1972	TV Series	Herself / Herself - Guest
The Hollywood Squares	1969-1972	TV Series	Herself
The Carol Burnett Show	1968-1971	TV Series	Herself / Herself - Guest
Rollin' on the River	1971	TV Series	Herself
The Bob Hope Show	1971	TV Series	Herself
Password All-Stars	1971	TV Series	Herself
The Gordon MacRae Variety Special	1971	TV Movie	Herself
The David Frost Show	1971	TV Series	Herself
The 23rd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards	1971	TV Special	Herself - Presenter
The Barbara McNair Show	1969-1971	TV Series	Herself / Herself - Host
The Don Knotts Show	1971	TV Series	Herself
The Jim Nabors Hour	1970-1971	TV Series	Herself
The Ed Sullivan Show	1957-1970	TV Series	Herself - Singer / Herself
The 42nd Annual Academy Awards	1970	TV Special	Herself - Presenter: Best Score (non-Musical)
This Is Tom Jones	1970	TV Series documentary	Herself
You're Putting Me On	1969	TV Series	Herself
The Joey Bishop Show	1967-1969	TV Series	Herself
Playboy After Dark	1969	TV Series	Himself
Rowan & Martin at the Movies	1968	Documentary short	Herself
The Kraft Music Hall	1968	TV Series	Herself
The Match Game	1968	TV Series	Herself
Where the Girls Are	1968	TV Movie	Herself
Operation: Entertainment	1968	TV Series	Herself
The Bob Hope Christmas Special	1968	TV Special	Herself
The Jonathan Winters Show	1968	TV Series	Herself
Tienerklanken	1967	TV Series	Performer
The Hollywood Palace	1965-1967	TV Series	Herself / Herself - Singer
Gypsy	1967	TV Series	Herself
Center Stage	1967	TV Mini-Series	Herself
The Red Skelton Hour	1967	TV Series	Herself - Guest Vocalist
Swingin' Country	1966	TV Series	Herself
Unkissed Bride	1966		Herself
The Dean Martin Summer Show	1966	TV Series	Herself
Mickie Finn's	1966	TV Series	Herself
The 38th Annual Academy Awards	1966	TV Special	Herself - Performer
The Sammy Davis, Jr. Show	1966	TV Series	Herself
The Bell Telephone Hour	1964-1966	TV Series	Herself - Singer
Hullabaloo	1965	TV Series	Herself
Fanfare	1965	TV Series	Herself
The Celebrity Game	1965	TV Series	Herself
The Merv Griffin Show	1963-1965	TV Series	Herself
That Regis Philbin Show	1965	TV Series	Herself
The Danny Kaye Show	1964	TV Series	Herself
Freedom Spectacular	1964	TV Movie	Herself
The Garry Moore Show	1962-1963	TV Series	Herself
The Jack Paar Tonight Show	1957-1962	TV Series	Herself
All That Jazz	1962	TV Series	Herself - Performer
The New Steve Allen Show	1961	TV Series	Herself - Singer
Sing Along with Mitch	1961	TV Series	Herself
New American Bandstand 1965	1960	TV Series	Herself
The Steve Allen Plymouth Show	1958	TV Series	Herself - Singer
The Arlene Francis Show	1958	TV Series	Herself

Archive Footage

Archive Footage

Title	Year	Status	Character
Beat! Beat! Beat!	1966	TV Series	Herself - Musician

Won awards

Won awards

Year	Award	Ceremony	Nomination	Movie	Award shared with
1970	Image Award	Image Awards	Outstanding Lead Actress in a Motion Picture	If He Hollers, Let Him Go! (1968)



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#	Quote
1	When I'm working in a club, I must go from one song to another rapidly, and I don't have much time to express myself emotionally. In a movie, you can concentrate on one scene at a time. (from a 1969 interview with the Washington Post, explaining why she found movie acting more rewarding than singing)
2	Lenny Bruce used to say about me that I was a Caucasian, that someone took a paintbrush and painted me brown. White people are not aware that Negroes look all kinds of different ways.
3	When I was making a lot of movies, they didn't want the women to look too black. But black people objected to that policy, so then the industry did a reversal -- went all the way in the other direction. For the industry to limit itself to one look or another is unrealistic.



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