Where is Barbi Benton now? Is she alive? Wiki Bio
Barbara Lynn Klein was born on 28 January 1950, in New York City USA, so her zodiac sign is Aquarius and she holds American nationality. She is a model, singer, and an actress, best known from posing for the magazine âPlayboyâ, as well as for portraying a recurring character in the comedy show âHee Hawâ. Although there are rumors circulating the internet about Barbi being dead, she is now leading a peaceful life with her husband in Los Angeles, California.
Early life and education
Barbi was raised as a single child in Sacramento by her Jewish parents – her mother was an investment counselor, while her father worked at a private clinic as a gynecologist.
She grew up being interested in modelling and acting, often watching TV series with her mother; she studied at Rio Americano High School where she was very active learning to play a variety of sports mostly being focused on scuba diving and playing the piano. She practiced her modelling skills while attending too, and upon matriculation enrolled at the University of California, Los Angeles where she studied to become a veterinarian, but decided to quit after realizing she gets sick whenever she sees blood.
Career as a model and musician
Barbi launched her career while attending 10th grade, and as soon as she turned 18 she was invited to appear in the TV show âPlayboy After Darkâ.
Hugh Hefner, the late owner of the magazine âPlayboyâ, had a crush on Barbi, promoted her to become a co-host of âPlayboy After Darkâ, and asked her out on a date. Barbi accepted even though unsure about their age difference as Hugh was 42, but they dated for several years while Barbi was appearing in many issues of âPlayboyâ, and in their shows. It was Hugh who told Barbi to change her name from Barbara Lynn Klein to Barbi Benton.
She was the cover girl of four issues of âPlayboyâ in 1969, 1970, 1972 and 1985, while she also posed nude twice in 1973 and 1975.
Barbi is also a musician, and has released eight albums with her first being âBarbi Dollâ in 1975, followed by âBarbi Bentonâ in the same year. Among her most notable albums are âSomething Newâ which came out in 1976, âAinât That Just the Wayâ in 1978, and âKinetic Voyageâ which was released in 1988. Barbi is known to have composed the songs she sang, and also played the piano – one of her most popular songs is âAinât That Just the Wayâ which was a huge hit in Sweden.
Film appearances
Barbi made her debut film appearance in the German movie âThe Naughty Cheerleaderâ (âMir hat es immer SpaĂ gemachtâ) in 1970, which was followed by roles in the satirical comedy âThe Great American Beauty Contestâ and in the drama film âThe Third Girl from the Leftâ both released in 1973.
She appeared in only three other movies, âFor the Love of Itâ in 1980, âHospital Massacreâ in 1982, and âDeathstalkerâ in 1983.
Roles in TV series
Barbi made her debut TV show appearance in âPlayboy After Darkâ in 1968, followed by her guest appearances in âHee Hawâ and âThe Sonny & Cher Showâ in 1969. She portrayed Liz in a single episode of âMarcus Welby, M.D.â in 1972, followed by roles in âThe Midnight Specialâ in 1973, and in âAmerican Bandstandâ and âMcCloudâ in 1975.
She was invited to guest star in âThe Bobby Vinton Showâ in 1976, and then portrayed Maxx Douglas in âSugar Time!â in 1977, while she gained recognition after playing eight different characters in the series âFantasy Islandâ between 1978 and 1982.
Barbi Benton.
Posted by Iconic Cool After Dark on Friday, September 30, 2016
Concurrently she portrayed four characters in âThe Love Boatâ from 1978 to 1981, and during those years she also appeared in a single episode of many series and shows, such as âAmerica 2Nightâ, âThe Hollywood Squaresâ, and âThe Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carsonâ.
She served as a co-host of the game show âTattletalesâ from 1982 to 1984, and then worked on two other game shows âThe Match Gameâ and âHollywood Squaresâ. Barbi appeared as Ava Randolph in a single episode of âMatt Houstonâ in 1983, and was then praised for her portrayal of Susan Lancaster in âMickey Spillaneâs Mike Hammerâ in 1984. She continued appearing in single episodes of many TV series, including âSafe at Homeâ, âMurder, She Wroteâ, and âRiptideâ.
Barbi had two of her own shows in 1990, entitled âBarbi Benton Presents: Best Buns on the Beachâ and âBarbi Benton Presents: Stripper of the Yearâ, but these were not that popular. She appeared in two documentary series – âHugh Hefner: Once Upon a Timeâ in 1992, and âPlayboy: The Party Continuesâ in 2000, followed by the miniseries âPlayboyâs 50th Anniversaryâ in 2002.
A few of Barbiâs most recent appearances in TV series have been in âThe E! True Hollywood Story – Hugh Hefner: Girlfriends, Wives, and Centerfoldsâ in 2006, âExtreme Cribs: Episode 5â in 2011, and âMillion Dollar Roomsâ in 2012.
Love life and husband
Barbi dated her high school sweetheart for two years, but split when he decided to continue studying at college while Barbi dropped out to become a model. She went on to date several men for no more than several months, and then began dating Hugh Hefner in 1969, which lasted until  1976. She met George Gradow, a real estate developer and an actor, in 1976 and they dated for over three years before marrying at a small ceremony held in Los Angeles on 14 October 1979. Barbi gave birth to their son Alexander on 23 August 1986, while their daughter Ariana followed on 13 July 1988. Alexander and Ariana both left home when they were 18, and have followed in their fatherâs footsteps with Alex becoming a businessman and Ariana a real estate agent.
Barbi and George have homes in Los Angeles, California and Aspen, Colorado.
Hobbies and other interests
Barbi has been interested in all kinds of art since she was a teenager, including painting and sculpting, while she was also interested in designing exteriors and interiors. She began learning about interior decorating in the â90s and then became a licensed interior decorator in 2002. Although a lover of animals, Barbi enjoyed wearing fur coats and believed that the animals which were killed for their fur wouldnât have even been born if people did not want them for their fur – she was widely criticized for her opinion.
She was exercising on a daily basis, and had four to five training sessions at the gym until her late 40s. Barbi also followed a strict diet which was important for her modelling career, while she has continued eating healthy foods to this day. Barbi has her own favorite actors and actresses, some of whom are James Stewart, Paul Newman and Grace Kelly, while some of her favorite movies include âTo Catch a Thiefâ, âDial M for Murderâ, and âThe Country Girlâ.
Appearance and net worth
Barbi is 70 years old. She has long brown hair and blue eyes, is 5ft 3ins (1.6m) tall, and weighs around 112lbs (51kgs). As of April 2020, her net worth is estimated at over $20 million.