Barbi Benton
Encyclopedia
Barbi Benton is an American
model, actress and singer.
several times (initially credited as Barbi Klein) and in nude photo layouts in the March 1970, December 1973, and January 1975 issues, although she was never one of the magazine's "Playmates of the Month".
Benton is known for her years as a regular on the country music series Hee Haw
, appearing in comic skits with other cast members. 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 Sugar Time! about an aspiring female rock group in 1977.
Benton was also a recording artist with some success. Her record "Brass Buckles" (1975) was a top five hit on Billboards 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" (1976), which was also a major hit for Lutricia McNeal
in 1996, and was recorded by the Dutch singer Patricia Paay
under the title Poor Jeremy in 1977.
and lived with him from 1969 until 1976. When the TV series The Girls Next Door
visited her in Aspen, she expressed gratitude that the pair had remained friends.
Benton married George Gradow, a successful real estate developer, on October 14, 1979. The couple have two children, Alexander (born August 23, 1986) and Ariana (born 1988). For many years, they split their time between their homes in Aspen, Colorado
and Los Angeles
.
On April 28, 2006, Gradow was sentenced to 15 months in prison
after pleading guilty to tax fraud and altering financial documents in a bid to mislead the Internal Revenue Service
.
On October 22nd 2011 when Hugh Hefner was asked by Josh Sigurdson over Twitter
what his favorite memory of Playboy After Dark
was, Hugh replied, "My best memory from 'Playboy After Dark' was meeting Barbi."
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
model, actress and singer.
Career
She was featured on the cover of PlayboyPlayboy
Playboy is an American men's magazine that features photographs of nude women as well as journalism and fiction. It was founded in Chicago in 1953 by Hugh Hefner and his associates, and funded in part by a $1,000 loan from Hefner's mother. The magazine has grown into Playboy Enterprises, Inc., with...
several times (initially credited as Barbi Klein) and in nude photo layouts in the March 1970, December 1973, and January 1975 issues, although she was never one of the magazine's "Playmates of the Month".
Benton is known for her years as a regular on the country music series Hee Haw
Hee Haw
Hee Haw is an American television variety show featuring country music and humor with fictional rural Kornfield Kounty as a backdrop. It aired on CBS-TV from 1969–1971 before a 20-year run in local syndication. The show was inspired by Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In, the major difference being...
, appearing in comic skits with other cast members. She left the program after four seasons to concentrate on a more Hollywood-oriented career. She also starred in the short-lived ABC-TV
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
comedy series Sugar Time! about an aspiring female rock group in 1977.
Benton was also a recording artist with some success. Her record "Brass Buckles" (1975) was a top five hit on Billboards 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
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
. One of her better-known songs was "Ain't That Just the Way" (1976), which was also a major hit for Lutricia McNeal
Lutricia McNeal
Lutricia McNeal is an American R&B/pop singer. She achieved worldwide success with her singles "Ain't That Just the Way" which sold two million copies worldwide, "Stranded" and "Someone Loves You Honey" .-Biography:McNeal is the seventh of nine children...
in 1996, and was recorded by the Dutch singer Patricia Paay
Patricia Paay
Patricia Anglaia Margareth Paaij , best known as Patricia Paay, is a Dutch singer, radio host, glamour model and television personality. In the Netherlands, she is well known for her musical career, which spans over four decades...
under the title Poor Jeremy in 1977.
Personal life
Benton is a former girlfriend of Playboy publisher Hugh HefnerHugh Hefner
Hugh Marston "Hef" Hefner is an American magazine publisher, founder and Chief Creative Officer of Playboy Enterprises.-Early life:...
and lived with him from 1969 until 1976. When the TV series The Girls Next Door
The Girls Next Door
The Girls Next Door, also known as The Girls of the Playboy Mansion, is an American reality television series broadcast on the E! cable television network...
visited her in Aspen, she expressed gratitude that the pair had remained friends.
Benton married George Gradow, a successful real estate developer, on October 14, 1979. The couple have two children, Alexander (born August 23, 1986) and Ariana (born 1988). For many years, they split their time between their homes in Aspen, Colorado
Aspen, Colorado
The City of Aspen is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Pitkin County, Colorado, United States. The United States Census Bureau estimates that the city population was 5,804 in 2005...
and Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
.
On April 28, 2006, Gradow was sentenced to 15 months in prison
Prison
A prison is a place in which people are physically confined and, usually, deprived of a range of personal freedoms. Imprisonment or incarceration is a legal penalty that may be imposed by the state for the commission of a crime...
after pleading guilty to tax fraud and altering financial documents in a bid to mislead the Internal Revenue Service
Internal Revenue Service
The Internal Revenue Service is the revenue service of the United States federal government. The agency is a bureau of the Department of the Treasury, and is under the immediate direction of the Commissioner of Internal Revenue...
.
On October 22nd 2011 when Hugh Hefner was asked by Josh Sigurdson over Twitter
Twitter
Twitter is an online social networking and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters, informally known as "tweets".Twitter was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey and launched that July...
what his favorite memory of Playboy After Dark
Playboy After Dark
Playboy After Dark is an American television show hosted by Hugh Hefner. It ran in syndication through Screen Gems from 1969 to 1970 and was taped at CBS Television City in Los Angeles....
was, Hugh replied, "My best memory from 'Playboy After Dark' was meeting Barbi."
Albums
| Year | Album | US Country | U.S. Pop Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
Label |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | Barbi Doll | 17 | — | Playboy Playboy Records Playboy Records was a record label in Los Angeles, California, and a unit of Playboy Enterprises. Artists recording for the label included Barbi Benton, Blue Ash, Bobby Taylor and the Vancouvers, Brenda Patterson, Jeanne French , Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds, Ivory, Wynn Stewart, Mickey Gilley... |
| Barbi Benton | 18 | — | ||
| 1976 | Something New | 39 | 208 | |
| 1978 | Ain't That Just the Way | — | — | |
| 1988 | Kinetic Voyage | — | — | Takoma |
Singles
| Year | Single | Chart Positions | Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Country Hot Country Songs Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales... |
CAN Country | |||
| 1975 | "Brass Buckles" | 5 | 6 | Barbi Benton |
| "Movie Magazine, Stars in Her Eyes" | 61 | — | ||
| "Roll You Like a Wheel" (with Mickey Gilley Mickey Gilley Mickey Leroy Gilley is an American country music singer and musician. Although he started out singing straight-up country and western material in the 1970s, he moved towards a more pop-friendly sound in the 1980s, bringing him further success on not just the country charts, but the pop charts as... ) |
32 | 19 | single only | |
| "The Reverend Bob" | 74 | — | Barbi Benton |
Filmography
- L'uomo del colpo perfetto, 1968
- Naughty Cheerleader, 1972
- For The Love Of It, 1980
- Hospital MassacreHospital MassacreHospital Massacre is an obscure 1982 American slasher film directed by Boaz Davidson. The plot pits Playboy cover girl Barbi Benton against a sociopath that has been haunting her past for 19 years.-Plot summary:...
, 1981 - DeathstalkerDeathstalker (film)Deathstalker is a 1983 Argentine low-budget science fiction fantasy film adventure directed by James Sbardellati.-Plot:The warrior Deathstalker is sent by a witch on a quest to find a chalice, an amulet, and a sword, two of which are held by the wicked sorcerer Munkar. Deathstalker finds the sword...
, 1983 - Schulmädchen 1984
Television appearances
- The Sonny & Cher Show, as herself.
- Playboy After Dark (1968), as herself.
- Hee HawHee HawHee Haw is an American television variety show featuring country music and humor with fictional rural Kornfield Kounty as a backdrop. It aired on CBS-TV from 1969–1971 before a 20-year run in local syndication. The show was inspired by Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In, the major difference being...
(1969), as herself. - Marcus Welby, M.D.Marcus Welby, M.D.Marcus Welby, M.D. is an American medical drama television program that aired on ABC from September 23, 1969, to July 29, 1976. It starred Robert Young as a family practitioner with a kind bedside manner, and was produced by David Victor and David J. O'Connell...
(1972), playing Liz in episode: "We'll Walk Out of Here Together" (episode # 4.3). - The Midnight Special (1973), as herself.
- The Great American Beauty Contest (1973) as Miss Iowa.
- The Third Girl from the Left (1973), playing Melanie.
- The American BandstandAmerican BandstandAmerican Bandstand is an American music-performance show that aired in various versions from 1952 to 1989 and was hosted from 1956 until its final season by Dick Clark, who also served as producer...
(1975), guest artist. - McCloud (1975), playing Shannon Forbes in episode "Park Avenue Pirates".
- Nashville on the road (1975), artist.
- Sugar Time! (1977), playing Maxx Douglas.
- Murder at the Mardi Gras (1978) as herself.
- Fantasy IslandFantasy IslandFantasy Island is the title of two separate but related American fantasy television series, both originally airing on the ABC television network.-Original series:...
:- as Shirley Russell in episode "Poof, you're a movie star" (Season 1, 1978).
- as Dee Dee Verona in episodes "The Appointment" and "Mr. Tattoo" (Season 2, 1978).
- as Bunny Kelly in episodes "Baby" and "Marathon: Battle of the sexes" (Season 3, 1979).
- as Erica Clark in episodes "Playgirl" and "Smith's Valhalla" (Season 3, 1980).
- as Molly Delahanti in episodes "The love doctor", "Pleasure palace" and "Possessed" (Season 4, 1980).
- episodes "The Devil and Mr. Roarke", "Ziegfeld Girls", and "Kid Corey Rides Again" (Season 5, 1981).
- as Marsha Garnett/Carla Baines in episodes "The man from yesterday" and "World's most desirable woman" (Season 4, 1981).
- as Courtney/Miss Winslow in episodes "House of dolls" and "Wuthering heights" (Season 5, 1982).
- The Love BoatThe Love BoatThe Love Boat is an American television series set on a cruise ship, which aired on the ABC Television Network from September 24,1977, until May 24,1986.The show starred Gavin MacLeod as the ship's captain...
:- as Brigitte in episodes "Computerman", "Parlez-Vous" and "Memories of you" (1978).
- as Kiki Atwood in episode "Marooned, part 1 and 2" (1978).
- as Lucy in episodes "Not now, I'm dying", "Eleanor's return" and "Too young to love" (1979).
- as Cathy Somms in episodes "The Nudist from Sunshine Gardens", "Eye of the beholder" and "Bugged" (1981).
- America 2Night (1978), as herself, receiving the UBS Liftetime Achievement Award.
- The Hollywood Squares (1978) as a Guest Panelist.
- Vega$Vega$Vega$ is an American detective television drama series that aired on ABC between 1978 and 1981. It was produced by Aaron Spelling. The series, was filmed in its entirety in Las Vegas, Nevada, which is believed to be the first television series produced entirely in Las Vegas...
(1979), playing Holly in episode "Design For Death" (episode # 2.5). - The Tonight Show Starring Johnny CarsonThe Tonight Show Starring Johnny CarsonThe Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson is a talk show hosted by Johnny Carson under the Tonight Show franchise from 1962 to 1992. It originally aired during late-night....
(1980), guest. - Doug Henning's World of Magic V (1980), as an assistant in the "sawing a woman in half" illusion.
- Charlie's AngelsCharlie's AngelsCharlie's Angels is a television series about three women who work for a private investigation agency, and is one of the first shows to showcase women in roles traditionally reserved for men...
(1980), playing Toni Green in episode "Island Angels" (episode # 5.5). - Lobo (1981) playing country singer Kitty Rhinestone in episode "The Cowboy Connection".
- CHiPsCHiPsCHiPs is an American television drama series produced by MGM Studios that originally aired on NBC from September 15, 1977, to July 17, 1983. CHiPs followed the lives of two motorcycle police officers of the California Highway Patrol...
(1981) playing Sal in episode "Ponch's Angels, part 1 and 2" (episodes # 4.14/15). - The Match Game/Hollywood SquaresHollywood SquaresHollywood Squares is an American panel game show in which two contestants play tic-tac-toe to win cash and prizes. The "board" for the game is a 3 × 3 vertical stack of open-faced cubes, each occupied by a celebrity seated at a desk and facing the contestants...
Hour (1983) as a Guest Panelist. - Circus of the StarsCircus of the StarsCircus of the Stars was an annual television special, broadcast by the CBS network in the United States, in which celebrities performed circus-type acts. There were 19 shows in total, the first being broadcast in 1977 and the last in 1994. Over the years the series featured many leading movie and...
(1982, 1980, 1979), performer. - Matt HoustonMatt HoustonMatt Houston is an American crime drama series that aired on ABC from 1982 to 1985. Created by Lawrence Gordon, the series was produced by Aaron Spelling.-Synopsis:...
(1983) playing Ava Randolph in episode "Purrfect Crime" (episode # 1.13). - Mickey Spillane's Mike HammerMickey Spillane's Mike HammerMickey Spillane's Mike Hammer is the title used for two syndicated television series that followed the adventures of fictional private detective Mike Hammer...
(1984) playing Susan Lancaster in episode "CatfightCatfightCatfight is a term for an altercation between two women, typically involving scratching, slapping, hair-pulling, and shirt-shredding as opposed to punching or wrestling . However, the term is not exclusively used to indicate a fight between women, and many formal definitions do not invoke gender...
" (episode # 2.4). - And the Wall Came Tumbling Down (1984) playing Caroline Trent.
- Safe at home (ca 1985) playing Connie Simpson in episode Old flame.
- Murder, She WroteMurder, She WroteMurder, She Wrote is an American television mystery series starring Angela Lansbury as mystery writer and amateur detective Jessica Fletcher. The series aired for 12 seasons from 1984 to 1996 on the CBS network, with 264 episodes transmitted. It was followed by four TV films and a spin-off series,...
(1986) playing Sue Beth in episode "Murder in the Electric Cathedral" (episode # 2.16). - RiptideRiptide (TV series)Riptide is a TV detective series that ran on NBC from 1983 to 1986, starring Perry King, Joe Penny, and Thom Bray. Riptide was created by Frank Lupo and Stephen J. Cannell, and produced by Stephen J. Cannell Productions. The main theme was composed by Mike Post and Pete Carpenter...
(1986), playing Gina Potter in episode "Playing Hardball" (episode # 3.17). - Barbi Benton Presents: Best Buns On The Beach (ca 1990), intro-host.
- Barbi Benton Presents: Stripper of the Year (ca 1990), intro-host.
- Hugh Hefner: Once upon a time (1992), as herself.
- Playboy: The party continues (2000), as herself.
- Entertainment Tonight (2002), as herself.
- Playboy's 50th Anniversary (2003), as herself.
- The Girls Next DoorThe Girls Next DoorThe Girls Next Door, also known as The Girls of the Playboy Mansion, is an American reality television series broadcast on the E! cable television network...
, as herself in "Fight Night" (2005), "Guess Who's Coming to Luncheon?" (2007), "Kickin' Aspen" (2008) and "The Wheel World" (2009). - The E! True Hollywood Story - Hugh Hefner: Girlfriends, Wives and Centerfolds (2006), as herself.
- Extreme Cribs: Episode 5 (2011), as herself.
Theater appearances
- I love my life (1982). The semi-autobiographical play was held January 1982 at the La Mirada Civic Theatre in California. It closed after a handful of performances.