R.I.P. Gene Barry

The debonair Gene Barry died this week in California at the age of 90. You can read his New York Times obit here.

Barry was one of the few television actors to headline his own series in the 1950s, '60s, '70s, and '90s. He played Bat Masterson in the self-titled western from 1958 to 1961.

From there, he moved to BURKE'S LAW as a millionaire Beverly Hills police chief from 1963 to 1966 (in its last season, Barry's character became a spy, and the series was retitled AMOS BURKE, SECRET AGENT). Click here to see Barry and the delicious Michele Carey in the tag of an AMOS BURKE episode, along with its swingin' theme.

From 1968 to 1971, Barry was one of three leads, along with Tony Franciosa and Robert Stack, in Universal's 90-minute crime drama THE NAME OF THE GAME. He also went to England in 1972 to play THE ADVENTURER for one season.

Amazingly, Barry reprised his role as Amos Burke in the CBS revival of BURKE'S LAW in 1994, which lasted for a season. Barry was also a movie star, most prominently in the George Pal classic THE WAR OF THE WORLDS in 1951, and secured a Tony nomination for originating the role of Georges in LA CAGE AUX FOLLES on Broadway in 1984.