Between 1957 and 2006, Barbara Feldon remained a major screen sensation. As an actress, she captured the hearts of many with her portrayal of ‘Agent 99’ in the 1965-1970 sitcom, Get Smart. The talented actress has been successful on the big screen but this cannot be said of her love life.
She was married to Lucien Verdoux-Feldon in 1958, but the couple’s relationship ended in divorce in 1967. She finally gave up on love after her relationship with American producer, Burt Nodella hit the rocks.
Interesting Facts About Barbara Feldon You Should Know About
1. She is 91 Years Old at the Moment
Barbara Feldon was born in Butler, Pennsylvania, part of the Pittsburgh metropolitan area in the U.S. and she is currently 91 years old. Her parents were Raymond D. (father) and Julia Stewart Hall (mother). Her father was a salesman for a paper bag company while her mother was a singer even though she never went professional. She also has an older sister called Patricia.
2. Barbara used to be a Tomboy as a Kid
Barbara’s older sister, Patricia has revealed that Barbara used to be a tomboy while growing up. She also said the boys in their neighborhood were nasty and used to pull Barbara’s hair because of how she looked.
However, Barbara’s tomboy period faded when she moved to high school and picked a more feminine outlook. According to Patricia, Barbara became more beautiful, and outgoing, and all the boys began to flock around her. Patricia also said that towards her last year in high school, Barbara dated heavily.
3. She Started Performing in Elementary School
Barbara’s artistic prowess may be innate, but she also had her talents honed right from her elementary to college school days. In her first grade, she began to sing in a little band. She also began to take ballet lessons and became an impressive dancer.
After graduating from elementary school, Feldon moved to Bethel Park High School. She also trained at Pittsburgh Playhouse, a Point Park University’s performing arts center located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
4. Feldon Holds a B.A in Drama from Carnegie Mellon University
Barbara later moved to the Carnegie Institute of Technology (now Carnegie Mellon) and bagged a Bachelor of Arts in Drama in 1955. She also studied acting at HB Studio.
5. She has worked as a Showgirl and Model
After completing college, Barbara left her native Pittsburgh in search of a Broadway career in New York. However, jobs were scarce when Barbara arrived in New York. This made her pick up a job as a showgirl in a famous nightclub called Copa Line.
She later began to get modeling gigs and was also featured in a Revlon commercial about a hair cream for men called Top Brass. She further did a commercial for a floor wax company and several others.
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6. The 91-year-old Actress Made Her Professional Screen Debut in the 60s
Following her modeling debut, Feldon began to clinch small roles in television series in the 1960s. She appeared in works like Twelve O’Clock High (1967), Flipper (1964-1967), and Get Smart (1965-1970).
Feldon was cast in Get Smart as ‘Agent 99’ and she maintained the role for the duration of the show’s production from 1965 until 1970. Moreover, for her performance in Get Smart, the American actress was nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series in 1968 and 1969.
7. She is also a Writer
Apart from her known prowess on screen, Feldon is also an accomplished writer. She has written several editorial pieces for platforms like the Metropolital Magazine. Furthermore, in 2003, she wrote a book titled Living Alone and Loving It.
According to the actress, she wrote the book because she kept meeting people who thought living on one’s own was a second-rate life. She said she used to feel the same until she mastered living alone and loving it. This is the reason why she wanted to share her experience.
8. Barbara Feldon has been Married and Divorced
Feldon first met Lucien Verdoux-Feldon at Carnegie Hall and it was there that their romance began to evolve. The couple’s relationship waxed stronger, leading them to tie the knot in 1958.
However, Feldon later claimed that Lucien was not the refined man he pretended to be. After discovering that Lucien had been living a lie for pretty much as long as she knew, Feldon divorced him in 1967. The estranged couple never had children together.
9. She Dated American Television Producer, Burt Nodella from 1968 to 1979
In 1968, the actress gave love another chance and entered a 12-year-long relationship with Get Smart producer Burt Nodella. However, their romance ended in 1979. After her relationship with Burt ended, the actress moved back to New York City, where she resides to date.
Also, Barbara has been vocal about living alone and loving it. She has also spoken about being independent and not depending on romantic relationships for her happiness.
Meanwhile, Her estranged partner, Burt Nodella was previously married to Joanne Davis in 1947 and he had 2 kids; Matthew Nodella and Carrie Kane. He died on February 23, 2016, aged 91.
10. How Rich is Feldon?
Barbara Feldon’s net worth has not been authoritatively stated. But she is widely mentioned to be worth about $3 million. She made this sum from her career as an actress and model. Moreso, she won 64,00 dollars on the $64,000 Question in 1955.
Unfortunately, Barbara said she entrusted the funds to a friend to invest for her and it became the greatest financial lesson she ever had. After that, she decided to make her own mistakes, and not have someone make them for her.
