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Joanna Barnes

Joanna Barnes

Actor · Died April 29, 2022, aged 87 · Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Barnes' initial appearance on television was in the episode "The Man Who Beat Lupo" on Ford Theatre. She made guest appearances on many television series, including the ABC/Warner Bros. programs 77 Sunset Strip and Maverick, CBS's Have Gun - Will Travel, What's My Line, and the crime drama Richard Diamond, Private Detective. In 1960-61, she guest-starred on The Untouchables episode "90 Proof Dame" as the wife of a French exporter of brandy. Barnes appeared as Kate Henniger, with Bing Russell and Arthur Space in the 1958 episode "Ghost Town" of the ABC/WB Western series Colt .45, starring Wayde Preston. In 1959, she portrayed Lola in the NBC detective series 21 Beacon Street. In the 1960s, Barnes worked for producer Martin Ransohoff and appeared in episodes of his The Beverly Hillbillies ("Elly Goes to School" and "The Clampett Look") and was billed as special guest-star. Barnes played Peter Falk's former wife on the 1965–1966 CBS series The Trials of O'Brien and was host of the ABC daytime talk show Dateline: Hollywood in 1967. She was also a frequent panelist in the early years of the syndicated version of What's My Line?. On December 19, 1972, Barnes appeared on The Merv Griffin Show with Joan Fontaine, Zsa Zsa Gabor and Dan Martino (founder of the Dan Martino School for Men). Barnes moved to Los Angeles soon after finishing her education, and took up a contract with Columbia Pictures. She went on to have roles in more than 20 films. Among her most remembered roles is the snooty Gloria Upson in the film Auntie Mame, which earned her a Golden Globe Award nomination for New Star of the Year. Barnes became the 13th actress to play Jane when she appeared in Tarzan, the Ape Man, with Denny Miller as Tarzan. In Disney's original 1961 version of The Parent Trap starring Hayley Mills, Barnes played gold-digger Vicki Robinson, who temporarily comes between Maureen O'Hara and Brian Keith. In the 1998 remake starring Lindsay Lohan, she played Vicki Blake, the mother of the child-hating gold-digger and fiancee Meredith Blake (Elaine Hendrix). As well, she appeared in The War Wagon, a western movie starring John Wayne and Kirk Douglas. Barnes was also a writer and columnist. In 1973, she told newspaper columnist Dick Kleiner that she liked writing because "it is something you do yourself. With acting, if you win an Oscar or an Emmy, you have to thank everybody. If you write a book, it is completely your own." She wrote a book, titled Starting from Scratch, about home decorating and several novels, including The Deceivers, Who Is Carla Hart?, Pastora, and Silverwood. She wrote a weekly book review for the Los Angeles Times, and her column "Touching Home" was carried by The Chicago Tribune and the New York News Syndicate.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
November 15, 1934
Died
April 29, 2022 (aged 87)
From
Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
29 on MovieCove · 72 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Down 3% in 30 days

What are Joanna Barnes' films like?

Across their 11 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Morality.

Genres

Comedy5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 35th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 75th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
35%
Morality
24%
Power
14%
Self
14%
Survival
6%
Ideas
5%
Society
2%
Romantic love5 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds4 titles, browse their movies with this themeGreed3 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption2 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception3 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 11 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 9 · Serious 1 · Dark 1

Grounded: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their grounded movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 6 · Stylized 5 · Heightened 0

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 4 · Charged 7 · Intense 0

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 5 · Shifting 5 · Whiplash 1

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 4 · Some laughs 2 · Funny 5

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 5 · Even-paced 6 · Relentless 0

Casual: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their casual movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 7 · Engaged 4 · Full focus 0

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 9 · Open-ended 2 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

2 analyzed roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Warm
5
Romantic
4
Tense
3
Joyful
3
Absurd
3
Other
8

How their films linger

Fun4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteWistful3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy4
  • Bittersweet3
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous3

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Joanna Barnes' films?

As of October 24, 2026, 18 of their 29 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (8).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Joanna Barnes' titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

72 credits, 29 with a MovieCove page; 2 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • The Parent Trap(1998)

    as Vicki Blake

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • A Down Home Country Christmas (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    as Mrs. Fullbright

  • Murder, She Wrote(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Lydia Barnett

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows

  • Secrets of a Mother and Daughter(1983)

    as Carina

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Remington Steele(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as Claudette Crockett

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all shows

  • Cheers(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as Valerie Crandell

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows

  • Farewell to the Planet of the Apes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    as Carsia

  • When the Whistle Blows (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Trapper John, M.D. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Hart to Hart (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 1 episode · as Rosemary

  • Fantasy Island(1977)

    Show 1 episode · as Liz Perry · as Miss Betty Wendover

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all shows

  • The Betty White Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 1 episode · as Connie

  • Quincy, M.E. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Show 1 episode · as Margo Bentley

  • Charlie's Angels(1976)

    Show 1 episode · as Julia Lathrop

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all shows

  • I Wonder Who's Killing Her Now?(1975)

    as Clarice Oliver

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films

  • Matt Helm (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Show 1 episode · as Hannah Bigelow

  • Ellery Queen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • S.W.A.T.(1975)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all shows

  • Barney Miller(1975)

    Show 2 episodes · as Miss Caroline Fitzjames

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • Planet of the Apes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Show 1 episode · as Carsia

  • Cool Million (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Show 1 episode · as Elizabeth Karinakis

  • B.S. I Love You(1971)

    as Jane Ink

    Midcredits score: 5th percentile of all films

  • Alias Smith and Jones (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

  • McCloud(1970)

    Show 1 episode · as Karen Chandler

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • Nanny and the Professor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Marcus Welby, M.D.(1969)

    Show 1 episode · as Laura Daniels · as Noreen Saunders

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all shows

  • Hawaii Five-O(1968)

    Show 1 episode · as Bonnie Soames

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all shows

  • The Name of the Game (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Show 1 episode · as Ardith Williams

  • Mannix(1967)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all shows

  • Don't Make Waves(1967)

    as Diane Prescott

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • The War Wagon(1967)

    as Lola

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • Too Many Thieves (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    as Katie

  • The Trials of O'Brien (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 22 episodes · as Katie O'Brien

  • Goodbye Charlie(1964)

    as Janie Highland

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Show 1 episode · as Connie

  • Arrest and Trial (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Show 1 episode · as Melinda Parsons

  • Vacation Playhouse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Philbert (Three's a Crowd) (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    as Angela

  • The Beverly Hillbillies(1962)

    Show 2 episodes · as Cynthia Fenwick

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all shows

  • Sam Benedict (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Show 1 episode · as Cordelia Montagne

  • The Purple Hills (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    as Amy Carter

  • The Investigators (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Show 1 episode · as Georgette

  • Target: The Corruptors! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Dr. Kildare (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. Suzanne Shary

  • Cain's Hundred (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Show 1 episode · as Carol Tredman

  • The Parent Trap(1961)

    as Vicky Robinson

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • Spartacus(1960)

    as Claudia Marius

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • The Tab Hunter Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Mr. Lucky(1959)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all shows

  • The Untouchables (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Show 1 episode · as Marcie McKuen

  • Hawaiian Eye (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Philip Marlowe (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Adventures in Paradise (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Show 1 episode · as Diane Winthrope

  • Tarzan, the Ape Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    as Jane

  • Laramie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • 21 Beacon Street (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Show 13 episodes · as Joanna

  • Auntie Mame(1958)

    as Gloria Upson

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Home Before Dark(1958)

    as Cathy Bergner

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • 77 Sunset Strip (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    Show 1 episode · as Lisa Cabot

  • Violent Road (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    as Lawrence's Wife

  • The Real McCoys(1957)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows

  • Alcoa Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Show 1 episode · as Eve Freemont

  • Maverick(1957)

    Show 1 episode · as Abby Taylor · as Daphne Tolliver · as Felice de Lassignac #1 · as Mary Shane · as Mrs. Baxter

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows

  • M Squad (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Show 1 episode · as Tammy Worth

  • Have Gun, Will Travel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Show 1 episode · as Penelope Lacey

  • No Time to Be Young(1957)

    as Jeannie

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Richard Diamond, Private Detective (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Show 1 episode · as Joyce Long

  • The Garment Jungle(1957)

    as Model (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Tales of the 77th Bengal Lancers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Cheyenne(1955)

    Show 1 episode · as Alice Claney

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all shows

  • The Millionaire (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Show 1 episode · as Karen Summers

  • General Electric Theater (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    Show 1 episode · as Princess Camilla

Career shape

Star power in the 89th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 72 titles from 1953 to 1998; peak year 1960.

Biggest box office

The Parent Trap (1998)

$92M worldwide

Highest rated

The Parent Trap (1961)

Midcredits 85th

Most popular right now

The Parent Trap (1998)

Film career

19531998

Peak 1960 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting72 of 72: 72 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score67th

By decade

1950s24 · acting1960s23 · acting1970s17 · acting1980s7 · acting1990s1 · acting

Billing

usually 7th · top billed in 0% of 8 roles

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30.

How do Joanna Barnes' films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 65th percentile, the median of all 13; across their 11 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 44th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

44thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 11

Approval · how many liked their films

51stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 11

Reach · how many have seen their films

48thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 11

Midcredits score across 29 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up10
  • 50th to 74th10
  • 25th to 49th7
  • Below 25th2

Shape of the crowd

15 of their 29 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved4
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser15
  • Broadly Agreed4
  • Mixed5

Most divisive · actor

Secrets of a Mother and Daughter (1983)

79th percentile spread · 24% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Spartacus (1960)

Midcredits 97th · 87% liked

Reviewers score the acting 66/100 in their films, across 9 reviewed titles; fans 82, detractors 39. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Who does Joanna Barnes work with?

People who share at least 2 of Joanna Barnes' MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Steven Hilliard Stern shares the most, 2.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Editors

Mixed roles