December 02, 2022

Hello Fans,

Today's featured celebrity is Barbi Benton. Most might remember Benton for her many appearance in Playboy magazine, and as a regular on the comedy series Hee Haw. I recently saw her in the '80s slasher flick X-Ray (1981). She's really a jack, or jane as the case may be, of all trades. I found a lot of interesting bits of info and trivia on Benton. Please, check it out!

Let's find out what she's doing these days!

And don't forget to vote early and often! I added NEW celebs to our celebrity suggestions list very recently so be sure to go to Celebrity Suggestions check out who's in the running and VOTE or send in your suggestions. Vote UP or DOWN on all of the listed celebrities. And vote as many times as you want!

Take care,
Steve

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Barbi Benton

Learn More About Barbi Benton, see Then & Now pictures, and find out What She's Been Up To on Celebrity Nooz

BIRTH DATE: January 28, 1950 in New York City, New York, USA

BIRTH NAME: Barbara Lynn Klein

CLAIM TO FAME: Barbi Benton is a retired American model, actress, television personality, and singer. She is best known for appearing in Playboy magazine, as a four-season regular on the comedy series Hee Haw, the slasher movie X-Ray (1981), and for recording several successful albums in the 1970s.

FAMILY LIFE: In 1979, Benton married real estate developer George Gradow. They have two children, Alexander and Ariana.

INFO: Born to a Jewish family.

Her father was a gynecologist and her mother worked as an investment counselor.

Grew up in Sacramento and attended Rio Americano High School.

Enrolled into UCLA to become a veterinarian, but had to give up that career option as she could not stand the sight of blood.

TRIVIA: Began modeling at the age of 16.

At age 18 she took a job with Playboy to appear on their entertainment show Playboy After Dark. She started as an extra, but after host Hugh Hefner fell in love with Benton, her role was quickly became his co-host.

After recording two episodes, Hefner asked Benton for a date. Upon being asked, she reportedly demurred to the then-42-year-old Hefner: "I don't know, I've never dated anyone over 24 before." To which Hefner replied, "That's all right, neither have I."

The two began a relationship that lasted several years, and placed Benton in the center of the Playboy enterprise.

Hefner convinced her to change her name from Barbara Klein to the more "marketable" Barbi Benton.

She's credited with convincing Hugh Hefner to buy the Playboy Mansion in Holmby Hills in 1974.

Benton (initially credited as Barbi Klein) appeared on the cover of Playboy four times: July 1969, March 1970, May 1972, and December 1985 and in additional nude photo layouts in the December 1973 and January 1975 issues.

And although she appeared in numerous pictorials she was never a Playmate of the Month.

She landed a spot on television's Hee Haw, for four seasons, doing short comedy sketches, and subsequently enjoyed a career as a country singer.

Benton achieved some success as a recording artist. Her record "Brass Buckles" (1975) was a top-five hit on Billboard's country singles chart. One of her better-known songs was "Ain't That Just the Way" (1976).

In 1982, Benton appeared in a production of I Love My Life (1982), hit 1978 Broadway musical comedy.

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WHERE ARE THEY NOW: After the birth of her first child in 1986, Benton made the decision to retired from show business and focus on raising her family. Back in the late 2000s, he did appear on The Girls Next Door with Hugh Hefner. These days she's still out of the limelight. Rumors claim that she became an interior designer at some point. Maybe she'll record a new hit song or release her greatest hits. It would be nice to see her again in some capacity. Or maybe she thinks that we've seen enough of her or maybe too much?

CREDITS:

2005-2009 The Girls Next Door (TV Series)...Self - Hef's Former Girlfriend / Self - Hef's Ex-Girlfriend
- The Wheel World (2009) ... Self - Hef's Former Girlfriend
- Kickin' Aspen (2008) ... Self - Hef's Former Girlfriend
- Glued to Their Sets (2008) ... Self - Hef's Former Girlfriend
- It's My Party and I'll Die If I Want To (2008) ... Self - Hef's Ex-Girlfriend
- Guess Who's Coming to Luncheon? (2007) ... Self - Hef's Former Girlfriend
- Fight Night (2005) ... Self - Hef's Ex-Girlfriend

1978-1987 The Love Boat (TV Series)...Kiki Atwood / Barbi Benton / Cathy Somms / ...
- Who Killed Maxwell Thorn? (1987) ... Barbi Benton
- Quiet, My Wife's Listening/Eye of the Beholder/The Nudist from Sunshine Gardens (1981) ... Cathy Somms
- Not Now, I'm Dying/Too Young to Love/Eleanor's Return (1979) ... Lucy
- Marooned/The Search/Isaac's Holiday: Part 2 (1978) ... Kiki Atwood
- Marooned/The Search/Isaac's Holiday: Part 1 (1978) ... Kiki Atwood
- Memories of You/Computerman/Parlez Vous? (1978) ... Brigitte LeBlanc

1986 Riptide (TV Series)...Gina Potter
- Playing Hardball (1986) ... Gina Potter (as Barbie Benton)

1986 Murder, She Wrote (TV Series)...Nurse Sue Beth
- Murder in the Electric Cathedral (1986) ... Nurse Sue Beth

1984 The New Mike Hammer (TV Series)...Susan Lancaster
- Catfight (1984) ... Susan Lancaster

1984 Fox Mystery Theater (TV Series)...Caroline Trent
- And the Wall Came Tumbling Down (1984) ... Caroline Trent

1983 Deathstalker...Codille

1983 Matt Houston (TV Series)...Ava
- The Purrfect Crime (1983) ... Ava

1972-1983 Hee Haw (TV Series)...Self / Self - Featured Singer
69 episodes

1978-1982 Fantasy Island (TV Series)...Courtney / Miss Winslow / Joan Michaels / ...
- House of Dolls/Wuthering Heights (1982) ... Courtney / Miss Winslow
- The Devil and Mr. Roarke/Ziegfeld Girls/Kid Corey Rides Again (1981) ... Joan Michaels
- The Man from Yesterday/World's Most Desirable Woman (1981) ... Marsha Garnett
- The Love Doctor/The Pleasure Palace/Possessed (1980) ... Molly Delahanti
- PlayGirl/Smith's Valhalla (1980) ... Erica Clark
- Baby/Marathon: Battle of the Sexes (1979) ... Bunny Kelly
- The Appointment/Mr. Tattoo (1978) ... Dee Dee Verona
- The Over-the-Hill Caper/Poof, You're a Movie Star (1978) ... Shirley Russell

1981 X-Ray...Susan Jeremy

1981 The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo (TV Series)...Kitty Rhinestone
- The Cowboy Connection (1981) ... Kitty Rhinestone

1981 CHiPs (TV Series)...Sal
- Ponch's Angels: Part 2 (1981) ... Sal
- Ponch's Angels: Part 1 (1981) ... Sal

1980 Charlie's Angels (TV Series)...Toni Green
- Island Angels (1980) ... Toni Green

1980 For the Love of It (TV Movie)...Anita

1980 When the Whistle Blows (TV Series)...Dixie Lee Griffin
- Miss Hard Hat USA (1980) ... Dixie Lee Griffin

1979 Flying High (TV Series)...Joan
- The Challenges (1979) ... Joan

1979 Vega$ (TV Series)...Holly
- Design for Death (1979) ... Holly

1977-1978 Sugar Time! (TV Series)...Maxx Douglas
- Occupational Hazard (1978) ... Maxx Douglas
- How to Be in Business Without Really Succeeding (1978) ... Maxx Douglas
- Maggie and Al: A Love Story (1978) ... Maxx Douglas
- Punk Rock (1978) ... Maxx Douglas
- Testing Maxx (1978) ... Maxx Douglas
- Sugar Baby (1978) ... Maxx Douglas
- Free Again (1978) ... Maxx Douglas
- Sugar to the Rescue (1978) ... Maxx Douglas
- Guy and Dolls (1977) ... Maxx Douglas
- Fear of Heckling (1977) ... Maxx Douglas
- Maggie's Long Date (1977) ... Maxx Douglas
- Witty, Urbane and Erudite (1977) ... Maxx Douglas
- The Breakup (1977) ... Maxx Douglas

1977 The Bobby Vinton Show (TV Series)
- Barbi Benton/Henny Youngman (1977)

1975 McCloud (TV Series)...Shannon Forbes
- Park Avenue Pirates (1975) ... Shannon Forbes

1973 The Third Girl from the Left (TV Movie)...Melanie

1973 The Great American Beauty Contest (TV Movie)...Miss Iowa

1972 Marcus Welby, M.D. (TV Series)...Liz
- We'll Walk Out of Here Together (1972) ... Liz (as Barbara Benton)

1968-1972 Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In (TV Series)...Guest Performer
- James Coco, Fannie Flagg, Charles Nelson Reilly, Mort Sahl (1972) ... Guest Performer (uncredited)
- Robert Goulet (1972) ... Guest Performer (uncredited)
- Perry Como, Three Dog Night (1971) ... Guest Performer (uncredited)
- James Coco, Tony Curtis (1971) ... Guest Performer (uncredited)
- Liza Minnelli (1971) ... Guest Performer (uncredited)
- Guest Starring Dick Gregory (1968) ... Guest Performer (uncredited)

1970 Mir hat es immer Spaß gemacht...Lynn Keefe (as Barbara Benton)

DISCOGRAPHY:

1975 Barbi Doll
1975 Barbi Benton
1976 Something New
1978 Ain't That Just the Way (No U.S. Release)
1988 Kinetic Voyage

To see Then & Now pictures of Barbi Benton, visit: Celebrity Nooz