Beauteous Barbara Bates (August 6, 1925 - March 18, 1969) is best known for her small, yet pivotal role in All About Eve (1950) -- that's Barbara you see in the film's famous final shot, posing with Eve Harrington's Sarah Siddons Award.
BARBARA BATES IN ALL ABOUT EVE (1950)
Bates had already co-starred with Eve's formidable leading lady, Bette Davis, in the comedy misfire June Bride (1948). In Eve, however, Bates had no contact with Davis; nor did she share screen time with another newcomer who made a lasting impression in the film: Marilyn Monroe. A year later, Bates and Monroe were part of another ensemble cast, albeit a slightly less distinguished one, for Let's Make it Legal (1951). The film's veteran leading lady, Claudette Colbert, had her own, less-happy All About Eve connection: she was the original choice to play Margo Channing, until a severe back injury led to being replaced by La Davis.
THE CAST OF LET'S MAKE IT LEGAL (1951) (L-R): BARBARA BATES, MACDONALD CAREY, CLAUDETTE COLBERT, ZACHARY SCOTT, MARILYN MONROE
Bates seemed to be on the career upswing, but by 1954, it had all begun to unravel. Cast on a promising new sitcom, It's a Great Life, Bates' character had to be written out after only seven episodes, as the actress' mood swings, depression and erratic behavior made her impossible to work with. Her reputation in Hollywood seriously damaged by this fiasco, Bates went to England, where she was signed by the Rank Organization. Sadly, the grip of mental illness followed Bates overseas, and Bates was fired from two starring roles in a one month period. Her contract was canceled in 1957.
Returning to Hollywood, Bates found a few small television parts, but had effectively retired by 1962. She spent the next five years caring for her cancer-stricken husband, who died in 1967; this seemed to push the already unstable Bates over the edge, and two years later, the once-promising young star committed suicide by carbon monoxide poisoning.
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