Trivia

Younger sister of singer/actress Margaret Whiting. Daughter of composer Richard A. Whiting.

Briefly under contract to 20th Century-Fox as a teen in the '40s, making only a slight impact with her first film, Junior Miss (1945). Fox misused her, giving her only small parts. After her contract ended, she went back to school, reappearing after graduation in more smallish parts for other studios. Although a talent, Barbara was never given a lead in a movie.

Husband Gail Smith was the director of advertising at General Motors; son Richard received his Ph.D in nuclear physics. She also had two stepdaughters.

Her TV sitcom Those Whiting Girls (1955) with her sister, Margaret Whiting, served as a summer replacement for I Love Lucy (1951) in both 1955 and 1957.

She and her husband Gail were actually married twice, having divorced at one point.

Appeared in both the film (as sidekick Fuffy) and the subsequent radio version (as the lead, Judy) of "Junior Miss." Also, starred in a Los Angeles stage version of the show.

Once sang with Margaret on the The Ed Sullivan Show (1948) (aka Ed Sullivan Show).

Ex-sister-in-law of Lou Busch and Hubbell Robinson.

Sister-in-law of Jack Wrangler.

Son, Richard Whiting Smith