Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Who are Those Guys? - Lex Barker


Lex Barker was an American actor famous as Tarzan. He was born Alexander Crichlow Barker on May 8, 1919 in Rye, New York. The Barkers were direct descendants of Roger Williams the founder of Rhode Island. Barker attended school in New York and graduated from Phillips Exeter Academy. He then attended Princeton University but dropped out to join a theatrical stock company. He reached Broadway in a small part in 1938's Shakespeare’s "The Merry Wives of Windsor". In 1941 he enlisted in the U.S. Army, was wounded in the head and leg while fighting in Sicily and rose to the rank of Major. After recuperating from his wounds and being discharged he traveled to Los Angeles where he appeared in his first film "Doll Face" (1945). After a number of small roles in 1949 he replaced Johnny Weissmuller as the 10th Tarzan. Lex made five of the jungle films but by 1957 he found his career slowing down so he moved to Europe. Because he could speak French, Italian, Spanish and some German he found popularity in over forty films, among which were thirteen Karl May films. He was best known to Euro-western fans as ‘Old Shatterhand’ in seven Winnetou films. In 1966 he was awarded a ‘Bambi Award’ as Best Foreign Actor. He would return to the U.S. for an occasional TV appearance but Europe remained his home. Barker was married five times with four of his wives being actresses. Arlene Dahl [1928- ] from 1951-1952, Lana Turner [1921-1995] from 1953-1957, Irene Labhart [19??-1962] from 1957-1962 (she died of leukemia) and Carmen G. Cervera [1943- ] from 1965 to 1973. His son Christopher Barker born in 1960 is an actor and singer.. Lex died three days after his 54th birthday from a heart attack. He was cremated and his ashes returned to Spain.

BARKER, Lex (aka Alex Barker) (Alexander Crichlow Barker Jr.) [5/8/1919, Rye, New York, U.S.A. - 5/11/1973, Manhattan, New York, U.S.A. (heart attack)] - stage, TV actor, married to actresses Arlene Dahl [1928- ] (1951-1952) , Lana Turner [1921-1995] (1953-1957), Irene Labhart [19??-1962] (1957-1962), Carmen G. Cervera [1943- ] (1965-1973], father of actor, singer
Christopher Barker [1960- ].

The Treasure of Silver Lake - 1962 (Old Shatterhand)
Apache Gold - 1963 (Old Shatterhand)
Shatterhand - 1964 (Old Shatterhand)
Last of the Renegades - 1964 (Old Shatterhand)
The Desperado Trail - 1965 (Old Shatterhand)
The Treasure of the Aztecs - 1965 (Dr. Karl Sternau)
A Place Called Glory - 1965 (Clint Brenner)
Pyramid of the Sun Gods - 1965 (Dr. Karl Sternau)
The Half-Breed - 1966 (Old Shatterhand)
Who Killed Johnny R.? - 1966 (Sam Dobie/Johnny Ringo)
Winnetou and Shatterhand in the Valley of Death - 1968 (Old Shatterhand)

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