RIP Barbara Bestar

 

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By Douglas Ely

August 19, 2024

 

My mom died today. Many of you knew her as Barbara with Kelly, as she was a casting director for a few decades. Some may remember her as an actress who had maybe the best stage name ever: Barbara Bestar (her given name). Her married name was Barbara Ely. But I knew her as Mom. An end of an era.

Barbara Bestar- Born March 23, 1930. Died August 19, 2024.

BESTAR, Barbara

Born: 3/23/1930, Manhattan, New York, U.S.A.

Died: 8/19/2024, Tarzana, California, U.S.A.

 

Barbara Bestar’s westerns – actress:

Navajo Trail Riders – 1949 (Judy Clark)

The Adventures of Kit Carson (TV) 1953 1954 (Janice Bryant, Sally, Cora Langley)

Man With the Steel Whip – 1954 (Nancy Cooper)

Death Valley Days (TV) 1954, 1958, 1959 (Ellen Clayton, Kathleen O’Dell, Ginny Cluett)

The Adventures of Champion (TV) – 1955 (Letty Kenyon)

The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp (TV) – 1955, 1957, 1961 (Christine Trask, Lucy King, Mrs. Jane Hardin)

26 Men (TV) – 1958, 1959 (Jenny Mathews, Virginia Blane, Gina Thorpe)

Lawman (TV) – 1959 (Beth Harvey)

Tales of Wells Fargo (TV) – 1959 (Sarah Young)