Barbara Kent

Barbara Kent (née Cloutman; December 16, 1907 – October 13, 2011) was a Canadian film actress, prominent from the silent film era to the early talkies of the 1920s and 1930s. In 1925, Barbara Kent won the Miss Hollywood Beauty Pageant.

Barbara Kent
Kent in 1924
Born
Barbara Cloutman

(1907-12-16)December 16, 1907
Gadsby, Alberta, Canada
DiedOctober 13, 2011(2011-10-13) (aged 103)
Palm Desert, California, U.S.
OccupationFilm actress
Years active1925–1941
Spouses
Harry E. Edington
​
​
(m. 1932; died 1949)​
    Jack Monroe
    ​
    ​
    (m. 1954; died 1998)​

    Career

    Barbara Cloutman was born on December 16, 1907 in Gadsby, Alberta, Canada, to Lily Louise Kent and Jullion Curtis Cloutman.[1] Sources differ on surname as Klowtmann or Cloutman and birth year as 1907 or 1906.[2] In 1925, she graduated from Hollywood High School and went on to win the Miss Hollywood Pageant.[3][4] It was also the year in which she began her Hollywood career with a small role for Universal Studios, which signed her to a contract.[4] A petite brunette who stood less than five feet tall, Kent became popular as a comedian opposite such stars as Reginald Denny. She made a strong impression as the heroine pitted against Greta Garbo's femme fatale in Flesh and the Devil in 1926 after Universal had lent the actress to MGM to make the film.[4]

    Kent then attracted the attention of audiences and censors in the 1927 production No Man's Law by appearing to swim nude. She actually wore a flesh-colored moleskin bathing suit in scenes that were considered very daring at the time.[5] The popularity of that film led to her selection as one of the WAMPAS Baby Stars for 1927. She made a smooth transition into talking pictures opposite Harold Lloyd in the 1929 comedy Welcome Danger.[5] Kent was also featured with Lloyd in his iconic Feet First.[4] Over the next few years, she remained popular and received critical praise in 1933 for her role in the film version of Oliver Twist.[5]

    Kent married talent agent Harry Edington in Yuma, Arizona, on December 16, 1932 — her 25th birthday.[6]

    Personal life

    Kent had a great love for the outdoors. Always active, she enjoyed golf, fly fishing, hunting, and gardening. She was a longtime member of Marakkesh, Sunland, and Thunderbird Country Clubs. She was known as a talented cook and loved entertaining friends and family.

    Following the death of her husband Harry in 1949, Kent retreated from public life.

    She married again in 1954, to Jack Monroe,[7] a Lockheed aircraft engineer.[8][5] Her second husband gave her flying lessons,[8] and Kent continued to fly light aircraft until her 85th birthday,[7] and was still playing golf well into her mid-90s.[9] The couple resided initially in Sun Valley, Idaho but later relocated to Palm Desert, California. There Kent lived until her death, at the age of 103, on October 13, 2011.[5]

    Filmography
    Film
    Year Film Role Notes
    1926 Flesh and the Devil Hertha
    Prowlers of the Night Anita Parsons Lost film
    1927 The Peace Deputy Short film
    The Lone Eagle Mimi Lost film
    No Man's Law Toby Belcher [10]
    The Small Bachelor Molly Waddington
    The Drop Kick Cecily Graves
    Stop That Man! Muriel Crawford Lost film
    1928 Modern Mothers Milred Lost film
    That's My Daddy Molly Moran
    His Destiny Betty Baker
    Lonesome Mary icon of an open green padlock[11]
    Fun in the Clouds Self Short film, cameo, uncredited
    1929 Welcome Danger Billie Lee
    The Shakedown Marjorie
    1930 Night Ride Ruth Kearns Lost film
    Dumbbells in Ermine Faith Corey Lost film
    Feet First Barbara
    What Men Want Betty 'Babs' Joyce
    1931 Freighters of Destiny Ruth Mercer
    Chinatown After Dark Lotus
    Grief Street Jean Royce icon of an open green padlock[12]
    Indiscreet Joan Trent icon of an open green padlock[13]
    1932 Self Defense Nona Devoux
    Emma Gypsy
    The Pride of the Legion Martha Tully icon of an open green padlock[14]
    No Living Witness Carol Everett
    Beauty Parlor Sally Dale
    Vanity Fair Amelia Sedley
    Exposed Ruth
    1933 Marriage on Approval Beth MacDougall
    Her Forgotten Past Doris Maynard
    Oliver Twist Rose Maylie
    1935 Swellhead Mary Malone
    Guard That Girl Jeanne Martin
    Old Man Rhythm Edith Warren
    1941 Under Age Jackie
    1970 4 Clowns Toby Belcher from No Man's Law Archive Footage, uncredited
    Television
    Year Title Role Notes
    2011 TCM Remembers Self Archive Footage, posthumously release

    References
    1. "From the Bigknife to the Battle: Gadsby and area". Our Roots. Retrieved 2009-12-16.
    2. "Barbara Kent". HeraldScotland. 21 October 2011. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
    3. Ankerich, Michael G. (13 September 2012). "Barbara Kent: My Last Silent Film Interview". Closeups and Canvases.
    4. "Barbara Kent: Silent film star was also in talkies". Los Angeles Times: AA5. October 20, 2011. Retrieved October 20, 2011.
    5. Weber, Bruce (October 19, 2011). "Barbara Kent, Star of Silent Movies, Dies at 103". New York Times. Retrieved October 20, 2011.
    6. "Barbara Kent, Actress, Wed". New York Times: 22. December 17, 1932.
    7. "Barbara Kent obituary". telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
    8. "Barbara Kent, 103, of Flesh and the Devil (1926); Welcome Danger (1929)". Immortal Ephemera. 20 October 2011. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
    9. "Barbara Kent Interview". Western Clippings. Retrieved 2014-02-08.
    10. Excerpt from No Man's Law on YouTube featuring Barbara Kent swimming
    11. "Lonesome". archive.org. 30 September 1928. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
    12. "Grief Street". archive.org. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
    13. Indiscreet (1931) at Internet Archive; starred Gloria Swanson, Monroe Owsley, and Kent
    14. Pride of the Legion (1932) is available for free viewing and download at the Internet Archive

    Further reading
    Wikimedia Commons has media related to Barbara Kent.
    Public Domain films


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