Barbara Payton Biography

Barbara Payton was born Barbara Lee Redfield on November 16, 1927 in Cloquet, Minnesota. Payton grew up in Odessa, Texas. Payton went to Baylor Junior High and then Odessa High School. While in high school, Payton married boyfriend, William Hodge much to the dismay of her parents. The marriage was soon annulled. At seventeen years of age, she married again on February 10, 1945 to John Payton who was an Air Force pilot but it would only last three years. The marriage produced one child, a boy by the name of John Lee Payton.

After the divorce, Payton left for Hollywood with her son and mother. Shortly after, she obtained a contract with Universal. In 1949, Payton appeared in the musical shorts, "Silver Butte" and "The Pecos Pistol". Payton's screen debut was in the 1949 film, "Once More, My Darling" with Robert Montgomery. Payton also starred in the film, "Trapped" with Lloyd Bridges. In 1950, Barbara Payton starred in the movie, "Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye" with James Cagney. She also won the role of "Flo" in the film, "Dallas" which starred Gary Cooper. 1951 brought about the movies, "Only the Valiant" with Gregory Peck, "Drums in the Deep South" and "Bride of the Gorilla" with Lon Chaney Jr. Payton also married for the third time to Franchot Tone who was an actor. She was married for a total of 53 days. Payton left him for another actor, Tom Neal. Their relationship would last four years. In 1953, Payton starred in films such as "The Flanagan Boy", "Four Sided Triangle", "Run for the Hills" and "The Great Jesse James Raid". Barbara Payton's last appearance was in the 1955 movie entitled, "Murder Is My Beat".