Ann Barnes (police Commissioner)
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Ann Barnes (born Dixie Ann Cheney; June 17, 1945 – September 13, 2005) was an American actress and pop singer, best known for appearing as Cookie Bumstead on the short-lived television series '' Blondie'' (1957), based on the popular
Chic Young Murat Bernard "Chic" Young (January 9, 1901March 14, 1973) was an American cartoonist who created the comic strip ''Blondie (comic strip), Blondie''. His 1919 ''William McKinley High School Yearbook'' cites his nickname as Chicken, source of hi ...
comic strip.


Biography

Barnes attracted a casting director's attention because of her resemblance to
Pamela Britton Pamela Britton (born Armilda Jane Owens; March 19, 1923 – June 17, 1974) was an American actress, best known for appearing as Lorelei Brown in the television series ''My Favorite Martian'' (1963–1966) and for her female lead in the film no ...
. When '' Blondie'' was cancelled after 28 episodes, Barnes appeared on other television series, including ''
NBC Matinee Theater ''Matinee Theater'' is an American anthology series that aired on NBC during the Golden Age of Television, from October 31, 1955, to June 27, 1958. Its name is often seen as ''Matinee Theatre''. The series, which ran daily from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. ...
'', ''
Leave it to Beaver ''Leave It to Beaver'' is an American television sitcom that follows the misadventures of a suburban boy, his family and his friends. It starred Barbara Billingsley, Hugh Beaumont, Tony Dow and Jerry Mathers. CBS first broadcast the show ...
'', and ''
My Three Sons ''My Three Sons'' is an American television sitcom that aired from September 29, 1960, to April 13, 1972. The series was filmed in black-and-white and broadcast on ABC during its first five seasons, before moving to CBS for the remaining seve ...
''. When even these acting roles dried up, Barnes took a brief stab at a recording career, recording a bouncy pop ballad called "Whispering Wind", circa 1962. Recording under the name Dixie Ann Barnes, she sang about every teenage girl's lament: puppy love. "Whispering Wind" can be found on the pop CD anthologies ''Soda Pop Babies'' and ''Restless Doll''. Barnes is pictured on the cover of ''Soda Pop Babies''.''Soda Pop Babies''. Audio CD, Classics Records #715 According to the liner notes in ''Soda Pop Babies'', Barnes was crowned the "Princess of Hollywood" for April 1962, by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce. According to long-time colleague and fellow child actor
Paul Petersen Paul Petersen (born September 23, 1945) is an American actor, singer, novelist and activist. He rose to prominence in the 1950s playing Jeff Stone on '' The Donna Reed Show''. Petersen pursued a singing career in the 1960s. In the 1980s and 1 ...
, Barnes had a difficult childhood at the hands of abusive parents. In her adult life, she rarely spoke about her years in show business, and reclaimed her birth name of Dixie Ann Cheney.Paul Peterson. "When Sparrows Fall." http://www.minorcon.com/sparrows.html Barnes eventually returned to her birth town of
Lansing, Michigan Lansing () is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the U.S. state of Michigan. The most populous city in Ingham County, Michigan, Ingham County, parts of the city extend into Eaton County, Michigan, Eaton County and nort ...
, to retire. She died on September 13, 2005. According to Petersen, the body of this forgotten, exploited talent was not discovered for almost a week. In 2005, Petersen wrote a loving tribute to his colleague and friend on his website devoted to advocacy for former and current child performers, ''A Minor Consideration''. Entitled "When Sparrows Fall", Petersen recounts the tragic lives and obscure deaths of two underappreciated child actors, Ann Barnes and
Tommy Bond Thomas Ross Bond (September 16, 1926 – September 24, 2005) was an American actor, director, producer and writer. He was best known for his work as a child actor for two nonconsecutive periods in ''Our Gang'' (''Little Rascals'') comedies (fir ...
.


Notes


References

* Peterson, Paul
"When Sparrows Fall."
* ''Soda Pop Babies''. Audio CD, Classics Records #715


External links

*

a
''A Minor Consideration''
{{DEFAULTSORT:Barnes, Ann 1945 births 2005 deaths 20th-century American actresses American child actresses American women pop singers American television actresses Actresses from Lansing, Michigan Musicians from Lansing, Michigan Singers from Michigan 20th-century American women singers 20th-century American singers 21st-century American women