Gene Barry, who played the elegant tough guy for thirty years in TV shows, such as “Bat Masterson”, “Burke’s Law” and “The Name of the Game” died at the age of 90.
According to his son, Frederic James Barry, his father died Wednesday at a rest home in Woodland Hills.
Always elegant, tall and handsome actor, Gene Barry played pretty much the same all roles in the series, as he defeated the bad guys in the shows.
Barry initially was hesitant about playing Bat Masterson. He says that he convinced when he found out that lawman Masterson had worn a derby and carried a gold-handled cane in real life.
Barry appeared in the science-fiction movie “War of the Worlds” in 1953 and in “Soldier of Fortune” along with Clark Gable in 1955.
He starred in several musicals such as “Kismet” or “Destry Rides Again”. His performance in Jerry Herman’s musical “La Cage aux Folles” earned Barry a Tony nomination in 1984.
Barry moved from NBC to ABC to play the role of a Los Angeles detective in “Burke’s Law”. He starred in “The Name of the Game” between 1968 and 1972 with other two actors, Robert Stack and Anthony Franciosa.
Barry was born in New York City in 1919 and married Betty Claire Kalb, marriage that lasted 58 years, until her death in 2003.
R.I.P. 
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