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Barbara Ruick (December 23, 1930 – March 3, 1974) was an American actress and singer. Ruick was the daughter of actors Lurene Tuttle and Melville Ruick. She grew up acting out scenes with dolls, employing her mother as an audience. She attended Theodore Roosevelt High School (Los Angeles), Burbank High School (California), and North Hollywood High School. She did little acting in high school but joined a school band at the age of fourteen. She sang with the band at dances and benefits. She achieved success in radio prior to signing as a contract player with MGM studios. She was heard in... MORE

Barbara Ruick (December 23, 1930 – March 3, 1974) was an American actress and singer. Ruick was the daughter of actors Lurene Tuttle and Melville Ruick. She grew up acting out scenes with dolls, employing her mother as an audience. She attended Theodore Roosevelt High School (Los Angeles), Burbank High School (California), and North Hollywood High School. She did little acting in high school but joined a school band at the age of fourteen. She sang with the band at dances and benefits. She achieved success in radio prior to signing as a contract player with MGM studios. She was heard in the original radio version of Dragnet. She also recorded several songs for MGM Records. In the 1950s, she starred as Kay in the first LP recording of the songs from George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin's 1926 Broadway musical, Oh, Kay!. This was a studio cast recording released by Columbia Records, and conducted by Lehman Engel. Despite what is sometimes claimed, it did not use the original orchestrations, but it was the most complete recording of the score made up to that time. In seeking acting parts she was forced to travel to New York City where her relation to her mother was not as well known. She LESS