Barbara Feldon

Barbara Feldon was born Barbara Anne Hall on March 12, 1933, in Bethel Park, Pennsylvania. She graduated from Carnegie Institute of Technology in 1955 with a Bachelor of Arts in drama. Her early career included modeling and a significant win on “The $64,000 Question” in 1957, where she demonstrated her knowledge of Shakespeare. This early visibility contributed to her burgeoning career in the public eye.

Feldon’s breakthrough into television came through a memorable commercial for Top Brass hair pomade by Revlon. This led to various small roles in television series, including “Twelve O’Clock High” and “The Man from U.N.C.L.E.” A turning point in her career was her casting as Agent 99 in the sitcom “Get Smart,” which ran from 1965 to 1970. This role brought her widespread recognition and earned her two Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series in 1968 and 1969. The character of Agent 99 was notable for portraying a capable and intelligent woman, a progressive representation for its time.

Following “Get Smart,” Feldon continued her acting career with guest appearances on shows like “The Dean Martin Show” and “Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In,” and several television movies. She reprised her role as Agent 99 in the 1989 TV movie “Get Smart, Again!” and in a 1995 revival series. Beyond acting, Feldon is also an author, having written “Living Alone and Loving It” in 2003 and “Getting Smarter: A Memoir” in 2021. She has also contributed editorial pieces to “Metropolitan Magazine.”