Her movie career began with the 1945 film, Junior Miss, a movie based on her popular radio show by the same name. This was followed by nine other starring roles until she married Gail Smith and retired. On television, she hosted the show Those Whiting Girls on CBS, along with her sister, Margaret Whiting.
Other film credits include Centennial Summer (1946), Home, Sweet Homicide (1946), Carnival in Costa Rica (1947), City Across the River (1949), I Can Get It for You Wholesale (1951), Beware, My Lovely (1952), Rainbow 'Round My Shoulder (1952), Dangerous When Wet (1953), and Paris Follies of 1956 (1955).
Barbara worked with some of the greatest actors and directors in the business throughout her career including George Seaton, Otto Preminger, Charles Walters,Richard Quine, Harry Horner, Michael Gordon, Gregory Ratoff, Lloyd Bacon, Susan Hayward, Tony Curtis, George Sanders, Walter Brennan, Peggy Ann Garner, Randolph Scott, Celeste Holm, Vera-Ellen, Ida Lupino, Dean Stockwell, Constance Bennett, Jeanne Crain, Robert Ryan, Esther Williams, and Jack Carson just to name a few
Television appearances include The Ed Sullivan Show, The Jimmy Durante Show, The Tennessee Ernie Ford Show, Starlight Theatre, Walt Disney anthology television series, Your Jeweler's Showcase (TV series), The Bigelow Theatre, Dragnet (TV series), The Public Defender (TV series), Fireside Theatre, TV Reader's Digest, and Men of Annapolis.
Barbara's radio career was what she was most known for during her lifetime. In 1948 she began to star in CBS's extremely popular radio program "Junior Miss" It was one of the most successful radio shows of the time especially with younger audiences.
Other radio roles both starring and guest appearing include Hollywood Star Time, Meet Corliss Archer, The Screen Guild Theater, The Great Gildersleeve, Family Theater, The Bing Crosby Show, Escape, The Railroad Hour, Suspense, Broadway Is My Beat, Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar, The Line-Up, and You Were There.
Barbara lived a quiet life, dedicated to her son Richard. She could often be found feeding the squirrels while singing and dancing around her kitchen.
Barbara had been treated for breast cancer and other forms of cancer. She died due to cancer, in Pontiac, Michigan, aged 73, in 2004. [Source: Wikipedia]