After the death of her second husband, Roy Kellino (who died of a heart attack in 1956), Billingsley married Dr. William Mortensen, a Santa Monica physician and widower, who was an old friend of the Kellinos during their marriage.
Attended Los Angeles Junior College for one year before moving to New York to appear in the play 'Straw Hat', which made it to Broadway. It closed after only five shows, after which she became a $60-a-week fashion model.
Auditioned for the role of Danny Thomas's second wife on "The Danny Thomas Show" (1953).
Before Barbara, director/husband Roy Kellino was married to actress/syndicated columnist Pamela Mason, who once went by the stage name Pamela Kellino and later married (and divorced) actor James Mason.
Before she became a successful actress, she once worked with a magician, balancing cards.
Before she was an actress, she once worked as a model.
Best known by the public for her starring role as June Cleaver on "Leave It to Beaver" (1957).
Billingsley is related by marriage to actor/producer Peter Billingsley, known for his starring role as Ralphie in the seasonal TV-movie classic "A Christmas Story". First husband Glenn's cousin is Peter's mother, Gail Billingsley.
Daughter-in-law of W.P. Kellino.
Future talk show host Oprah Winfrey, once said Billingsley was her childhood television heroine.
Graduated from George Washington High School in Los Angeles, California, in 1934.
Had two failed TV series in the early-to-mid 1950s before becoming a household commodity as June Cleaver in 1957.
Has two sons, Drew (b. 1942) and Brud (b. 1945), from her first marriage, to Glenn Billingsley, nephew of Stork Club owner Sherman Billingsley.
Her former "Leave It to Beaver" (1957), co-star, Tony Dow, has one of the bronze pieces, which is on display in the backyard garden of her.
Her granddaughter, Taylor wanted to follow in her grandmother's footsteps of becoming an actress, but her parents wouldn't allow her to begin as a child actress.
Her idols were Katharine Hepburn and Jack Benny.
Her mother, Lillian Combes, worked in a factory, while her father, Robert Collyer Combes, was the Chief of Police.
Her show, "Leave It to Beaver" (1957) was canceled at the end of the sixth season, due to her castmates wanting to move on to other projects, plus, her co-stars Tony Dow was graduating from high school, and Jerry Mathers entering into high school, that same year.
Her son, Glenn Jr., married Karen Zappas in 1976, and are still together. They're the parents of 3 children: Logan Billingsley, Morgan Billingsley and Taylor Billingsley, all of whom are Barbara's grandchildren.
In 2007, she was singing at her former "Leave It to Beaver" (1957), co-star's, Jerry Mathers's, mother's 80th birthday party, when he returned from play on Broadway.