At 90 years old, Barbara Feldon is a woman who has lived a life full of adventure, success,
and heartbreak.
As an actress, she captured the hearts of millions with her portrayal of Agent 99 on
the classic TV series "Get Smart."
But despite her fame and success, Feldon has chosen to live her life alone.
In this video, we'll explore the reasons behind her decision and what it can teach us about
the importance of self-reliance, independence, and the pursuit of happiness.
So sit back, grab a cup of coffee, and let's dive into the fascinating world of Barbara
Feldon.
FactsVerse Presents: At 90, Barbara Feldon Says This is Why She Lives All Alone
A Living Legend
Barbara Feldon was born Barbara Anne Hall on the 12th of March, 1933, in Butler, Pennsylvania.
She grew up in Pittsburgh and attended Bethel Park High School.
After completing her primary education, she went on to study drama at Carnegie Mellon
University.
Before her embarking on her acting career in Hollywood, Feldon worked as a model and
even won the grand prize on the show The $64,000 Question for the category of William Shakespeare.
She started her acting career in 1957 when she was just 24 years old.
She rose to fame for playing Agent 99 on the hit television series Get Smart which aired
from 1965 to 1970.
Feldon has also appeared in other television shows such as Twelve O’Clock High, Flipper,
and The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
She has also acted in movies such as 1967s Fitzwilly and 1975s Smile.
However, she will always be best known by her legion of friends for her iconic role
as Agent 99.
After Get Smart ended, Barbara Feldon’s acting career slowed down due to typecasting.
Despite this, she continued to act for decades and had roles in theater productions and in
a number of TV series and movies.
She additionally reprised her role as Agent 99 in the critically acclaimed 1989 movie
Get Smart, Again.
Feldon starred in several television movies after Get Smart, including 1975s Let’s Switch
and 1980s A Guide for the Married Woman.
She also appeared in other TV shows such as Cheers and Mad About You.
Feldon was married to Lucien Verdoux-Feldon from 1958 to 1967.
We'll discuss that relationship in a bit more detail in just a moment, so be sure to stick
around.
A Candid Peek Into Her Life
Barbara Feldon celebrated her 90th birthday on March 12, 2023.
To mark this special occasion, Ann Hampton Callaway, a renowned jazz singer and longtime
close friend of Feldon’s, took to her Facebook page to pay tribute to the actress.
On her Facebook post, Hampton Callaway shared a collage of pictures featuring Barbara holding
a birthday cake with a lit candle, as well as several other snapshots of her with other
people.
The jazz singer expressed her heartfelt wishes for a happy birthday to her dearest friend,
whom she had met after watching her in the play "Cut the Ribbons" in 1991.
They subsequently met backstage at Hampton Callaway's Rainbow and Stars show, where they
developed an "instant kinship."
Over the years, they enjoyed many impromptu poetry sessions during long lunches, which
brought the jazz singer immense joy.
Hampton Callaway lauded Barbara for not only being an iconic actress but also a brilliant
writer and thinker, making her, at least in her eyes, an all-around magnificent individual.
The musician also praised the actress for her authenticity and described her as one
of the best people she knew.
In closing her post, she conveyed her and her partner, Kari Strand's love for Barbara
and expressed her belief that the world was a better place with her in it.
In response to those touching sentiments and candid photos, fans of Feldon expressed their
excitement and resounding support for the actress, with one individual sharing their
delight at seeing her thrive and remain ever-young.
One fan even revealed that Barbara might have been their first "crush" due to her remarkable
charm and sophistication.
They wrapped up their comment by expressing their gratitude to Hampton Callaway for sharing
such a heartwarming memory.
Another fan wished Barbara a happy birthday and referred to her as an iconic and wonderful
woman, while a third fan went on to describe the actress as "Divine."
Following her 90th birthday, the renowned personality expressed her appreciation for
all the "lovely wishes" she received, thanking those who made her day extra special.
Although Barbara had many people to celebrate with, she had previously spoken about her
decision to live alone without a spouse or children.
She’s Content Being Alone
Barbara's first encounter with her future husband Lucien Feldon Verdeaux occurred outside
Carnegie Hall when he approached her for a dime to make a phone call.
Before she knew it, they were enjoying coffee together.
The suave European man shared that he was in advertising but had lost interest in the
field.
Within a year of beginning their passionate courtship, the couple tied the knot, but Barbara's
father had a sense that something was off about Lucien, although he kept that feeling
to himself.
As the actress' career took off, first as a showgirl and then as a Mod-era fashion model,
Lucien remained by her side.
She appeared in commercials, including the famous Revlon's Top Brass medicated hair treatment
ad in which her husband had a cameo.
She also landed a starring role on "Get Smart."
However, Barbara eventually discovered that Lucien was not the refined man he pretended
to be, despite his Belgian accent and polished exterior.
After discovering that Lucien had been living a lie for pretty much as long as Feldon knew
him, the couple divorced in 1967 after being married for twelve years.
In 1980, Barbara decided to shake things up and leave Hollywood to live the life she had
always envisioned.
In a past interview, the actress once was quoted as saying that she took a chance and
moved to New York to see what fate had in store for her.
She further compared life to a kaleidoscope that creates set patterns with its moving
beads.
Barbara desired that kind of big change and decided to give her life's kaleidoscope a
big twist.
However, moving was a significant change, more so than she had anticipated, as she did
not have any friends in New York anymore.
Nonetheless, she closed her house, sold her sailboat in California, packed her clothes,
and rebuilt her life.
The star purchased a portion of a Manhattan townhouse and tried to make friends by accepting
any and all invitations that came her way.
Barbara went on to meet hundreds of people and built fulfilling friendships.
In her 2003 book, "Living Alone and Loving It," she wrote about being independent and
not depending on romantic relationships.
The actress spoke of the joy of living on her own and having no one to answer to but
herself.
During a three-hour interview in 2016, author Jim Colucci discovered that the actress was
still living that way.
When asked why she wrote the book, Barbara explained that she had always been in relationships
but learned how to live happily alone with guidance.
The actress met several men and women who believed that living alone was a "second-rate
life."
She found this sad and decided to write a book to share her technique for living alone.
Barbara received an outpouring of gratitude from readers after publishing her book.
She acknowledged that times have changed and people are no longer solely influenced by
culture to get married, as evidenced by the fact that 49% of New Yorkers live alone.
However, she clarified that not having children was not a deliberate choice on her part.
Although Barbara once welcomed twins on her popular show, in reality, she didn't have
any children and didn't feel any regret as she expressed, "It just didn't happen."
She noted that time had passed, and she led a very different life.
She and Don Adam’s Weren’t Close
Barbara Feldon and Don Adams starred together in the hit sitcom Get Smart.
Despite their great on-screen chemistry throughout the show's run, they never saw each other
much, if at all, off-screen.
Feldon has revealed that they were very friendly and nice to each other at while onset but
their relationship was always on the formal side.
In fact, Barbara Feldon has said that she never had a serious conversation with Don
Adams once during their five years of working together!
Admas was born on April 13, 1923, in New York.
Before making his way out to Hollywood where he would ultimately enjoy a successful acting
career, he served in the U.S. Marines in the Second World War and contracted malaria during
the battle on the Guadalcanal island.
Don Adams was best known as bumbling Maxwell Smart (Secret Agent 86) in Get Smart, which
he also sometimes directed and wrote.
He won three consecutive Emmy Awards for his performance in the series.
He also provided voices for the animated series Tennessee Tuxedo and His Tales and Inspector
Gadget as well as several spinoffs and revivals of the latter in the 1990s.
He additionally appeared in several movies, including The Nude Bomb, Check It Out, and
Get Smart, Again!.
Don Adams sadly passed away on September 25, 2005, at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los
Angeles, California due to lymphoma and a lung infection.
He was survived by his wife, three sons, and a daughter named Cecily who passed away before
him.
Her Legacy
At 90 years old, Barbara Feldon may be living alone, but that doesn't mean she's stopped
living life to the fullest.
In fact, she's still as busy as ever, participating in speaking engagements, writing books, and
making public appearances.
She's even been known to hop on a plane and travel internationally, proving that age is
just a number.
But as with all great stars, fans are left wondering how Barbara will be remembered after
she's gone.
For many, she will always be Agent 99, the stylish and intelligent secret agent who captured
hearts on "Get Smart."
Others may remember her as a trailblazer for women in entertainment, breaking barriers
and challenging stereotypes in the male-dominated industry.
But one thing is certain: Barbara Feldon's legacy will endure long after she's gone.
Her wit, charm, and intelligence will continue to inspire generations of fans, and her unique
perspective on life as a single woman will remain a testament to her independence and
strength.
So while she may prefer to be alone now, she will never truly be forgotten by those who
loved and admired her.
We're just about out of time for this video so we'll go ahead and wrap things up, but
before you move on to watching another one of our Facts-packed videos, take a moment
to share your thoughts with us in the comments section below.
How will you remember Barbara Feldon after she passes, and were you surprised to learn
that she is completely content living alone at 90?
Let us know.
And as always, thanks for watching!