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Lynn Bari

Lynn Bari

Actor · Died November 20, 1989, aged 75 · Roanoke, Virginia, USA

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Lynn Bari (born Margaret Schuyler Fisher, December 18, 1913 – November 20, 1989) was a film actress who specialized in playing sultry, statuesque man-killers in roughly 150 20th Century Fox films from the early 1930s through the 1940s. Bari was one of 14 young women "launched on the trail of film stardom" August 6, 1935, when they each received a six-month contract with 20th Century Fox after spending 18 months in the company's training school. The contracts included a studio option for renewal for as long as seven years. In most of her early films, Bari had uncredited parts usually playing receptionists or chorus girls. She struggled to find starring roles in films, but accepted any work she could get. Rare leading roles included China Girl (1942), Hello, Frisco, Hello (1943), and The Spiritualist (1948). In B movies, Lynn was usually cast as a villainess, notably Shock and Nocturne (both 1946). An exception was The Bridge of San Luis Rey (1944). During WWII, according to a survey taken of GIs, Bari was the second-most popular pinup girl after the much better-known Betty Grable. Bari's film career fizzled out in the early 1950s as she was approaching her 40th birthday, although she continued to work at a more limited pace over the next two decades, now playing matronly characters rather than temptresses. She portrayed the mother of a suicidal teenager in a 1951 drama, On the Loose, plus a number of supporting parts. Bari's last film appearance was as the mother of rebellious teenager Patty McCormack in The Young Runaways (1968) and her final TV appearances were in episodes of The Girl From U.N.C.L.E. and The FBI. She quickly took up the rising medium of television during the '50s, which began when she starred in the live television sitcom Detective's Wife, which ran during the summer of 1950, and in Boss Lady In 1955, Bari appeared in the episode "The Beautiful Miss X" of Rod Cameron's syndicated crime drama City Detective. In 1960, she played female bandit Belle Starr in the debut episode "Perilous Passage" of the NBC western series Overland Trail starring William Bendix and Doug McClure and with fellow guest star Robert J. Wilke as Cole Younger. From July–September 1952, Bari starred in her own situation comedy, Boss Lady, a summer replacement for NBC's Fireside Theater. She portrayed Gwen F. Allen, the beautiful top executive of a construction firm. Not the least of her troubles in the role was being able to hire a general manager who did not fall in love with her. Commenting on her "other woman" roles, Bari once said, "I seem to be a woman always with a gun in her purse. I'm terrified of guns. I go from one set to the other shooting people and stealing husbands!"

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
December 18, 1913
Died
November 20, 1989 (aged 75)
From
Roanoke, Virginia, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
42 on Motif · 130 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 39 days to Oct 28Down 41% in 30 days

What are Lynn Bari's films like?

Across their 20 Motif titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Morality.

Genres

Comedy9 titlesTypical Motif score: 61st percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama6 titlesTypical Motif score: 53rd percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Biography2 titlesTypical Motif score: 40th percentile
: browse their Biography movies
Crime2 titlesTypical Motif score: 62nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies

Their Motif films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Motif score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
34%
Morality
20%
Self
17%
Power
13%
Society
9%
Survival
6%
Ideas
2%
Romantic love7 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition4 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception5 titles, browse their movies with this themeGreed3 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice3 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity3 titles, browse their movies with this themeLoyalty3 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 20 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 15 · Serious 2 · Dark 3

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 11 · Stylized 6 · Heightened 3

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 9 · Charged 10 · Intense 1

Steady: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their steady movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 13 · Shifting 6 · Whiplash 1

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 7 · Some laughs 6 · Funny 7

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 9 · Even-paced 11 · Relentless 0

Casual: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their casual movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 15 · Engaged 5 · Full focus 0

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 18 · Open-ended 2 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

8 analyzed roles

Usually the Shapeshifter: 2 of 8 analyzed roles.

Shapeshifter
2 of 8
Shadow
2 of 8
Trickster
2 of 8
Ally
1 of 8
Herald
1 of 8
Show the 8 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Joyful
8
Tense
7
Romantic
7
Warm
5
Melancholic
5
Other
17

How their films linger

Feel-good12 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 3 with a twist

  • Happy16
  • Bittersweet3
  • Tragic1

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Lynn Bari's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 7 of their 42 Motif titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (6).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Lynn Bari's titles on Motif; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Motif score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

130 credits, 42 with a Motif page; 1 appearance as themselves is hidden until asked for.

  • Johnny Walker (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2015)

    as Christine Faber (archive footage)

  • The Young Runaways (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1968)

    as Mrs. Donford

  • The Girl from U.N.C.L.E.(1966)

    Show 1 episode · as Miss Twickum

    Motif score: 29th percentile of all shows

  • The F.B.I. (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 1 episode · as Belinda

  • Six Gun Law (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1962)

    as Mrs. Simmons

  • Trauma (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1962)

    as Helen Garrison

  • Everglades (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1961)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The New Breed (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1961)

    Show 1 episode · as Mrs. Grace

  • Ben Casey (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1961)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Michael Shayne (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1960)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Aquanauts (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1960)

    Show 1 episode · as Ann Nincel

  • Law of the Plainsman (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1959)

    Show 1 episode · as Constance Valeri

  • Bronco (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1958)

    Show 1 episode · as Amy Biggs

  • Damn Citizen (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1958)

    as Pat Noble

  • Perry Mason(1957)

    Show 1 episode · as Ruth Duncan · as Sylvia Cord

    Motif score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • The Women of Pitcairn Island (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1956)

    as Maimiti

  • Science Fiction Theatre (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1955)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Abbott and Costello Meet the Keystone Kops(1955)

    as Leota Van Cleef

    Motif score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • Climax! (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1954)

    Show 1 episode · as Mrs. Combie

  • Studio 57 (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1954)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Francis Joins the WACS(1954)

    as Louise Simpson

    Motif score: 54th percentile of all films

  • City Detective (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1953)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

  • Boss Lady (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1952)

    Show 12 episodes · as Gwen Allen

  • Has Anybody Seen My Gal(1952)

    as Harriet Blaisdell

    Motif score: 84th percentile of all films

  • I Dream of Jeanie(1952)

    as Mrs. McDowell

    Motif score: 19th percentile of all films

  • On the Loose (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1951)

    as Larry Lindsay

  • Sunny Side of the Street (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1951)

    as Mary

  • I'd Climb the Highest Mountain (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1951)

    as Mrs. Billywith

  • Lux Video Theatre (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1950)

    Show 1 episode · as Anita Cooper · as Evelyn · as Kay Plumber · as Millie Drake

  • Detective's Wife (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1950)

    Show 14 episodes · as Connie Conway

  • The Kid from Cleveland (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1949)

    as Katherine Jackson

  • The Amazing Mr. X(1948)

    as Christine Faber

    Motif score: 56th percentile of all films

  • The Man from Texas(1948)

    as Charlie Jackson

    Motif score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Nocturne(1946)

    as Frances Ransom

    Motif score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Margie (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1946)

    as Miss Isabel Palmer

  • Home Sweet Homicide (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1946)

    as Marian Carstairs

  • Shock(1946)

    as Elaine Jordan

    Motif score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Captain Eddie (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1945)

    as Adelaide Frost Rickenbacker

  • Sweet and Low-Down (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1944)

    as Pat Stirling

  • Take It or Leave It (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1944)

    as (archive footage) (uncredited)

  • Tampico (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1944)

    as Katherine Hall

  • The Bridge of San Luis Rey (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1944)

    as Michaela Villegas

  • Hello Frisco, Hello(1943)

    as Bernice Croft

    Motif score: 60th percentile of all films

  • China Girl(1942)

    as Captain Fifi

    Motif score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Orchestra Wives (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1942)

    as Jaynie Stevens

  • The Magnificent Dope (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1942)

    as Claire Harris

  • The Falcon Takes Over(1942)

    as Ann Riordan

    Motif score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Secret Agent of Japan (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1942)

    as Kay Murdock

  • The Night Before the Divorce(1942)

    as Lynn Nordyke

    Motif score: 24th percentile of all films

  • The Perfect Snob (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1941)

    as Chris Mason

  • Moon Over Her Shoulder (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1941)

    as Susan Rossiter

  • We Go Fast (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1941)

    as Rose Coughlin

  • Sun Valley Serenade(1941)

    as Vivian Dawn

    Motif score: 80th percentile of all films

  • Blood and Sand(1941)

    as Encarnacion

    Motif score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Sleepers West (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1941)

    as Kay Bentley

  • Charter Pilot (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1940)

    as Marge Duncan

  • Kit Carson(1940)

    as Dolores Murphy

    Motif score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Pier 13 (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1940)

    as Sally Kelly

  • Earthbound (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1940)

    as Linda Reynolds

  • Lillian Russell(1940)

    as Edna McCauley

    Motif score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Free, Blonde and 21 (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1940)

    as Carol Northrup

  • City of Chance (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1940)

    as Julie Reynolds

  • City in Darkness (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1939)

    as Marie Dubon

  • Pack Up Your Troubles(1939)

    as Yvonne

    Motif score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Hollywood Cavalcade (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1939)

    as Actress

  • Hotel for Women (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1939)

    as Barbara Hunter

  • News Is Made at Night (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1939)

    as Maxine Thomas

  • Chasing Danger (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1939)

    as Renée Claire

  • The Return of the Cisco Kid (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1939)

    as Ann Carver

  • Pardon Our Nerve (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1939)

    as Terry Wilson

  • Sharpshooters (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1938)

    as Dianne Woodward

  • Meet the Girls (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1938)

    as Terry Wilson

  • I'll Give a Million(1938)

    as Cecelia

    Motif score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Always Goodbye (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1938)

    as Jessica Reid

  • Speed to Burn (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1938)

    as Marion Clark

  • Josette (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1938)

    as Mrs. Elaine Dupree

  • Battle of Broadway (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1938)

    as Marjorie Clark

  • Mr. Moto's Gamble(1938)

    as Penny Kendall

    Motif score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Walking Down Broadway (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1938)

    as Sandra De Voe

  • The Baroness and the Butler(1938)

    as Klari - Maid

    Motif score: 61st percentile of all films

  • City Girl (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1938)

    as Waitress (uncredited)

  • Love and Hisses (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1937)

    as Nightclub Patron (uncredited)

  • Lancer Spy (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1937)

    as Miss Fenwick

  • Wife, Doctor and Nurse (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1937)

    as Party Girl

  • You Can't Have Everything(1937)

    as Girl in YWCA (uncredited)

    Motif score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • She Had to Eat(1937)

    as Crowd Scene Participant (uncredited)

    Motif score: 55th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • This Is My Affair(1937)

    as Party Guest with Keller (uncredited)

    Motif score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Café Metropole (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1937)

    as Patron at Sidewalk Café (uncredited)

  • Fair Warning (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1937)

    as Counter girl

  • Love Is News(1937)

    as 'Babe' - Switchboard Operator (uncredited)

    Motif score: 78th percentile of all films

  • On the Avenue (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1937)

    as Mary Jackson (uncredited)

  • Time Out for Romance(1937)

    as Bridesmaid

    Motif score: 18th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Woman-Wise(1937)

    as Secretary (uncredited)

    Motif score: 81st percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Crack-Up (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1936)

    as Office Worker (uncredited)

  • Under Your Spell (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1936)

    as Airplane Passenger (uncredited)

  • Pigskin Parade(1936)

    as Football Game Spectator (uncredited)

    Motif score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Ladies in Love (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1936)

    as Dress Shop Clerk (uncredited)

  • Sing, Baby, Sing(1936)

    as Hotel Telephone Operator

    Motif score: 28th percentile of all films

  • 36 Hours to Kill(1936)

    as Traveler

    Motif score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Private Number (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1936)

    as Gambler (Uncredited)

  • Everybody's Old Man(1936)

    as Secretary, Miss Burke

    Motif score: 48th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • My Marriage(1936)

    as Pat

    Motif score: 14th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • King of Burlesque(1936)

    as Dancer (uncredited)

    Motif score: 43rd percentile of all films

  • Professional Soldier (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1935)

    as Gypsy Dancer

  • Show Them No Mercy! (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1935)

    as Crowd Scene Member (uncredited)

  • Pirate Party on Catalina Isle (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1935)

    as Girl on Sailboat (uncredited)

  • Thanks a Million (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1935)

    as Phone Operator (uncredited)

  • Music Is Magic (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1935)

    as Theatre Cashier (uncredited)

  • Way Down East (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1935)

    as Dancing Girl at Party (uncredited)

  • The Gay Deception(1935)

    as Milk Fund Ball Attendee (uncredited)

    Motif score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Redheads on Parade (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1935)

    as Waitress (uncredited)

  • The Daring Young Man(1935)

    as Bridesmaid

    Motif score: 38th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Doubting Thomas (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1935)

    as Aspiring Actress

  • Spring Tonic (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1935)

    as Bridesmaid

  • $10 Raise (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1935)

    as Secretary (uncredited)

  • George White's 1935 Scandals (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1935)

    as Chorine (uncredited) · as Chorine

  • Under Pressure(1935)

    as Blonde Brooklyn Girl (uncredited)

    Motif score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Charlie Chan in Paris(1935)

    as Club Patron (uncredited)

    Motif score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Caravan (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1934)

    as Gypsy (Uncredited)

  • Music in the Air(1934)

    as Dancer (uncredited)

    Motif score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • 365 Nights in Hollywood(1934)

    as Showgirl (uncredited)

    Motif score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Handy Andy (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1934)

    as Girl at Train Station (uncredited)

  • Stand Up and Cheer!(1934)

    as White House Secretary / Chorine (uncredited)

    Motif score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Bottoms Up (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1934)

    as Chorine (uncredited)

  • Coming Out Party (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1934)

    as Party Guest

  • David Harum (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1934)

    as Young Townswoman (uncredited)

  • Search for Beauty (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1934)

    as Beauty Contestant Entrant (uncredited)

  • I Am Suzanne! (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1933)

    as Audience Member

  • Dancing Lady(1933)

    as Chorus Girl (uncredited)

    Motif score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Meet the Baron (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1933)

    as College Girl (uncredited)

Career shape

Star power in the 91st percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 130 titles from 1933 to 2015.

Highest rated

Has Anybody Seen My Gal (1952)

Motif 84th

Most popular right now

The Baroness and the Butler (1938)

Film career

Top draw in 2 Motif titles.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting130 of 130: 130 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Motif score56th

By decade

1930s68 · acting1940s32 · acting1950s19 · acting1960s10 · acting2010s1 · acting

Billing

usually 4th · top billed in 0% of 10 roles

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Motif score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on Motif, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30.

How do Lynn Bari's films land?

Their typical Motif film has a Motif score in the 56th percentile, the median of all 40; across their 20 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 58th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

58thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 20

Approval · how many liked their films

57thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 20

Reach · how many have seen their films

44thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 20

Motif score across 42 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up6
  • 50th to 74th18
  • 25th to 49th14
  • Below 25th4

Shape of the crowd

21 of their 42 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved2
  • Divisive2
  • Crowd Pleaser21
  • Broadly Agreed6
  • Mixed11

Most divisive · actor

Woman-Wise (1937)

95th percentile spread · 36% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Has Anybody Seen My Gal (1952)

Motif 84th · 73% liked

Reviewers score the acting 65/100 in their films, across 20 reviewed titles; fans 74, detractors 42. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on Motif; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Motif score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their Motif titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Who does Lynn Bari work with?

People who share at least 2 of Lynn Bari's Motif titles, grouped by what they did on them; David Buttolph shares the most, 5.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers