Barrie Chase

[COP11]

Barrie Chase (born October 20, 1933) is an American actress and dancer originally from Long Island, New York.. When Barrie was six her father moved the family to California so he could start his screen-writing career. She grew up in Encino, and studied ballet. She abandoned her dream of being a ballerina in New York to stay in Los Angeles and help support her mother after her parents' bitter divorce. She worked in the chorus of many Hollywood musicals including, Hans Christian Andersen, Brigadoon, Deep in My Heart, Kismet, Les Girls, Pal Joey, and two Fred Astaire films, Daddy Long Legs and Silk Stockings. She danced on such live TV programs as "The Colgate Comedy Hour" and "The Chrysler Shower of Stars." It was while working as Jack Cole's assistant choreographer at M-G-M that Fred Astaire asked her to be his dancing partner on "An Evening with Fred Astaire."

She made four television appearances as Fred Astaire's partner in his television specials between 1958 and 1968. She also appeared in several film and television roles, including The George Raft Story. She played the beating victim of a sadistic Robert Mitchum in the thriller Cape Fear and the dancing, bikini-clad girlfriend of Dick Shawn's maniacal character in It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963).

Barrie appeared as the dancer Farida in the 1965 movie, The Flight of the Phoenix (starring James Stewart and Richard Attenborough), in a dream sequence. The same year she appeared in a unique episode of Bonanza, playing a saloon dancer who longed to be a ballerina. The episode "Ballerina", a showcase for her talents, was written specifically for her by her brother Frank Chase. In addition, she made seven memorable appearances on ABC-TV's "The Hollywood Palace," and stopped the show each time. Chase retired from performing to devote herself to her husband and child in 1972. She is the daughter of writer Borden Chase and pianist Lee Keith.

Barrie also appeared in the movie White Christmas (starring Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney, and Vera-Ellen) as the chorus girl who says multiple times, "Mutual, I'm sure."

[COP11]

[COP11]