Alexander Crichlow Barker (1919 - 1973)

Born 8 May 1919 in Rye, Westchester, New York, United States

Husband of Arlene Carol Dahl — married 16 Apr 1951 (to 1952) in New York City, New York, United States

Husband of Julia Jean Mildred Francis Turner — married 7 Sep 1953 (to 22 Jul 1957) in Turin, Piedmont, Italy

Husband of Irene Lambhart — married 14 Mar 1959 in Lucerne, Switzerland

Died 11 May 1973 at age 54 in New York City, New York, United States

Profile manager: David Pierce [send private message]

Biography

Lex Barker was an American actor best known for playing Tarzan and leading characters from the novels of Karl May.

Lex's name at birth was Alexander Crichlow Barker. He was born 8 May 1919 at Rye, Westchester, New York^[1], the son of Alexander Crichlow Barker Sr. and Marion Thornton Beals.^[2]

He married Constance Thurlow 27 June 1942 in New York City. She was the daughter of Leon Rhodes and Florence Thurlow. At the time of their marriage, Constance listed her occupation as a photographer.^[3] They were the parents of two children and then divorced in 1950. Constance was later married to John Lawrence Adams.

He was married the actress Arlene Dahl 16 April 1951 in Manhattan, New York City.^[4][5] "Arlene, Barker, Get the License." Red-headed actress Arlene Dahl, 25, and Lex Barker, 31, who plays Tarzan in the movies, took out a marriage license at the Municipal Building yesterday. Barker, a New York socialite, gave his full name, Alexander Crichlow Barker Jr. The couple said they would be married next Tuesday at the Central Presbyterian Church, 64th St. and Park Avenue."^[6]

He was married to the actress Lana Turner twice. They first married in Turin, Italy 7 September 1953. "Witnesses were two attorneys, Luciano Salza and Guyido Abrasino, who had cut red tape to get around the Italian rules requiring a 300-day waiting period after divorce and a two-week notice of intention to wed."^[7] They were married a second time a few months later 24 December 1953 in Los Angeles, California.^[8] They were divorced 22 July 1957.

He was married to a Swiss actress, Irene Labhart, 14 March 1959 in Lucerne, Switzerland.^[9] She died in 1962 from leukemia. They were the parents of one child, a son.^[10]

He passed away 11 May 1973 of a heart attack while walking down the street on his way to meet his finacee.

Funeral is Held for Lex Barker^[11]

New York (UPI)--Funeral was Tuesday for Lex Barker, the 10th man to play Tarzan in the movies.

Among the 54 persons who attended were his widow, Carmen Seguras, and Arlene Dahl, whom he married in 1951 and who divorced him a year later.

Barker died of a heart attack Friday while walking down Lexington Avenue to keep a lunch date. He had celebrated his 53rd birthday three days before.

After the Tarzan role, Barker appeared in such Westerns as "Thunder Over the Plains," "Man from Bitter Ridge,' and "Duel on the Mississippi."

He left Hollywood in the late 1950s and starred in Italian, French and German films.

Sources

1. ↑ Alexander C Barker Jr in the New York State, Birth Index, 1881-1942. Name: Alexander C Barker Jr Birth Date: 8 May 1919 Birth Place: Port Chester, New York, USA Certificate Number: 40439.
2. ↑ "United States Census, 1920", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MV38-8TC : 2 February 2021), Alexander C Barker in entry for Alexander C Barker, 1920.
3. ↑ Constance Rhodes Thorlow in the New York, New York, Index to Marriage Licenses, 1908-1910, 1938-1940. Name: Constance Rhodes Thorlow Gender: Female Race: White Marriage Age: 24 Birth Date: Jul 1917 Birth Place: New York City Marriage Date: 27 Jan 1942 Marriage Place: New York, Manhattan, New York, New York, USA Residence Street Address: Park Ave. Occupation: Photographer Father: Leon Rhodes Thorlow Mother : Florence Thorlow Spouse: Alexander C. Barker Certificate Number: 02072.
4. ↑ "New York, New York City Marriage Licenses Index, 1950-1995," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QLS5-TMQW : 19 June 2017), Alexander C Barker Jr and Arlene C Dahl, 1951, Manhattan, New York City, New York, United States;Marriage, Manhattan, New York City, New York, United States, from Reclaim the Records, The NYC Marriage Index (http://www.nycmarriageindex.com : 2016); citing New York City Clerk's Office.
5. ↑ San Francisco Chronicle Monday, Apr 16, 1951 San Francisco, CA Page: 18.
6. ↑ Daily News (New York, New York) 13 Apr 1951, Fri Page 476.
7. ↑ Lana Turner Married to Movie Star Barker Dallas Morning News Tuesday, Sep 08, 1953 Dallas, TX Page: 5.
8. ↑ "California, County Marriages, 1850-1952," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K86Z-S49 : 9 March 2021), Alexander Crichlow Barker and Lana Turner, 24 Dec 1953; citing Los Angeles, California, United States, county courthouses, California; FHL microfilm 1,343,366.
9. ↑ Providence Journal Sunday, Mar 15, 1959 Providence, RI Page: 108.
10. ↑ Evening Star (Washington) October 24, 1962.
11. ↑ Arkansas Gazette Wednesday, May 16, 1973 Little Rock, AR Page: 39

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