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March 27, 2021

30 Fabulous Photos of a Young Barbi Benton in the 1970s and ’80s

Born 1950 as Barbara Lynn Klein in New York City, Barbi Benton began to model at the age of 16, and at age 18 took a job with Playboy to appear on their entertainment show Playboy After Dark. She appeared on the cover of Playboy four times: July 1969, March 1970, May 1972, and December 1985. Though she was featured in a number of photo-essays, she was never a Playmate of the Month. She landed a spot on television’s Hee Haw doing short comedy sketches, and subsequently enjoyed a career as a country singer.



Benton also began acting, and appeared in the West German comedy film The Naughty Cheerleader (1970), before appearing as a featured repeat performer on a number of popular television series, including The Bobby Vinton Show in 1976, The Love Boat and Fantasy Island.

Benton lived with Hefner from 1969 until 1976 and is known for discovering the Playboy Mansion West, where Hefner resided until his death in 2017. Years later, when the television series The Girls Next Door visited her in Aspen, Colorado, she expressed gratitude that the two had remained friends.

Benton left Hee Haw after four seasons to concentrate on a more Hollywood-oriented career. She also starred in the short-lived 1977 ABC-TV comedy series Sugar Time! and in films including the slasher Hospital Massacre (1982).

Benton achieved some success as a recording artist. Her record “Brass Buckles” (1975) was a top-five hit on Billboard’s country singles chart. She has recorded eight albums, the last of which she personally produced in 1979, and also composed the songs, sang them, and played piano. One of her better-known songs was “Ain’t That Just the Way” (1976).

Take a look at these fabulous photos to see portrait of a young Barbi Benton in the 1970s and 1980s.






























10 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. It's NOT hard not to remember her name even if someone has alzeimers.

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  2. I remember her pictures from the Playboy. I've forgotten a lot of things in 50 years but not Barbie

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  3. In one of her photos which has legs she appears to be 5 feet 7 inches; then a later photo by a porch she looks like she's 5 feet 3 inches. It don't matter she has beautiful EYEs!

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  4. Had her centerfold on my bedroom wall in high school! The most beautiful playmate in my opinion.

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  5. I saw Barbi in 1978 in LA. Me and some HS friends took a trip to LA to see a VW Bug-In event. We were just riding around Beverly Hills sightseeing when a red MB 500SL rolled up next to us at the red light. I glanced over and it was Barbi! Knew right away from my "research" and the great articles in Playboy. Ha! So pretty, she smiled at me, the light changed she drove off and all I saw was the California plate that read "Barbi 10". I was stunned as a 18yo from the east coast. A memory I cherish!

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  6. Cool story...& lifetime memory!...I got lucky out of the blue in 1975...when I accidently hooked up with Susan Dey for a long night. Wonderful night ; Wonderful Lady...& just may not be....well.....all you may think. I never want to hurt her.

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  7. Now that’s a real life Barbi

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  8. Stevie Nicks is the queen of rock. She's the ONLY female inducted into the rock and roll hall of fame TWICE.

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  9. Although 5'3" Barbi Benton isn't really a Jane Powell "Goody Two Shoes" type I do love Barbi! She made a Sucrets Cough Control Formula Lozenge commercial in which she was asked to cough battling a bad head cold and coughed up a storm and she coined the "I'm Up To My Knees In Comfort!" saying in her sweet L'eggs knee highs commercial in 1977 sings nice dances is super in flowing long gowns yet she can wear pantyhose under her jeans nicely (like in a Facebook picture I just added) and even at 74 is just as pretty now as what she was in her younger days! Love you!

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