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Barbi Benton was born Barbara Klein in New York on
January 28, 1950. By 1952, her family had moved to
Sacramento, California when her father, a military
doctor, was assigned new duties there. Benton
attended Rio Americano High School in Sacramento
before heading for Los Angeles at age 16, where
she began modeling to supplement her allowance. 

By the time she met Hugh Hefner in 1968, she was
getting regular work on television shows as
diverse as Hee Haw, The Love Boat as well as
Playboy After Dark which filmed A-list
entertainers performing in Hugh Hefner's mansion
surrounded by lovely women. Benton said she
pretended to be Hefner's girlfriend for a couple
of episodes and soon found herself living the role
full time. She was on her way to becoming a
multifaceted icon of 1970s glamor. Shortly after
meeting Hefner, at his suggestion, she changed her
name to the more showbiz-friendly Barbi Benton.
"When he asked me out," Barbi recalls, "I was 18
and he was 42. I said I'd never gone out with
anyone older than 24, and he said, 'That's all
right. Neither have I.' We hit it off right away,
and it lasted for eight years!" 

Benton was Hugh Hefner's own personal playmate
throughout the 1970s, but she also became a
recording star, a Las Vegas headliner and a movie
actress, with credits including Deathstalker, The
Naughty Cheerleader and Hospital Massacre.

Benton has recorded eight albums, the last of
which she personally produced in 1979.  She also
composed the songs, sang them and played piano.

She left Hefner for she eventually realized that
he was not really interested in starting a new
family. Benton married George Gradow, a successful
developer on October 14, 1979. The couple now has
two children, 16 and 18 years old. Benton mostly
concentrates on building and designing homes now.



== Filmography ==
===Motion Picture===
* Schulmädchen 1984
* Deathstalker, 1983
* Hospital Massacre, 1981
* For The Love Of It, 1980
* Naughty Cheerleader, 1972


===Television===
* Playboy's 50th Anniversary (TV, 2003), as
herself.
* Entertainment Tonight (TV, 2002), as herself.
* Playboy: The party continues (TV, 2000), as
herself.
* Hugh Hefner: Once upon a time (TV, 1992), as
herself.
* Barbi Benton Presents: Stripper of the Year (TV,
ca 1990), intro-host.
* Barbi Benton Presents: Best Buns On The Beach
(TV, ca 1990), intro-host.
* Riptide (TV, 1986), playing Gina Potter in
episode Playing Hardball (episode # 3.17).
* Murder, She Wrote (TV, 1986) playing Sue Beth in
episode Murder in the Electric Cathedral (episode
# 2.16).
* Safe at home (TV, ca 1985) playing Connie
Simpson in episode Old flame.
* And the Wall Came Tumbling Down (TV, 1984)
playing Caroline Trent.
* Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer (TV, 1984) playing
Susan Lancaster in episode Catfight (episode #
2.4).
* Matt Houston (TV, 1983) playing Ava Randolph in
episode Purrfect Crime (episode # 1.13).
* The Match Game/Hollywood Squares Hour (TV, 1983)
playing Guest Panelist.
* I love my life (Theatre, 1982). The play was
held January 12-24 at the La Mirada Civic Theatre
in California.
* Fantasy Island (TV, 1982), playing Courtney/Miss
Winslow in episodes House of dolls and Wuthering
heights.
* Circus of the Stars #7 (TV, 1982), performer.
* Fantasy Island (TV, 1981), episodes The Devil
and Mr. Roarke, Ziegfeld Girls and Kid Corey Rides
Again.
* The Love Boat (TV, 1981), playing Cathy Somms in
episodes The nudist from Sunshine Gardens, Eye of
the beholder and Bugged.
* Fantasy Island (TV, 1981), playing Marsha
Garnett/Carla Baines in episodes The man from
yesterday and World's most desirable woman.
* CHiPs (TV, 1981) playing Sal in episode Ponch's
Angels, part 1 and 2 (episodes # 4.14/15).
* Lobo (TV, 1981) playing country singer Kitty
Rhinestone in episode The Cowboy Connection.
* For the love of it (Movie, 1980), playing Anita
Carney.
* Charlie's Angels (TV, 1980), playing Toni Green
in episode Island Angels (episode # 5.5).
* Circus of the Stars #5 (TV, 1980), performer.
* Fantasy Island (TV, 1980), playing Molly
Delahanti in episodes The love doctor, Pleasure
palace and Possessed.
* Fantasy Island (TV, 1980), playing Erica Clark
in episodes Playgirl and Smith's Valhalla.
* The Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson (TV,
1980), guest.
* Circus of the Stars #4 (TV, 1979), performer.
* The Love Boat (TV, 1979) playing Lucy in
episodes Not now, I'm dying, Eleanor's return and
Too young to love.
* Vega$ (TV, 1979), playing Holly in episode
Design For Death (episode # 2.5).
* Fantasy Island (TV, 1979), playing Bunny Kelly
in episodes Baby and Marathon: Battle of the
sexes.
* Fantasy Island (TV, 1978), playing Dee Dee
Verona in episodes The Appointment and Mr. Tattoo.
* The Hollywood Squares (TV, 1978) playing Guest
Panelist.
* America 2Night (TV, 1978), as herself, receiving
the UBS Liftetime Achievement Award.
* The Love Boat (TV, 1978) playing Kiki Atwood in
episode Marooned, part 1 and 2 (episodes #
2.26/27).
* The Love Boat (TV, 1978) playing Brigitte in
episodes Computerman, Parlez-Vous and Memories of
you.
* Fantasy Island (TV, 1978) playing Shirley
Russell in episode Poof, you're a movie star
(episode # 1.12).
* Murder at the Mardi Gras (TV, 1978) as herself.
* Sugar Time! (TV, 1977), playing Maxx Douglas.
* Nashville on the road (TV, 1975), artist.
* McCloud (TV, 1975), playing Shannon Forbes in
episode Park Avenue Pirates.
* The American Bandstand (TV, 1975), guest artist.
* The Third Girl from the Left (TV, 1973), playing
Melanie.
* The Great American Beauty Contest (TV, 1973) as
Miss Iowa.
* The Midnight Special (TV, 1973), as herself.
* Marcus Welby, M.D. (TV, 1972), playing Liz in
episode: We'll Walk Out of Here Together (episode
# 4.3).
* Hee Haw (TV, 1969), as herself.
* Playboy After Dark (TV, 1968), as herself.
* The Sonny & Cher Show (TV), as herself.
* L'Uomo del colpo perfetto (Movie, 1968), as girl
in bed.


== External Links ==
* imdb name|id=0072902|name=Barbi Benton
*
http://www.playboy.com/worldofplayboy/hmh/hefsladi
es/benton.html Playboy.com Hef's Special Ladies