Long before Barbara Stanwyck walked proudly through the scenes of The Big Valley as matriarch of the Barkley family Victoria Barkley, she had built a film career that most female actors would be envious of. In fact, though she is still widely known as the matriarch of the Barkley family, Victoria Barkley, she is ranked as the American Film Institutes’ 11th Greatest Female Star of All Time.

Barbara Stanwyck was born Ruby Stevens in 1907 and made her film debut in 1927. She received four Academy Award nominations and won three Emmy Awards during her a career that lasted until 1986. Stanwyck caught the eye of early directors and producers who became big believers in her acting ability. She was also widely known as one of the nicest actresses in all of Hollywood.

Some of Barbara Stanwyck’s most notable films include:
Annie Oakley
Stella Dallas
Union Pacific
Golden Boy
The Lady Eve
Meet John Doe
Double Indemnity
Titanic
Cattle Queen Of Montana (costarring Ronald Reagan)

But, it was The Big Valley which ran from 1965 to 1969 that put Miss Stanwyck in the hearts of TV Western fans for life. Her role as Victoria Barkley cast her as the female version of Lorne Greene’s Ben Cartwright on Bonanza, another western of that era. She excelled greatly at playing the proud female lead in a show set in such a manly world. Though the show itself only lasted five years, it is remembered fondly and she was eventually inducted into the Western Performers Hall of Fame.

Barbara Stanwyck finished her career with an Emmy winning role in the TV mini series The Thorn Birds followed by playing the matriarch on the 1980s Dynasty spin-off The Colbys for one season before settling into retirement. Miss Stanwyck passed away on January 20th, 1990 due to congestive heart disease.