In Memory of 'Gomer Pyle' Actress Barbara Stuart: 13 Years After Her Tragic Muscular Disease Demise

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It's been 13 years since actress Barbara Stuart, best known as Frank Sutton's no-nonsense girlfriend Bunny on TV's Gomer Pyle - USMC sitcom (CBS, 1964-1969), died from a muscular disease on May 15, 2011. She was 81 years old, and this is her story.

A Closer Look

Barbara Stuart was born Barbara Ann McNeese on January 3, 1930, in Paris, Illinois, and was raised close by in Hume. After graduating from high school, Stuart enrolled in acting classes at the Schuster-Martin School of Drama in Cincinnati and then relocated to New York, where she studied with Stella Adler and Uta Hagen. To fund her lessons, she modeled on the side and later changed her surname to Stuart (a family moniker).

With her uniquely appraisive, yet appealing style of acting, Stuart received her first break when cast in the touring live-stage production of Zero Mostel's comedy, Lunatics and Lovers.

Then Came Television

In 1954, Barbara Stuart made her TV debut in an episode of the syndicated series I Led Three Lives (1953-1956). She followed that up with recurring roles as the inept secretary in the radio-show-turned-movie-turned NBC-TV series, The Great Gildersleeve (1955-1956) and as Gladys’ friend Alice on Pete and Gladys (CBS, 1960-61).

Stuart would mostly make guest-star appearances, but in doing so, she also made an impression. Case in point: Her stand-out performance as Frank Sutton's brassy girlfriend Bunny in 21 episodes on Gomer Pyle.

A few years later, she played Peggy Geruson, the wife to former TV M*A*S*H star in the short-lived McLean Stevenson Show. (NBC, 1976-1977). One decade later, Stuart was cast in the briefly-run drama, Our Family Honor (ABC, 1985-1986), playing Marianne Danzig, wife to Eli Wallach's crime lord Vincent Danzig.

Stuart also made appearances in the acclaimed TV legal drama, L.A. Law (NBC, 1986-1994), and in the 1980 mega-hit comedy feature film, Airplane.

Stuart concluded her career with a recurring role as one of Blythe Danner’s bridge partners on the TV series Huff (Showtime, 2004-2006).

Married only once (a rarity by Hollywood standards), Stuart was the second wife to singer-actor Dick Gautier (Hymie the Robot from Get Smart, NBC, 1965-1970); a union that blessed her with three stepchildren (Chrissie, Randy, and Denise Gauthier).

In Retrospect

Dedicated to her craft, Barbara Stuart infused her artistic talent and likable personality into every role she played. Stuart's performances, particularly as Bunny on Gomer Pyle, will remain cherished by classic TV and movie fans around the globe.