Barbi Benton

Barbi Benton, or real name Barbara Lynn Klein, was born in New York City, to a Jewish family. She started her career in modeling at the young age of 16. She initially started as an extra on the show, but after host Hugh Hefner fell in love with Benton, her role was quickly elevated to co-host. The two began a relationship that lasted several years, and placed Benton in the center of the Playboy enterprise.

Aside from modeling, Barbi also got her hands into acting and bagged sexy roles for Fantasy Island and The Love Boat. Barbi then shifted to singing and launched a country album entitled Brass Buckles in 1975. Despite huge success in her career, Barbi’s personal life was faced with a few challenges including her husband George Gradow’s imprisonment. In 2006, Barbi and Gradow had to consult their attorney as the latter was slapped with tax fraud cases.