BarBara Luna Biography

Early Life & Education of Barbara Luna

Barbara Luna, an American actress with an extensive list of roles in television, films, and musicals grew up in Manhattan with her parents. The 78-years-old  belongs to Italian, Spanish, Filipino, and Portuguese and Hungarian-Jewish ancestry.

 She is well known for her roles such as “Five Weeks in a Balloon” and Lt. Marlena Moreau in the typical Star Trek episode “Mirror, Mirror."

In high school, Barbara was cast in the Broadway smash musical South Pacific, a part that required singing and speaking only in French. She also got the understudy role of Lotus Blossom for Teahouse of the August Moon, a part that time was wholly in Japanese.

After she had graduated, she got the lead role in Teahouse and toured with the show's company for three months.

Barbara Luna's Career

Barbara Luna started her career with small parts and cameos for TV shows and motion pictures. She made her big screen debut in 1958 in “Tank Battalion," a Korean War drama. Luna was cast as Frank Sinatra’s blind girlfriend for “The Devil at 4 O’clock” in 1961, which leads to more interesting roles.

Barbara acted in some 500 TV shows, such as “Walt Disney’s Zorro," where she was a recurring role, in the “Joaquin” arc as Theresa. She played the character of Rikki Stevens in 1958 Perry Mason episode, “The Case of the Sardonic Sergeant, in “The Wild Wild West" as Gatita.

Luna featured in “Hawaii Five-O” for two episodes, and also appeared as guest characters on the original “Mission: Impossible," as well as guest featuring role in the 1980s remake of that series.

One of  Luna's renowned character was Lt. Marlena Moreau in the “Mirror, Mirror” episode of Star Trek: The Original Series in 1967. She has also acted in the TV soap operas “Search for Tomorrow” and “One Life to Live." She also performed as Marnya on The Man from U.N.C.L.E. episode “The Man from THRUSH Affair."

Apart from television and films, Luna actively continued in musicals. She performed as Anita in 5 companies of “West Side Story," such as a revival at Lincoln Center in the New York City. Her last Broadway show was “A Chorus Line” in the character of Diana Morales in 1976.

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Barbara Eden,  Christine Lahti, Bonnie Bedelia

Social Works

Nowadays, Barbara Luna is mainly active as a spokesperson for the “Thalian Organization," a charity foundation at Cedars-Sinai Hospital. She likes to travel around the globe to attend Star Trek conventions and meeting her fans have been very useful, rewarding, and fun for her.

Barbara Luna is a keen sports fan, and she loves playing tennis, golf, and dancing on roller skates.

Barbara Luna's Personal Life

At the age of 78, Barbara still looks beautiful. Talking about her personal life, she is currently single. However, Luna married at the age of 22 to an American actor, Doug McClure. The couple tied the knot on December 17, 1961.

But unfortunately, their marriage did not last long. The ex-couple stayed together for 2-years and they decided to divorce in 1963. Although, the ex-duo didn't have any children together.