Biography
Barbara Ann Goldbach, born on August 27, 1947, is an American actress and model. She was born in Queens, New York, to Howard, a policeman, and Marjorie Goldbach. As the eldest of five siblings, Barbara began her modeling career in New York. In 1966, she met Augusto Gregorini, who was visiting from Italy on a business trip. She soon moved to Italy to be with him, and they married in 1968. The couple had two children: Francesca (born 1969) and Gian Andrea (born 1972). During Gian Andrea's birth, complications from the umbilical cord wrapped around his neck led to a cerebral palsy diagnosis, though surgery later improved his condition.
Barbara launched her acting career in Italy, debuting in the 1968 TV mini-series Odissea under the name Barbara Gregorini. She appeared in several giallo and horror films such as Black Belly of the Tarantula and Short Night of the Glass Dolls (both 1971), as well as crime thrillers including Stateline Motel (1973) and Street Law (1974). In 1975, after separating from Augusto, Barbara relocated to Los Angeles to advance her career. They divorced in 1978 and shared custody of their children. During this period, she gained fame portraying Russian secret agent Major Anya Amasova / Agent XXX in The Spy Who Loved Me (1977).
Returning to Italian cinema in the late 1970s, Barbara took on supporting and leading roles in films like The Humanoid (1979), The Great Alligator (1979), and Screamers (1979), earning her the nickname "Queen of the B Movies" in the press. In 1979, she was considered for the role of Tiffany Welles in Charlie’s Angels but lost the part to Shelley Hack, reportedly because she was deemed too attractive. She then appeared in the 1980 comedy Up the Academy, produced by her then-boyfriend Danton Rissner, and starred as a threatened TV reporter in the horror film The Unseen (1980).
In 1980, Barbara met musician Ringo Starr on the set of Caveman, and they began a relationship during filming. While on holiday in December 1980, they were informed by her daughter of John Lennon’s shooting. The couple traveled to New York to support Yoko Ono and Sean Lennon. Barbara and Ringo married on April 27, 1981. They admitted to spending much of the 1980s partying and eventually entered a rehabilitation center in Tucson, Arizona, in 1988 to turn their lives around. By then, Barbara had ended her show business career. She later earned a Master’s degree in psychology from UCLA and now dedicates her time to charitable endeavors.
(Biography by Jeannette, Pedro, and Justin)
