At 91 years old, Barbara Feldon, the iconic Agent 99 from the beloved 1960s spy comedy “Get Smart,” is finally breaking her silence about the dark and tangled web behind the show that made television history. In a candid and emotional revelation, Feldon has peeled back the curtain on a world of deception, hidden addictions, and a marriage to a man she now describes as a phony spy, all while exposing the sinister backstory that nearly derailed her career before it even began. The truth, she says, is far more complex and troubling than any script ever written for Maxwell Smart and his clever partner.
Feldon’s journey to stardom began in the quiet suburb of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, where she was born Barbara Ann Hall on March 12, 1933. Growing up with her older sister Patricia and her parents, she enjoyed a peaceful childhood in a neighborhood that seemed a world away from the glitz and grit of Hollywood. Her father worked tirelessly at a paperbox factory, while her mother managed the household, but it was Barbara’s artistic spark that set her apart.
From a young age, she was drawn to the arts, discovering a passion for acting in high school that would consume her. She trained for hours at the Pittsburgh Playhouse, a renowned institution for young actors, and her talent blossomed. When it came time for college, she chose to pursue 𝒹𝓇𝒶𝓂𝒶 at the Carnegie Institute of Technology, now known as Carnegie Mellon University, one of the top 𝒹𝓇𝒶𝓂𝒶 schools in the nation.
By the time she graduated in 1955, she had built a solid foundation in acting, joining the Delta Sigma chapter of the Kappa Alpha Theta sorority and immersing herself in campus life. Yet, it was a quirk of her physiology that would become her signature on screen: her nearsightedness gave her an intense, captivating gaze that made her performances unforgettable. What might have been a minor annoyance in daily life became a defining characteristic of her acting style.
In 1957, Feldon moved to New York City with the intention of becoming an actor, but like many newcomers, she struggled to find parts. She supported herself by working as a showgirl at the Copacabana nightclub and participating in a revival of “Ziegfeld Follies,” but these jobs only gave her stage confidence, not her dream role. A fortuitous meeting at a party changed everything.
A successful model named Jillis Mill encouraged her to try modeling, and despite initial reluctance, Feldon gave it a shot. She quickly transitioned to high fashion, working as a house model for designer Pauline Trigère, and soon earned far more money than she had as a struggling actress. Modeling taught her how to work with cameras, project confidence, and understand lighting and styling, skills that would prove invaluable later.
But it was an unexpected turn on television that launched her into the spotlight. In the same year, she won The $64,000 Question, one of the most popular game shows of the time, by choosing Shakespeare as her subject. Despite mediocre grades in undergraduate 𝒹𝓇𝒶𝓂𝒶 studies, she spent up to 14 hours a day studying, and her brilliance and composure astounded viewers.
She lost her chance to double her winnings on The $128,000 Question a few weeks later, but the victory brought her a brief moment of stardom. She and her husband used the prize money to open an art gallery in Greenwich Village, specializing in abstract expressionist art, but the venture faced financial difficulties. After her husband returned to advertising, Feldon was once again searching for new opportunities.
That opportunity came in the form of a commercial for Revlon’s Top Brass hair pomade. In the ad, Feldon lay on a tiger rug in animal prints, calling male audience members “Tigers” in a sensual and playful manner that was unlike anything on TV at the time. The commercial became a sensation, and Feldon gained notoriety as the “Tiger Girl.”
It was exciting, but also frustrating. The pay was amazing, with one commercial bringing in more money than an entire season of “Get Smart.” However, casting directors now viewed her only as a commercial actor.
She landed guest spots on shows like “Flipper,” “12 O’Clock High,” and “The Man from U. N. C.
L. E. ,” but she was still not getting the parts she desired.
Then, a surprise call came in. She was spotted in the Revlon commercial by Mel Brooks and Buck Henry, the creators of “Get Smart.” Their attention was drawn not just to her attractiveness, but to her charm, presence, and charisma, which they believed could be useful in a comic role.
Leonard Stern, one of the show’s producers, later said they took notice of Feldon’s extremely sensual performance in the advertisement. However, some did not think she was a good fit due to her endorsement of a rival product. One of the show’s advertisers raised an objection, and their CEO requested her termination just two weeks into the filming process.
Feldon attempted to resist, explaining that the advertisement had been filmed long before she was cast, and even Revlon decided to stop airing it. But it didn’t seem to make a difference. Then, the unexpected occurred: NBC refused to give up on her.
She remained on the program. When “Get Smart” became a tremendous success a year later, the CEO who had tried to fire her invited her for a photo op. She recognized her victory and grinned for the camera, but this was only the beginning of the challenges she faced.
Playing Agent 99 was already unusual at the time. Women were typically portrayed as supporting roles in 1960s television, not high-level spies. They were often in distress, awaiting rescue if they were actively participating.
Agent 99 was different. She had intelligence, competence, and a constant sense of anticipation. Even though Don Adams’ character, Maxwell Smart, was referred to as the top agent, everyone knew who actually completed the task.
The show’s writers, Mel Brooks and Buck Henry, wrote Agent 99 as a fusion of the 1950s conservative woman and the 1960s emerging independent spirit. To preserve Max’s dignity, she occasionally let him take the initiative, but she never had to demonstrate her superior intelligence. She was just capable.
Then there was the problem of height. Feldon stood at 5’9″, taller than Adams, which presented a challenge in a field where the tallest male leads were expected to dominate. She frequently had to go barefoot or slump in scenes to correct it, and Adams occasionally stood on platforms to level the playing field.
It was a minor detail, but it demonstrated how powerful women sharing the limelight was still unusual on television. Despite all of this, the show was a success. One of the most memorable comedies of its era, “Get Smart” thrived on the chemistry between Feldon and Adams.
Agent 99 was usually composed and capable, whereas Max was awkward and overconfident. The show worked because of their relationship, and viewers adored it.
Barbara Feldon once revealed an unexpected fact about Don Adams: he seldom practiced at all. While other performers spent hours practicing every action and their lines, Adams trusted his instincts. He had such lightning-fast timing that he could make a mediocre joke hilarious.
It wasn’t just his personality that spoke with such clarity; he had modeled it after William Powell, an actor he loved for his quick delivery and rhythm. Adams fully trusted himself on set, frequently altering words at the last minute or changing the timing of a joke to make it more humorous. That worked for the slapstick and wordplay elements of the show, but it was difficult for some viewers to follow up.
Barbara Feldon acknowledged that his brilliance could be difficult, but she still admired it. Whatever he threw into a scene, she had to adjust in real time. Adams valued spontaneity over the planned rehearsals that some directors and actors desired.
It was a success; he took home three consecutive Emmys for “Get Smart,” demonstrating the accuracy of his intuition. In real life, Adams and Feldon were never a couple, despite their strong onscreen chemistry, especially at the beginning. They had a professional, occasionally even formal, connection.
For most of the show, Adams was married, and Feldon had a life apart from the set. She once claimed that there was no chance of romance because they were from different worlds. However, they eventually became good friends when they got together once more for “Get Smart” in 1989.
They had a closer bond, and although their fans may have desired their union, their true bond was based on respect and trust.
Working on “Get Smart” presented some difficulties, with Mel Brooks and Buck Henry in charge. They had high expectations and expected every joke to be delivered flawlessly. Although such pressure made the show fantastic, it also made the task quite demanding.
Even when the demand seemed too much to handle, Feldon praised their brilliance. The way they penned Agent 99 particularly impressed her. Female characters in most 1960s television programs were either romantic interests or sidekicks, but 99 was different.
She had intelligence and ability, always on par with Maxwell Smart, even when he made mistakes while completing assignments. “Get Smart” distinguished itself from other comedies with that balance. Feldon’s favorite episode was “The Impossible Mission,” which aired in 1968.
It featured every aspect of the show that she cherished: humor, action, and a brief romantic moment between 99 and Max. In one scenario, Max tells her that he would have liked to live with her in a different situation, and she interprets it as a proposal, adding an emotional element to the typical comedy. It also included one of the series’ finest parodies of “Mission Impossible,” which was popular at the time.
A self-destructing tape recorder gives Max commands, much like in the spy 𝒹𝓇𝒶𝓂𝒶, but with a ludicrous twist. Max and 99’s disguises to elude chaos agents were another highlight. Feldon was able to showcase her comedic abilities by dressing up as Charlie Chaplin and performing a sequence from a silent movie.
The episode was a favorite long after the show ended because she appreciated that blend of romance and humor. “Get Smart” is even now regarded as a classic comedy on television, with Don Adams’ timing and Barbara Feldon’s charm and intelligence contributing to its enduring relevance.
Following the conclusion of “Get Smart” in 1970, Barbara Feldon encountered an unexpected challenge. She had portrayed Agent 99 for five years, a role that brought her fame, but that notoriety had a price. Hollywood was unable to see her in any other light.
Casting directors only saw the brilliant and fashionable spy, no matter how hard she tried to move on. For a year after the show’s conclusion, she hardly worked because of the intense typecasting. People laughed at her presence even when she tried out for serious parts.
Even if the scene wasn’t funny, it made no difference; the crowd thought about Agent 99 as soon as she came. She persisted in moving forward, appearing as a guest on popular shows including “Mad About You” and “Cheers.” She portrayed the romantic interest of Sam Malone in a Valentine’s Day episode of “Cheers,” and her portrayal of a former TV spy star on “Mad About You” was obviously influenced by her own experiences.
Although these roles were enjoyable, they had little effect. They served as a reminder of where she was familiar. It was a different time in the history of the entertainment business; actors had a harder time transitioning from television to movies than they do now.
The character that made her famous seemed to be holding her back, and she felt trapped in it. Nothing she tried to break into the film industry was as successful as “Get Smart.” She co-starred with Dick Van Dyke and Friz Freleng in 1967, a humorous light-hearted show, and portrayed a romantic interest entangled in a theft.
The movie was a success, but it didn’t advance her career. She portrayed a chilly, egocentric beauty contest organizer in “Smile” in 1975. Although the film received positive reviews and was incisive, Feldon did not start over.
She starred in several movies, such as “No Deposit, No Return,” but none of them altered Hollywood’s perception of her. It was partly a time issue; male leads starred in the majority of films during that time, and women were rarely given good roles. Her opportunities in movies were likewise limited because she never gave Los Angeles her all.
Despite these disappointments, she didn’t focus on the things she couldn’t alter. Her attention was on what she could. She secured employment in voiceover and hosting, and her voice gained popularity in the 1970s and 1980s through advertisements for companies like Revlon.
The Tournament of Roses Parade and other major events were presented by her, along with entertainment news programming. Without having to deal with the annoyances of typecasting, voiceover work allowed her to maintain a connection with listeners. She eventually discovered that she was more attracted to more subdued artistic activities, such as writing.
However, her feelings about her work as a celebrity were one of the biggest surprises she ever revealed. She never wanted to be famous, so it felt weird when it came to her. At one point, she compared it to living someone else’s life.
She never thought of herself as a star, yet she was treated like one. She was aware that celebrity may pass as fast as it came, and she resisted letting it define who she was. The decisions she made afterward were influenced by that thinking.
Her attention shifted from Hollywood to writing. Instead of pursuing roles, she wrote the book “Living Alone and Loving It,” which is about being independent. Readers were moved by it and appreciated her candor.
Despite being one of the most well-known faces on TV at one point, she refused to let her popularity rule her. Rather, she created a pleasant life for herself outside of her role as Agent 99.
The love life of Barbara Feldon was characterized by passion, heartache, and, in the end, personal growth. In 1958, her first marriage to Lucien Verdu Feldon began as a dream. He sounded like he came from an espionage thriller, with a European accent and a mysterious past.
In addition to claiming to be a pilot, he made references to being a real spy. It was exciting for a young actress just starting out in show business. Reality, however, quickly caught up.
A sinister side existed in Lucien. He battled substance 𝓪𝓫𝓾𝓼𝓮, infidelity, and gambling. Because of his excessive gambling, he spent a large portion of Barbara’s winnings from The $64,000 Question, in which she had proven to have a remarkable understanding of Shakespeare.
He had been pretending to be Barbara, but as the marriage fell apart, the allure vanished and disappointment took its place. The marriage broke down in 1967. Despite the divorce, Barbara continued to use his last name in her professional life.
She was well known by that point because she was Agent 99 on “Get Smart,” and altering her name might have hampered her burgeoning career. Lucien did something unexpected when she died in 1991. Years later, she gave a speech at his funeral.
Nevertheless, she viewed their time together as an adventure. Despite being traumatic, that period of her life had molded her. Barbara fell in love once more shortly after her divorce, this time with “Get Smart” producer Burt Nella.
They were together for more than 10 years, from 1968 until 1979, but they didn’t get married or have kids. After a while, Barbara came to the conclusion that they were not destined to be lifemates. The closeness they had formed maintained even after their relationship ended.
They remained close even after they parted ways, until Burt’s death. This time in her life was a watershed. Following the split, Barbara returned to New York City, but rather than looking for a new romance, she chose to accept her aloneness.
Loneliness wasn’t the problem; independence was the cause. For her, being single was not a cause for sympathy. She viewed it as a chance instead.
She had the flexibility to develop, pursue new hobbies, and form close connections while living alone. She was not sorry she hadn’t gotten married again or had kids. The notion that family and marriage were the sources of fulfillment had long been promoted by society, but those expectations never made Barbara feel under strain.
She talked openly in interviews about how much she enjoyed being alone herself. She saw how cultural attitudes changed over time; more people grew to believe that one could be content on their own. That was a welcome change for her.
Upon reflection, her journey encompassed more than just love and sorrow. It had to do with self-discovery. She demonstrated that happiness can be found in other people, but sometimes it originates within.
“Living Alone and Loving It” by Barbara Feldon offers more than just tips for surviving alone. The termination of her long-term relationship marked the beginning of this personal journey, which would be a loss to most people. She viewed it as a chance.
Feldon had been in the news for years, most famously as Agent 99 on “Get Smart,” but when she was living alone, she came to a significant realization: it’s not necessary to be with someone to be happy. Being single is often interpreted by society as a sign that something is lacking, but Feldon does not agree. She thinks it might be liberating to be alone.
It provides an opportunity for growth, to investigate their own path, and to develop a solid sense of self. She offers advice on how to stop thinking negatively and discover joy in daily life in her book. Setting your own hours, making choices without compromising, and figuring out what makes you happy are all freedoms she discusses.
People at all phases of life can relate to her comments, from older people adapting to change to young folks becoming more independent. To give her observations a more deliberate touch, she even incorporates advice from authors like Rainer Maria Rilke. Her message is straightforward at its essence: loneliness does not necessarily follow from being alone.
It could also be a period of self-discovery and fulfillment. Fame has never peaked Feldon’s attention more than personal development. She never sought fame, but “Get Smart” made her a star.
Although she appreciated the thrill, she was aware of the drawbacks. Being famous can be lonely, and her desire for something more profound became clear to her over time. It came from writing.
It evolved into a method for her to better understand herself and establish deeper connections with other people. At 90 years old, she continues to emphasize the value of living a genuine life. She appreciates self-acceptance and simplicity.
According to her, success isn’t about maintaining fame; finding contentment in your identity is the goal.
Feldon’s refusal to accept significant acting roles is among her most unexpected traits. She got to play important roles after “Get Smart,” but she declined them. Even cameos in “Get Smart” remakes, such as the 2008 film starring Anne Hathaway and Steve Carell, were turned down by her.
She believed that the unique qualities of the original would not be captured by these initiatives. In her older years, Barbara Feldon, the actress who portrayed Agent 99 on “Get Smart,” has opted for a calm and contemplative lifestyle. A short stroll from Central Park and the Guggenheim Museum, she resides alone in a quiet apartment on Manhattan’s Upper East Side.
The room is lovely and simple, with wooden floors, high ceilings, and lots of light coming in through the wide windows. Her personality is reflected in the space, which is serene, clutter-free, and cozy. Although it wasn’t initially her intention, she eventually grew to appreciate the independence that living alone offered.
She penned “Living Alone and Loving It,” a book about finding contentment in solitude, in 2003. She had been dating for years, and although she had previously shared her life in spaces with others, she gradually came to embrace the tranquility that came with being alone. Writing became one of her favorite things to do.
She wrote writings for Metropolitan Magazine and released her memoir, “Getting Smarter,” in 2024. In it, she writes about the lessons she has learned about career, love, and the value of independence. Even though she doesn’t perform much these days, she occasionally participates in small theater productions and poetry readings because she enjoys the creative energy of live performances.
She likes things that are easy. She makes coffee and curls up with a book every morning after meditating. Her passion is literature, particularly Edith Wharton’s writings.
She enjoys watching Korean dramas since they are entertaining and calming when she needs a change of pace. Despite spending a lot of time by herself, she is not alone. She refers to her close pals as the pillars of her life, individuals she values and trusts.
Additionally, she cherishes the little interactions that occur in everyday life, such as a cordial talk with a shopkeeper or a nice interchange with a barista. She is reminded by these experiences that meaningful relationships aren’t the only way to connect. There are moments when it’s simply about being aware of and involved with the environment around you.
She rarely appears in the media, but when she does, it’s usually to honor her earlier work. She even made a comeback as Agent 99 in the 1989 TV film “Get Smart, Again!” gave commentary for the film’s 2006 DVD release, and took part in special reunions for “Get Smart.”
She met fans at Supernova ComicCon and Gaming in Australia in 2019 and fielded questions about her work. She left Hollywood a long time ago, but she still has a strong bond with the show that made her famous. Characters like Agent 99 were uncommon in those days: a woman who was as smart, self-assured, and on level with men.
Numerous admirers have expressed to her how much the role meant to them, how she proved to them that women were capable of being equally as strong as men. After the program ended, she was frequently typecast, but she has never felt bad about performing the part. “Get Smart” was never her life’s goal.
She had an unanticipated claim to fame prior to acting: the Shakespeare expert question won her $64,000. Her hosting of television shows like “Special Edition” later in the 1970s shown that she was capable of more than simply stage acting. Although her career took numerous different paths, she adjusted at each turn.
At 90 years old now, she still lives her life as she sees fit. She has created a serene, imaginative, and meaningful universe. Her days are devoted to writing, reading, and relishing the little pleasures that come with living her life as she pleases.
