Actress Barbara Colby was #BornOnThisDay, July 2, 1939, & remembered for her TV role on Mary Tyler Moore & Phyllis during the #1970s. Murdered in 1975 Colby(age 36)was shot & killed by a random drive-by shooter. Her husband, Bob Levitt,is the son of Ethel Merman #RIP #gonetoosoon

Barbara Colby

Born: July 2, 1939; New York City, U.S.
Died: July 24, 1975 (aged 36); Palms, Los Angeles, California
Cause of death: Gunshot wounds

Barbara Colby (July 2, 1939 – July 24, 1975) was an American actress.

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Death

On July 24, 1975, Colby and acting colleague James Kiernan were walking to their car following an acting class in Palms, Los Angeles, California, when they were shot inside a parking area. The murders occurred after three episodes of the TV series Phyllis had been filmed. Colby was killed instantly, but Kiernan was able to describe the shooting to police before he died of his wounds. Kiernan said that he did not recognize the two men who shot them and that the shooting had occurred without warning or provocation. It was normal for Colby and classmates to congregate in the parking lot after acting class and talk. They were approached by two black men in a light-colored van and were each shot once. Police said there was no attempt to rob the pair and concluded that it was a random drive-by shooting or a targeted killing. The killers were never identified and the case remained an open cold case.

At the time of her death, Colby was separated from her husband, Bob Levitt, son of Ethel Merman. Her final acting appearance was in the 1976 TV movie The Ashes of Mrs. Reasoner.

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