Last Updated on September 16, 2022
When did Rona Barrett pass away? The former gossip columnist died in 2012 at the age of 85. The eponymous TV personality, who also founded a lavender company, began broadcasting her Hollywood gossip on Los Angeles TV stations in 1966. She also appeared on ABC-owned stations around the country. In Los Angeles, her prerecorded gossip segment was shown during local news. But did you know that she was a former model? Read on to find out more about the late TV personality.
rona barrett died in 2012
Rona Barrett was a famous Hollywood gossip columnist. She wrote colorful fan magazines and syndicated newspaper columns. She appeared on network television and helped build a national industry around the film industry. Her writing helped Americans see through the glamor of Tinseltown. Rona Barrett died in 2012 and is survived by her family. Read her full biography to find out more about her life. Listed below are some of her accomplishments.
she was 85 years old
The actress, writer, and TV host Rona Barrett was born on October 8, 1936. She was a Libra, and her birth flower was Marigold. At an early age, she began writing gossip columns for a newspaper syndicate and organized fan clubs for teen idols. By the time she was a teenager, she had already worked for numerous teen idols, including Elvis Presley, Donna Summer, and Madonna. In 2009, she received a Golden Palm Star on the Palm Springs Walk of Fame.
Rona’s family and friends mourn her passing. She leaves her husband of 37 years, son Byron Craddock, and daughter Sandra Heffner. She also leaves two grandchildren, Mike Coci, and Karen Craddock. Her sister, Doreen Fogg, is the mother of eight grandchildren and grandmother of nine great grandchildren. She is survived by many friends and relatives.
she was a gossip columnist
The late actress, television host and journalist Rona Barrett spent more than three decades in the public eye. She broke stories about celebrities and was the first to report on Elvis Presley’s marriage to Priscilla Beaulieu. She was also credited with being the first reporter on the scene of Sharon Tate’s murder, which she and four other friends committed in 1969. After leaving the show, Barrett dropped off the public radar, but returned to fame in the late 1970s as a celebrity reporter on KABC television in Los Angeles. Her one-minute spot on the entertainment industry caused ratings to soar and she was picked up by five media markets across the country. She also hosted sit-down interviews with celebrities.
Barrett’s style of reporting was unorthodox. Her unique approach to gathering information and interviewing celebrities resounded in an age when the media was dominated by male journalists. In the 1970s, she was one of the most influential women in American gossip. The influence of her work is evident today in “confessional” talk-show interviews, articles that scrutinize box office returns, and even the emergence of a new breed of “gag-style” bloggers. She was interviewed by BuzzFeed reporter Anne Helen Petersen. She was also deeply involved in charity work for the elderly, including the creation of the Rona Barrett Foundation.
Before she became a gossip columnist, Barrett suffered from bi-polar disorder and attempted suicide. In 1971, her nose was “fixed,” and she moved to the Santa Ynez Valley to pursue her career. She and Bill married in 1973 and built a farm on it, launching the “Lavender” line of beauty products and food items. In 1974, her dad moved to the Barrett family.
she founded a lavender company
After a long career in show business journalism, Hollywood columnist Rona Barrett retired and began to explore different options for her retirement income. Eventually, she decided to turn to organic agriculture, where she learned about the benefits of lavender. Barrett also plans to donate a portion of her lavender-filled products to the organization Seniors in Need. The company’s products include teas, soaps, and even honey mustard.
In 1971, Barrett attempted suicide and was later diagnosed with bi-polar disorder. The following year, she met a divorced father-of-four named Bill Trowbridge, who would soon become her business partner. The two eventually bought a small farm in the Santa Ynez Valley, where they planted lavender and began producing beauty products. The family relocated to the farm in 1974.
She went on to develop a line of beauty products using lavender that she grew on her own forty-acre ranch near Santa Ynez. Prices range from $5 for a honey mustard to $60 for a lavender anti-aging cream. Barrett also founded a lavender company when she passed away. Sadly, the company closed down soon after. But, her legacy lives on with her lavender products.
Her passion for lavender started with a magazine column. By the mid-1970s, she was writing for TV shows and movie magazines. She also published an autobiography, a novel, and a how-to book. She also joined Good Morning America and later was named a “Rona-rat” by Frank Sinatra. The late Ryan O’Neal even sent her a live tarantula!
she was a businesswoman
The late Rona Barrett was a well-known American businesswoman and gossip columnist. She was the first person to create an in-depth personal TV special about a celebrity. Barrett also produced several magazines focusing on the entertainment industry. One of her top-rated publications was Rona’s Hollywood, which helped pave the way for Barbara Walters and other entertainment reporters to come. Barrett was married to Bill Trowbridge on September 22, 1973. He passed away on December 7, 2001.
As a child, Barrett was crippled by muscular dystrophy. She was also heavy, but her street smarts, talent, and Hollywood know-how enabled her to overcome her disability. After her marriage to Bill, she founded her own company and founded the Rona Barrett Foundation. Her “Lavender” line of beauty products and food was a cult hit, and she even wrote an autobiography.
She continued to work in the entertainment industry, including establishing fan clubs for pop idols. She also became a newspaper gossip columnist in 1957. She interviewed Hollywood stars and then expanded her business into publishing celebrity gossip magazines. Today, her archive elicits a variety of emotions. Although these icons appear to be self-satisfied, they are also reminiscent of the innocence that characterizes the era in which she was born.
After launching her own clothing line and appearing on “Good Morning America” in the late 1970s, she jumped to NBC, where she co-hosted the west coast version of the show. In 1981, she bought a ranch in Santa Ynez, California. She lived in her ranch for four years before retiring to her Santa Ynez ranch in 1991. Her ranch was also where she planted her lavender fields.
About The Author
Fernánda Esteban is a food fanatic. She can't go more than a few hours without eating, and she loves trying new foods from all over the world. Her friends know that they can always count on her for a good conversation, and she's an animal lover who will never turn down an opportunity to pet a dog or cat. Fernánda also enjoys learning about random facts, and she's a social media practitioner who loves to share what she knows with others.