Barbara Stanwyck, born Ruby Catherine Stevens on July 16, 1907, in Brooklyn, New York, was an American actress, model, and dancer. She began her career as a chorus girl in the Ziegfeld Follies before transitioning to Broadway and eventually Hollywood.

Her first lead role in the Broadway play "Burlesque" in 1927 established her as a star. Her film debut came in 1929 with "The Locked Door," but it was her role in Frank Capra's "Ladies of Leisure" (1930) that marked her breakthrough.

Throughout her career, she was known for her strong, realistic screen presence and versatility. She starred in a variety of genres, including melodramas like "Stella Dallas" (1937), film noirs like "Double Indemnity" (1944), and comedies like "The Lady Eve" (1941).

She was a favorite of directors such as Cecil B. DeMille, Fritz Lang, and Frank Capra. By 1944, she had become the highest-paid actress in the United States.

Her personal life was marked by challenges from an early age. Orphaned at four, she was raised by her older sister and spent time in foster homes. She married comedian Frank Fay in 1928, but the marriage ended in 1935.

In 1939, she married actor Robert Taylor, and they divorced in 1952. She won three Emmy Awards for "The Barbara Stanwyck Show" (1961), "The Big Valley" (1966), and the miniseries "The Thorn Birds" (1983). She received an honorary Oscar in 1982 for her contributions to the film industry.

Barbara Stanwyck passed away on January 20, 1990, in Santa Monica, California.