Barbara McNair, 72, started out as a nightclub singer and moved into film and TV as more opportunities for black women opened up in the 1960's. She eventually hosted her own show in 1969 called The Barbara McNair Show.
Her best known film role came as Sidney Poitier's wife in the classic crime drama They Call Me Mister Tibbs. She played on Broadway, posed in Playboy and was cast along Elvis Presley in his last film, Change of Habit. She also accompanied Bob Hope on a tour of Vietnam.
Barbara died on Sunday after a long battle with cancer, her husband said.
