In the late 1960s, a young blonde named Barbi Benton drew widespread attention on Playboy After Dark. At just eighteen, she started out as an extra, but her charm and presence quickly elevated her to co-host—particularly after Hugh Hefner noticed her and encouraged her to change her name from Barbara Klein to the more memorable “Barbi Benton.”
In the years that followed, Benton transitioned effortlessly between modeling, television, and music. She graced the cover of Playboy four times, beginning in July 1969 and continuing into the mid-1970s, becoming one of the era’s most beloved figures.
Her impact reached beyond her on-screen success—along with her work in entertainment, she is also said to have influenced Hefner’s decision to purchase the iconic Playboy Mansion in 1974.