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Barbara Barrie

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Barbara Barrie
Barrie on the set of Barney Miller in 1975 with Hal Linden.
Born
Barbara Ann Berman

(1931-05-23) May 23, 1931 (age 93)
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Occupation(s)Actress, singer, author
Years active1953–present
SpouseJay Harnick (1964–2007; his death)
Children2

Barbara Barrie (born May 23, 1931) is an American actress of film, stage and television. She is also an accomplished author.

Her film breakthrough came in 1964 with her performance as Julie in the landmark film One Potato, Two Potato, for which she won the Best Actress Award at the Cannes Film Festival. She is best known for her role as Evelyn Stoller in Breaking Away, which brought her an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress in 1979 and an Emmy Award nomination in 1981 when she reprised the role in the television series created based on the film Breaking Away.

Barrie also is known for her extensive work in the theatre, receiving a Tony Award nomination for Best Featured Actress in a Musical in 1971 for originating the role of Sarah in Stephen Sondheim's Company.

Personal life

Barrie was born Barbara Ann Berman in Chicago, Illinois,[1] the daughter of Jewish parents, Frances Rose (née Boruszak) and Louis Berman.[2] The family moved to Texas when she was nine years old, where she was raised in Corpus Christi. She had one sibling, a brother, Geoffrey Melvin Berman (1924–1983). At the start of her acting career, she chose "Barrie" as her stage name instead of "Berman".[3]

She graduated from Corpus Christi Senior High School in 1948. She briefly attended Del Mar College as a journalism major, and then transferred to The University of Texas at Austin, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Drama in 1952. She then moved to New York to begin her professional career.[4]

During her time at UT-Austin, she received two scholarships for drama, including the Kappa Kappa Gamma Donna Dellinger annual scholarship for Most Outstanding Junior in the Drama Department,[5] as well as awards for specific performances, such as the Atlas Award from the Globe Theatre in San Diego for "Best Female Performance for 1950–51" based on her role in the California Theatre's summer production of Much Ado About Nothing as Beatrice.[6][7]

She married director, actor, and producer Jay Malcolm Harnick (1928–2007) in July 1964. They had two children, Jane Caroline Harnick (born 1965) and Aaron Louis Harnick (born 1969). Jay Harnick founded Theatreworks USA and was the brother of Tony Award-winning musical lyricist Sheldon Harnick.[8]

She was treated successfully for rectal cancer in 1994, and wrote a memoir, Second Act: Life After Colostomy and Other Adventures, about the experience. In September 2014, Barrie announced she has been diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.[9]

Theatre

One of Barrie's first professional stage jobs was a resident actress for one season for a theatre company in Corning, New York, where she played the lead in The Moon is Blue in 1953. She also worked at the Rochester Arena Theatre. She made her Broadway debut in the 1955 play The Wooden Dish with Louis Calhern.[10] In 1959, she appeared on Broadway in The Beaux' Stratagem by George Farquhar as Cherry. Some of her earliest Off-Broadway credits were in a 1958 production of The Crucible as Elizabeth Proctor and as Illse in a play version of Mädchen in Uniform. She was a repertory member of the American Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford for the 1958 and 1959 seasons, playing numerous Shakespearean roles to critical acclaim. In 1961 she went on tour in Europe as Annie Sullivan in The Miracle Worker.[11][12]

In 1969, she played Viola in Twelfth Night, directed by Joseph Papp at the Delacorte Theater. In 1970, Barrie originated the role of Sarah in Stephen Sondheim's musical Company, in a cast that included Elaine Stritch and Susan Browning. Company won the Tony Award for Best Musical and Barrie was nominated for Best Featured Actress in a Musical.[11]

In 1974, Barrie earned critical acclaim for her performance as Sparky Off-Broadway in The Killdeer by Jay Broad, for which she received an Obie Award for Best Actress and a Drama Desk Award for Most Outstanding Performance. In 1976, Barrie performed in Neil Simon's successful Broadway play California Suite.[12]

In 1995, Barrie performed in After-Play, written by Anne Meara at the Manhattan Theatre Club.[13] In 2014, Barrie performed in I Remember Mama Off-Broadway, receiving an Outer Critics Circle nomination for Best Featured Actress in a Play.[12][14]

Film

Barrie made her film debut uncredited in Giant (1956). Her first credited role was as Edna in The Caretakers in 1963. The following year, Barrie received her first leading role in film with One Potato, Two Potato, portraying Julie Cullen Richards, a divorced woman newly remarried to an African-American man while her ex-husband demands custody rights for their child, on grounds that their child is in danger because they are living with a man of color. The film was considered controversial when released, dealing with racial tensions at the time, and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Screenplay. She won the Cannes Best Actress Award for her performance.[15]

In 1979, Barrie received critical acclaim for her role as Evelyn Stoller, the small-town mother of a young man who dreams of becoming an Italian bicycle racer in Breaking Away. Breaking Away was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture and Barrie was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. In 1980, she played the mother of Goldie Hawn's character in Private Benjamin. In the 1999 film, Judy Berlin, Barrie was nominated for an Indie Spirit Award for her performance as Sue Berlin, the mother of Edie Falco's character.[15]

Television

Barrie made her television debut in 1955 performing on Kraft Television Theatre. In 1956, she performed in Horton Foote's teleplay Flight as the sister of Kim Stanley's character. She guest-starred on two episodes of Decoy (1958–59). In 1962, she guest-starred on three episodes of Naked City. In 1963 she played Virginia in a teleplay version of The Dark Labyrinth by Lawrence Durrell. During the 1960s, Barrie guest-starred on many of the popular television series of the time. She appeared in three episodes of The Defenders and two episodes of Ben Casey.[15]

In 1964 Barrie appeared in two episodes of Alfred Hitchcock Presents. The first was Isabel in which Barrie played the title role of Isabel Smith. The second was titled Consider Her Ways and also starred Barrie as the lead named Jane Waterleigh. In 1975 Barrie was directed by Lee Grant in the television movie For The Use Of The Hall as "Charlotte". In 1977 she appeared in two television films, as the mother of Lesley Ann Warren's character in 79 Park Avenue and as Emily McPhail in Tell Me My Name. In 1978 she played Emily Armsworth in the Disney television film Child of Glass, based on the novel The Ghost Belonged to Me by Richard Peck. In 1978 she played Mrs. Berg in the television film Summer of My German Soldier.[15]

From 1975–78, she was credited in 37 episodes of Barney Miller as Elizabeth Miller, the wife of Barney Miller, played by Hal Linden. In the 1979 television mini-series Backstairs at the White House she portrayed Mamie Eisenhower. In the fall of 1980 a television series based on the film Breaking Away debuted on ABC with Barrie reprising her role as Evelyn Stoller. The show lasted one season with Barrie nominated for an Emmy Award for her performance.[15] In November 1981 Barrie reprised her role as Harriet Benjamin she had played in the 1980 film, on the television series that was created based on the film. In 1981 Barrie played Ethel Banks in a televised version of the play Barefoot in the Park by Neil Simon[15] and appeared in the made-for-television movie The Children Nobody Wanted in December of that year.

She guest-starred on a 1987 episode of Family Ties as Aunt Rosemary. For her performance as Mrs. Bream on a February 1992 episode of Law & Order (Vengeance), Barrie was nominated for the Emmy Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Drama. In 1994 she played the character of Pauline Robillard in the Emmy winning mini-series Scarlett. In 1997 she voiced Alcmene, the adoptive mother of Hercules, in the Disney animated film Hercules and in 1998 she played the role of Ruth in the television film A Chance of Snow.[15]

Barrie was credited in 92 episodes of the television series Suddenly Susan as Brooke Shields character's grandmother, Helen Keane. For her performance in a May 2003 episode of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (Perfect) as Paula Haggerty, Barrie was nominated for the Emmy Award for Best Guest Actress in a Drama. In 2004 she appeared in Dead Like Me as Georgia's grandmother / Joy's mother. Her final television credits have included roles on Pushing Daisies, Nurse Jackie, and Enlightened.[15]

Books

Barrie has written two children's books. In 1990, she published Lone Star, a biographical book about a girl named Jane who moves from Illinois to Texas and deals with her Orthodox Jewish family assimilating to Texas culture.[16]

Her second book, Adam ZigZag, was published in 1994 and is also biographical, about a young boy named Adam with an actress mother who struggles with dyslexia.[17]

She is also the author of two books about her battle with colorectal cancer, "Second Act," and "Don't Die of Embarrassment," and has said that speaking out about early detection is "more important than acting."[18]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1956 Giant Mary Lou Decker Uncredited
1963 The Caretakers Edna
1964 One Potato, Two Potato Julie Cullen Richards Best Actress Award (Cannes Film Festival)
Nominated—New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actress
1972 To Be Young, Gifted, and Black — Television movie
1973 Koska and His Family — Television movie
1975 For the Use of the Hall Charlotte Television movie
1978 Summer of My German Soldier Mrs. Bergen
1979 The Bell Jar Jay Cee
1979 Breaking Away Mom Nominated—Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress
Nominated—National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actress
Nominated—New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actress
1980 To Race the Wind Mrs. Krents Television movie
1980 Private Benjamin Harriet Benjamin
1981 The Children Nobody Wanted Hanna Television movie
1982 Barefoot in the Park Mrs. Banks Television movie
1982 Not Just Another Affair Martha Dawson Television movie
1982 Two of a Kind Dottie Minor Television movie
1984 All Together Now Elly Parker Television movie
1985 The Execution Sophie Langbein Television movie
1986 Vital Signs Frances Television movie
1987 End of the Line Jean Haney
1987 Real Men Mom Pirandello
1988 Winnie Mrs. Drake Television movie
1988 My First Love Ruth Waxman Television movie
1993 The Odd Couple: Together Again Gloria Unger Television movie
1997 Hercules Alcmene
1998 A Chance of Snow Ruth Pulmer Television movie
1999 Judy Berlin Sue Berlin Nominated—Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Female
1999 Hercules: Zero to Zero Alcmene
1999 30 Days Barbara Trainer
2000 $pent Mrs. Walsh
2004 Second Best Dorothea
2009 Frame of Mind Thelma

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1951 Love of Life Ginny Crandall Unknown episodes
1955 Ponds Theater — Episode: "Cynara"
1955 Kraft Theatre — Episode: "Lady Ruth"
1956 Playwrights '56 Verna Anderson Episode: "Flight"
1957 Robert Montgomery Presents Maggie Correll Episode: "Wait for Me"
1957 Suspicion Ethel Episode: "Heartbeat"
1958 Decoy Anne Episode: "My Brother's Killer"
1960 Play of the Week Lila Episode: "A Palm Tree in a Rose Garden"
1960 Art Carney Special — Episode: "Full Moon Over Brooklyn"
1961 The Defenders Fran Helber Episode: "The Attack"
1961 Armstrong Circle Theatre Joanna Sommers Episode: "Black Market Babies"
1961 The United States Steel Hour Trina Trent Episode: "Delayed Honeymoon"
1962 Route 66 Celia Episode: "Even Stones Have Eyes"
1962 The Untouchables Cheryl Hines Episode: "The Chess Game"
1962 Naked City Rosalind Faber Episode: "To Walk Like a Lion"
1962 Naked City Sarah Hinson Episode: "And by the Sweat on Thy Brow..."
1962 Naked City Marcia Kormack Episode: "Dust Devil on a Quiet Street"
1963 Ben Casey Martha Dignan Episode: "Lullaby for Billy Dignan"
1963 Dr. Kildare Peggy Farrow Episode: "The Mosaic"
1963 The Virginian Ellen Beecher Episode: "The Small Parade"
1963 The Twilight Zone Myra Russell Episode: "Miniature"
1963 Alcoa Premiere Virginia Stanley Episode: "The Dark Labyrinth"
1964 Mr. Novak Mary Smith Episode: "How Does Your Garden Grow?"
1964 The Doctors and the Nurses Laura Crane Episode: "The Love of a Smart Operator"
1964 The Defenders Shirley Lowell 2 episodes
1964 The Alfred Hitchcock Hour Isabel Smith Episode: "Isabel"
1964 The Alfred Hitchcock Hour Dr. Jane Waterleigh Episode: "Consider Her Ways"
1965 The Fugitive Aiemee Rennick Episode: "The End Is But the Beginning"
1965 Ben Casey Ellen Tevlin Episode: "A Rambling Discourse on Egyptian Water Clocks"
1965 Rawhide Liz Harmon Episode: "Mrs. Harmon"
1966 The Trials of O'Brien Jean Fields Episode: "A Horse Called Destiny"
1966 Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre Laurel Catlan Episode: "The Eighth Day"
1967 Ironside Myra Dupont Episode: "The Leaf in the Forest"
1967 The Invaders Gale Frazer Episode: "The Enemy"
1971 Play for Today — Episode: "The Rank and File"
1973 The ABC Afternoon Playbreak Tina Bordeaux Episode: "The Mask of Love"
1973 Diana Norma Brodnick Episode: "Who's Minding the Cat?"
1975–1978 Barney Miller Elizabeth Miller 37 episodes
1975 Bronk Lorna Episode: "Terror"
1975 McMillan & Wife Emily Church Episode: "Aftershock"
1977 79 Park Avenue Kaati Fludjicki 1 episode
1978 Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color Emily Armsworth Episode: "Child of Glass"
1978 Visions — Episode: "Blackout"
1979 Backstairs at the White House Mrs. Mamie Eisenhower Episode: "#1.4"
1979 Roots: The Next Generations Dodie Brattle Episode: "#1.7"
1979 Lou Grant Edna Raines 2 episodes
1980–1981 Breaking Away Evelyn Stoller 8 episodes
Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
1981 Private Benjamin Harriet Benjamin Episode: "Bye, Bye Benjamin"
1982 American Playhouse Schoolteacher Episode: "Working"
1982–1983 Tucker's Witch Ellen Hobbes 12 episodes
1983 Reggie Elizabeth Potter 6 episodes
1984 Trapper John, M.D. Dr. Kate Hanley Episode: "All Fall to Grace"
1984–1985 Double Trouble Aunt Margo 15 episodes
1986 Kate & Allie Anne Episode: "Late Bloomer"
1987 Mr. President Peggie 2 episodes
1987 Family Ties Aunt Rosemary Episode: "The Way We Were"
1988–1990 Thirtysomething Barbara Steadman 2 episodes
1989 A Fine Romance Aunt Grace Episode: "A Horse is a Horse, Of Course, Of Course"
1990 His & Hers — 2 episodes
1991 Babes Mom Episode: "Mom"
1992 Law & Order Mrs. Bream Episode: "Vengeance"
Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
1992 ABC Afterschool Specials Anne Charney 2 episodes
1993 Lovejoy Miss Lillian Episode: "The Lost Colony"
1994 CBS Schoolbreak Special Shirley Episode: "My Summer As a Girl"
1994 Scarlett Pauline Robillard 2 episodes
1994 The Commish Ann Palmer Episode: "A Christmas Story"
1996–2000 Suddenly Susan Helen Keane 92 episodes
1998 Hercules Alcmene Episode: "Hercules and the Parents' Weekend"
2000 Once and Again Peg Sammler Episode: "Feast Famine"
2003 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Paula Haggerty Episode: "Perfect"
Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series
2004 Dead Like Me Phyllis 2 episodes
2007 Pushing Daisies Mamma Jacobs Episode: "Girth"
2009 Surviving Suburbia Val Episode: "No Reception"
2009 Army Wives — Episode: "As Time Goes By..."
2010 Nurse Jackie Libby Sussman Episode: "Silly String"
2011 Enlightened Carol Episode: "Consider Helen"

References

  1. ^ Pfefferman, Naomi (February 25, 2000). "Worshipping Suburbia". The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles. Archived from the original on October 27, 2006. Retrieved December 13, 2006.
  2. ^ Barbara Barrie profile, filmreference.com; accessed November 24, 2014.
  3. ^ Profile, familysearch.org; accessed November 24, 2014.
  4. ^ No author. "Local girl in first starring role," Corpus Christi Caller-Times, February 17, 1957, p. 7F.
  5. ^ No author. "Miss Barbara Berman receives scholarship," Corpus Christi Times, May 10, 1951, page 7C.
  6. ^ No author. "Miss Berman wins dramatic award," Corpus Christi Times, October 10, 1951, page 12.
  7. ^ Profile, archives.nypl.org; accessed November 24, 2014.
  8. ^ Jay Harnick obituary, nytimes.com, March 1, 2007; accessed November 24, 2014.
  9. ^ Barbara Barrie diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, playbill.com; accessed November 24, 2014.
  10. ^ Profile, playbillvault.com; accessed November 24, 2014.
  11. ^ a b Barbara Barrie at the Internet Broadway Database
  12. ^ a b c Please use a more specific IOBDB template. See the template documentation for available templates.
  13. ^ After-Play review, nytimes.com; accessed November 24, 2014.
  14. ^ Barbara Barrie reminisces, nytimes.com; accessed November 24, 2014.
  15. ^ a b c d e f g h Barbara Barrie at IMDb
  16. ^ Profile, wyld.sdp.sirsi.net; accessed November 24, 2014.
  17. ^ Adam ZigZag review, publishersweekly.com; accessed November 24, 2014.
  18. ^ Phiffer, Cindy. "Barbara Barrie - Colostomy and Other Adventures". Retrieved October 26, 2015.
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