Barbara Barrie, Oscar-nominated actress, dies at 95

Summarised from 3 outlets · Updated 29 Oct, 12:27 · Archive

Barbara Barrie, Oscar-nominated star of Breaking Away and Barney Miller, has died at 95 following a medically assisted death at her New York home.

Barbara Barrie, the Oscar-nominated actress known for Breaking Away and Barney Miller, has died at 95 at her Manhattan home. Her death was medically assisted following a terminal cancer diagnosis, according to her daughter Jane, who spoke to the New York Times. Barrie had a career spanning multiple decades, working in television, film and theatre from the 1950s until last year.

She was best known for her 1979 role as Evelyn Stohler in Breaking Away, which earned her an Academy Award nomination. She lost the Oscar to Meryl Streep for Kramer vs. Kramer. Barrie also won best actress at the Cannes Film Festival in 1964 for One Potato, Two Potato, and played Barney Miller's wife on the police series that ran from 1975 to 1982. She appeared as Brooke Shields' grandmother on Suddenly Susan and played Goldie Hawn's mother in Private Benjamin.

On Broadway, Barrie was an original cast member of Stephen Sondheim's Company when it premiered in 1970, playing Sarah and earning her first and only Tony nomination. She made her final public appearance in December 2021 at the opening night of a Broadway revival of Company, attending the red carpet in a black coat and bedazzled loafers.

Barrie was previously diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis in 2014, a degenerative disease that damages and scars lung tissue, making it difficult to breathe. She described a cancer battle in the 1990s as a turning point in her career, telling How Art Changed Me in 2024 that she would attend rehearsals while undergoing treatment. She is survived by her daughter Jane and son Aaron.

How it is being reported

• Barbara Barrie beamed in final public appearance before ending life with medical assistanceThe Oscar-nominated actress died Wednesday at her home in Manhattan at age 95. She was diagnosed with terminal cancer prior to her passing.New York Post · 29 Oct, 12:17
• Barbara Barrie ends life at 95 with medical aid following Oscar-nominated actress's terminal cancer diagnosisThe veteran character actress ended her life with medical assistance after a terminal diagnosis.Daily Mail · 29 Oct, 00:38
• Barbara Barrie, Oscar-nominated 'Barney Miller' and 'Suddenly Susan' actress, dead at 95Barbara Barrie, Oscar-nominated star of "Breaking Away" and "Barney Miller," died at 95 following a medically assisted death at her New York home.Fox News · 29 Oct, 00:31

In this story: Barbara Barrie · Meryl Streep · Brooke Shields · Goldie Hawn · Stephen Sondheim · Manhattan · Broadway

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