Actress Barbara Barrie Dies at 95 After Long Career in Film and Theater

Barbara Barrie, a veteran performer in American theater and cinema, died Wednesday in Manhattan at the age of 95. Her death marks the end of a career that spanned seven decades, from her first stage role in 1955 to her final bow in a recent production of 'Significant Other.'

Three key facts define the circumstances and legacy of her passing. First, her daughter confirmed to the New York Times that Barrie received medical assistance to end her life. The decision followed a diagnosis of terminal cancer. Second, Barrie held nominations for the three major American entertainment awards. She was recognized by the Academy, the Television Academy, and the Broadway League for her work in film, television, and stage. Third, she maintained an active presence in the arts for more than 60 years. Her tenure included roles in classic plays such as 'The Crucible' and 'The Taming of the Shrew.'

Barrie is widely recognized for her work in the 1976 musical 'Company.' She joined the original Broadway cast and played the character of Sarah. That performance earned her a Tony nomination for best featured actress in a musical. Her film career included a lead role in 'Breaking Away,' a 1979 sports drama. The movie received five Academy Award nominations, and Barrie was nominated for best supporting actress for her part in the film.

Her early life began on May 23, 1931, in Chicago, though she raised in Texas. She completed a degree in drama at the University of Texas in 1952. Her first film appearance came in 1956 in 'Giant.' In 1964, she won the best actress award at the Cannes Film Festival for 'One Potato, Two Potato.'

Barrie also wrote about her health struggles to reduce public stigma. She diagnosed rectal cancer in the early 1990s and published two books on the topic: 'Second Act' in 1997 and 'Don’t Die of Embarrassment' in 1999. In 2014, she disclosed a second diagnosis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a degenerative lung disease. She is survived by her son, Aaron Harnick, her daughter, and three granddaughters. Her husband, Jay Harnick, died in 2007.