Barbara Barrie, an actress whose career stretched from a Cannes Best Actress win for One Potato, Two Potato to an Oscar nomination for Breaking Away to the original Broadway cast of Stephen Sondheim’s Company, has died at 95. Her rep confirmed she passed at her home in New York City after a terminal cancer diagnosis, with medical aid under New York’s Medical Aid in Dying law. She is survived by her children, Jane and Aaron Harnick.
TV audiences knew her best as Liz Miller on Barney Miller and for her role on Suddenly Susan. On Broadway, she originated the role of Sarah in Company in 1970 and earned a 1971 Tony nomination. Barrie was also a vocal cancer advocate: diagnosed with rectal cancer in the 1990s, she wrote two books on navigating the disease and later disclosed idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. In a Playbill interview, she said she was living“full steam ahead.”
Her death has renewed attention on New York’s Medical Aid in Dying law, which Barrie supported. She once said,“I think if I can get the word out on this thing, that will be my legacy.”Which Barbara Barrie performance is your favorite? Tell us in the comments.
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Local Lawton
Local Lawton is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.