Actress Barbara Barrie, 95, Dies in Manhattan

Barbara Barrie, the longtime television and stage actress, died Wednesday, October 28, in her Manhattan home. She was 95 years old.

Her daughter, Jane Harnick, confirmed that Barrie died with medical assistance. Harnick stated that her mother had been diagnosed with terminal cancer.

Barrie was born Barbara Ann Berman on May 23, 1931, in Chicago. She grew up in Texas and studied dramatic arts at the University of Texas at Austin. Her professional career began with a 1955 Broadway debut in “The Wooden Dish.” She appeared in her first film, “Giant,” in 1956.

She gained international recognition for her role in “One Potato, Two Potato” (1964). The performance earned her the Best Actress award at the Cannes Film Festival. She also received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress for “Breaking Away” (1979). A Tony Award nomination followed for her work in Stephen Sondheim’s musical “Company.”

On television, Barrie played the wife of the lead character in “Barney Miller.” She also held a recurring role in “Suddenly Susan.” She received Emmy nominations for a TV adaptation of “Breaking Away” and for appearances in “Law & Order” and “Law & Order: SVU.” Her stage career continued until 2017, when she appeared in “Significant Other.”

Barrie married actor, director, and producer Jay Harnick in 1964. They remained married until his death in 2007. The couple had two children, Jane and Aaron.

In 1994, Barrie was diagnosed with rectal cancer. She authored the books “Second Act” (1997) and “Don’t Die of Embarrassment” (1999) to help reduce the stigma surrounding the disease. She disclosed in 2014 that she suffered from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. In 2008, she donated materials from her career to the New York Public Library.