Ann Bradford Barrie Roberts

Barbara Barrie, born Barbara Ann Berman, was an American actress and author with a career spanning film, television, and theatre. She gained significant recognition for her role in the 1964 film *One Potato, Two Potato*, earning her the Best Actress Award at the Cannes Film Festival. Further acclaim came with her performance in *Breaking Away*, for which she received an Academy Award nomination. On television, she is well-remembered for her part in the sitcom *Barney Miller* and for reprising her *Breaking Away* role in the series adaptation. Barrie also had a notable career in theatre, including a Tony Award nomination for originating a role in Stephen Sondheim's *Company* and an Obie Award for her performance in *The Killdeer*.

Beyond her acting career, Barrie authored several books. She wrote two children's books, *Lone Star* and *Adam ZigZag*, and two personal accounts about her experience with colorectal cancer, *Second Act* and *Don't Die of Embarrassment*. She was born in Chicago and raised in Texas, graduating with a degree in Drama from the University of Texas at Austin. She was married to director Jay Harnick, with whom she had two children. Barrie passed away in 2023.

Barbara Barrie's acting career began in theatre, with early roles in productions like *The Moon is Blue* and her Broadway debut in *The Wooden Dish*. She performed extensively in repertory theatre, including at the American Shakespeare Theatre, and took on roles in notable plays such as *The Crucible*, *Company*, and *The Killdeer*, earning critical acclaim and awards like an Obie Award. Her transition to film included a breakthrough performance in *One Potato, Two Potato*, which garnered her a Best Actress award at Cannes. She was later nominated for an Academy Award for her supporting role in *Breaking Away*. Barrie also established a significant presence in television, appearing in numerous popular series and television films, and is widely recognized for her role as Captain Barney Miller's wife in the sitcom *Barney Miller*.

In addition to her acting career, Barbara Barrie was also an author. She penned two children's books: *Lone Star*, published in 1990, which tells the story of a girl named Jane adapting to life and culture in Texas with her Orthodox Jewish family, and *Adam ZigZag*, released in 1994, about a boy named Adam who struggles with dyslexia while having an actress mother. Barrie also wrote two books detailing her personal journey with colorectal cancer: *Second Act* (1997) and *Don't Die of Embarrassment* (1999). She expressed that her advocacy for early cancer detection was a priority, stating it was "more important than acting."

“We Have Had Abortions”

“more important than acting.”