Actress Barbara Barrie reflected on her cancer battle, calling it a "turning point" in her career, in one of her final interviews before she ended her life with medical assistance on Wednesday. She was 95.
Barrie died in her Manhattan home, according to her daughter, Jane Harnick. The Oscar-nominated actress shared details of her health struggles in a May 2024 interview for the "How Art Changed Me" series. She recalled undergoing chemotherapy every Thursday while acting in "After-Play," a role she held between 1995 and 1996.
"I had cancer… so I would go up to Columbia Presbyterian every Thursday," Barrie said. "Usually [people] get an infusion, but I was in a hurry." She explained that she would receive a quick injection before heading to rehearsals. During lunchtime, when her colleagues would go to eat, Barrie would take a nap.
Barrie stated that the experience became a "turning point" because she realized her work "obviously mean[t] something to" her if she was willing to endure the treatment. "I did [it]," she said. "I think that’s because… I want to tell the story. Not my story, but the story."
Barrie was diagnosed with terminal cancer prior to her death. Her husband, Jay Harnick, died in March 2007. She is survived by her children, Jane Harnick and Aaron Harkin.
Barrie's last public appearance was in March 2025. Prior to that, she attended the December 2021 opening night of "Company" on Broadway, a show from Stephen Sondheim's original run in which she had starred decades earlier. She appeared smiling on the red carpet during that event.