Oscar-nominated actress Barbara Barrie died Wednesday at her home in Manhattan at the age of 95. Her daughter, Jane, confirmed that Barrie's death was medically assisted following a terminal cancer diagnosis.
Barrie made her final public appearance in December 2021 at the opening night of “Company” on Broadway. She was an original cast member of the Stephen Sondheim musical when it premiered in 1970, playing the role of Sarah, for which she received her first and only Tony nomination the following year.
In 2024, Barrie reflected on her career in an episode of “How Art Changed Me.” She described her first battle with cancer in the 1990s as a "turning point," noting her dedication to acting even through difficult treatments.
Barrie is perhaps best known for her role as Evelyn Stohler in the 1979 film “Breaking Away,” which earned her an Academy Award nomination. She also received the Cannes Film Festival award for best actress in 1964 for her performance in “One Potato, Two Potato.”
She was previously diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis in 2014. The Mayo Clinic describes this degenerative disease as one that scars and damages lung tissue, making breathing difficult.
Barrie is survived by her daughter Jane and her son Aaron. Her husband, Jay Harnick, died in 2007.