Barbara Barrie

Barbara Barrie grew up in Corpus Christi, Texas, after her family moved there from the Midwest. Born Barbara Ann Berman, she studied drama at the University of Texas at Austin and then moved to New York City, where she began working in the theater during the 1950s. Early stage roles led to steady work on Broadway and in television drama.

Barrie's breakthrough in film came with One Potato, Two Potato (1964), in which she played a white divorcée whose marriage to a Black man exposes the couple to prejudice. Her performance earned the Best Actress award at the Cannes Film Festival. On Broadway, she originated the role of Sarah in Stephen Sondheim's Company (1970), a musical that became a landmark of the era.

She became a familiar television presence as Elizabeth Miller, the wife of Captain Barney Miller, in the comedy series Barney Miller, a recurring role she played from the mid-1970s into the early 1980s. In 1979 she appeared as Evelyn Stoller in Breaking Away, the story of a young cyclist and his working-class family; the role brought her an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress.

Barrie continued to act in films, television, and theater in later decades, including the independent film Judy Berlin (1999). She was married to theater director Jay Harnick until his death in 2007. Her credits range from musical comedy and domestic television to socially conscious drama.

Barbara Barrie was born on May 23, 1931 in New York City, New York, United States. In Cardology (Destiny Cards), May 23, 1931 corresponds to the Nine of Clubs, making the Nine of Clubs her Birth Card.

In numerology, the name adds another layer to the birth-date profile. The letters of a person’s name are used to explore inner motivation, personality, expression, and the qualities they bring into relationships and everyday life. Explore how her original name Barbara Ann Berman influences her life and personality.