Veteran screen and stage performer Barbara Barrie died at her New York City residence on Wednesday, aged 95, after electing to end her life under New York State’s Medical Aid in Dying law. Her longtime agent, Gary Gersh, confirmed to NBC News that the death was “medically assisted in accordance with the New York State Medical Aid in Dying law, of which she was a proponent and advocate.”
Medical Aid in Dying Law Provides a Choice for the Terminally Ill
The statute, which took effect on August 5, allows terminally ill adults who have six months or less to live to obtain a self‑administered prescription that ends their suffering. Barrie had been diagnosed with terminal cancer and also suffered from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a progressive lung disease that causes severe breathing difficulty, fatigue, and weight loss.
A Life of Acting and Advocacy
Born in 1931, Barrie built a distinguished career on stage and screen. She earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Evelyn Stohler in the 1979 film Breaking Away. Earlier, in 1971, she was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for the Stephen Sondheim classic Company. Her Broadway credits also include The Selling of the President and The Prisoner of Second Avenue. On television, she received Emmy nominations for guest appearances on Law & Order and its spin‑off Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, as well as for the short‑lived series Breaking Away. Film fans may also remember her in Private Benjamin, the sitcom Double Trouble, and the popular 1990s series Suddenly Susan.
Family Remembers Her Strength and Faith
Her daughter, Jane Harnick, told the New York Times that her mother faced her illnesses with a “very full, active life” and a determination to help others do the same. In a 2014 interview with Playbill, Barrie said, “I have a very full, active life, but what lies ahead is unknown and yet known at the same time. I am living full steam ahead and am now trying to help other people do the same.” Those words echo her public support for the right to choose a dignified end when faced with unbearable suffering.
Public Debate Over the Law
New York’s Medical Aid in Dying law remains a point of contention in the broader national conversation about end‑of‑life choices. Supporters argue that the statute respects individual liberty and the Christian principle of compassion for those in pain. Critics, often aligned with religious and pro‑life organizations, contend that the law undermines the sanctity of life. While the debate continues, Barrie’s decision highlights the personal impact of the legislation for those who have lived long, full lives and now confront terminal illness.
Legacy
Barbara Barrie leaves behind a legacy of artistic achievement and a public stance on a deeply personal issue. Her career spanned more than six decades, and her advocacy for medical aid in dying adds a final chapter to a life lived on her own terms.
Original reporting: Richardson, TX News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
