Barry Foster Newman, star of stage, screen and television, was born in Boston, Massachusetts, to Sarah and Carl Newman. After graduating from the prestigious Boston Latin School, the oldest public school in the country, he graduated from Brandeis University with a B.A. in Anthropology. While at Brandeis he met Lee Strasberg, who was teaching a course in theater, which inspired Barry to become an actor. After graduating from Brandeis he was drafted into the Army and served his time in the army band, playing saxophone and clarinet. Once discharged from the army, he went to New York to study with Lee Strasberg to pursue his acting career. Shortly after he made his debut in Herman Wouk's first comedy, Nature's Way, in which he played a jazz musician. He then appeared in several Broadway shows, including the Broadway Musical, "What makes Sammy run", Mel Tolken's " Maybe Tuesday", and starred in the New York production of the longest running play in Britain, Agatha Christie's " The Mouse Trap"... to name a few. His career flourished and Barry began starring in feature films, such as Sidney Furie's , " The Lawyer", and as the iconic Kowalski in the Cult Classic "Vanishing Point". He continued starring in movies, when in 1974 he was offered the title role of what became the hit television series Petrocelli , based on " The Lawyer, for which he received an Emmy and Golden Globe nominations. After Petrocelli ended Barry went back to star in feature films, mini series , such as the critically acclaimed four hour mini series" Fatal Vision" with Karl Malden, Eva Marie Saint and Gary Cole. As well as television movies of the week, like "King Crab", for which he won the ABC Theater Award; "Fantasies", with Suzanne Pleshette, with whom he starred in the early 1990's well received TV Series, " Nightingales". Barry continued co-starring in feature films, such as Sylvester Stalone's " Day Light", Steve Martin's Comedy, " Bowfinger's Big Thing", alongside Eddie Murphy, and Stephen Soderberg's, " The Limey", with Peter Fonda. He continues to delight in the profession he chose, a successful career that has spanned five decades. Rolling Stones's senior film editor, David Fear, recently tweeted about Barry, QUOTE Verified account @davidlfear : "Rewatching Barry Newman films , it's like producers fused Dustin Hoffman and Steve McQueen into one actor."
