Barry Sullivan was born Patrick Barry Sullivan on August 29, 1912 in New York City. He was the seventh son of a seventh son, a birth order with mystical significance in Celtic families. While never a major movie star, he established himself as a well-known and highly regarded character lead and second lead in motion pictures and television in a career that lasted 50 years. Sullivan was one of those elite of actors who are always in demand until the day they decide to retire. Legend has it that Sullivan was counseled to consider a life in the theater due to his height , by whom she had six children. Two of her sons formed the rock group The Webb Brothers. Barry Sullivan died of a respiratory ailment on June 6, 1994 in Sherman Oaks, California. He was 81 years old.
He was the second actor to play Richard Rogue on NBC Radios Rogues Gallery (1946-1947).
Had two children from his first marriage: Johnny and Jenny Sullivan. Johnny was mentally challenged and eventually sent to the Devereux School in Santa Barbara, California for help and evaluation.
His daughter, actress/playwright Jenny Sullivan , wrote the play "J for J" ("Journals for John") which was prompted after she found a packet of unsent letters a year after Barrys death that he had written decades earlier to her older brother, Johnny, who was mentally disabled. The play premiered on October 20, 2001. John Ritter , who in real life had a handicapped brother, played Johnny and Jenny played herself. Actor Jeff Kober portrayed Barry. Eventually, Jenny took on caring for her brother.
Ex-father-in-law of Jim Messina.
According to his daughter Patsy Sullivan-Webb, the 63" actor had a difficult time playing Tom Buchanan opposite Alan Ladd as Jay Gatsby in The Great Gatsby . Sullivan told his daughter that Ladd, who was nearly a foot shorter, had to stand on a crate while he had to stand in a hole during their shots together.
Two of his grandsons by daughter Patricia Sullvain-Webb and son-in-law Jimmy Webb formed the rock group "The Webb Brothers." They subsequently were joined by their other two brothers.
His daughter by his second wife Gita Hall , Patricia Sullivan-Webb, was a model. Known professionally as "Patsy Sullivan," she was the face of Yardley Cosmetics at the age of 12. She and her husband, songwriter Jimmy Webb , had six children together, four sons and two daughters. She subsequently adopted a child, thus giving her father seven grandchildren.
Acting mentor and friend of Clu Gulager.
