Barbara Barrie passes away at 95; Oscar-nominee opts for medically assisted death, following terminal cancer diagnosis |

Veteran actress Barbara Barrie, best known for her Oscar-nominated performance in ‘Breaking Away’ and her work on Broadway in Stephen Sondheim’s musical ‘Company’, has passed away at the age of 95.The actress breathed her last on Wednesday, October 28, at her home in New York City, with her daughter, Jane Harnick, confirming the news to The New York Times. According to the report, Barrie’s death was ‘medically assisted’ following a diagnosis of terminal cancer, which came years after she revealed that she had idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a progressive lung disease that makes breathing increasingly difficult.Barbara Barrie’s acclaimed career in film, television and theatreBarrie earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in the 1979 film ‘Breaking Away’. She also received a Tony Award nomination for originating the role of Sarah in the Broadway production of ‘Company’. Her film career included ‘One Potato, Two Potato’ (1964), a drama that explored racial prejudice through the story of an interracial marriage. Her performance earned her the Best Actress award at the Cannes Film Festival.On television, she was recognised for her role in the sitcom ‘Barney Miller’ and also appeared in several other series during her long career. Her television credits included guest appearances on ‘Nurse Jackie’ in 2010 and ‘Enlightened’ in 2011, among other roles.Barrie continued to work on stage well into her later years. In 2017, she appeared on Broadway in ‘Significant Other’.She had spoken publicly about her diagnosis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis in 2014, bringing attention to the challenges faced by people living with the condition.