Barry Newman as Frank. Drama, comedy; he does it all. With a commanding talent and discerning eye, he’s crafted a career encompassing the Broadway stage, feature films, Movies of the Week, mini series and TV series. His recent feature film credits include 40 Days 40 Nights (as Josh Hartnett’s father), The Limey (Steven Soderberg’s critically acclaimed film, with Peter Fonda and Terence Stamp), Bowfinger (as Classy Agent opposite Eddie Murphy and Steve Martin), Brown’s Requiem, Goodbye Lover (as Immoral Senator), Good Advice (as a Tough Media Mogul with Charlie Sheen), Jack the Dog, and Daylight (opposite Sylvester Stallone).
Playing it cool, but with an edge, has become a trademark of Newman’s style. When director Sydney Furie came to New York in search of an actor to play the title role in the Paramount film, The Lawyer, Barry was cast and received critical acclaim for his portrayal of a cocky, but brilliant attorney, a character loosely based on F. Lee Bailey. As the star of the now classic film, Vanishing Point, Barry portrayed a man outside of the system, a true symbol of the times. His other starring credits include The Salzburg Connection; Fear is the Key, City on Fire, and Amy, for which the Los Angeles Times hailed him as the “Spencer Tracy of the 80’s.”
In Television, Newman is well remembered for his title role in the NBC series, Petrocelli, for which he received both Emmy and Golden Globe nominations. He has also guest starred on N.Y.P.D. Blue, Murder, She Wrote, and as a partner on L.A. Law 2.
In addition, Barry has starred in more than 20 made-for-television movies, including Second Sight, opposite Elizabeth Montgomery, Having it All, with Dylan Cannon, Fantasies, with Suzanne Pleshette, the controversial My Two Loves, with Mariette Hartley and Lyn Redgrave, and the Award Winning King Crab. Other Newman credits include the much-heralded mini-series Fatal Vision, playing the attorney who unsuccessfully defends Dr. Jeffrey MacDonald, the real life Green Beret accused of killing his wife and two daughters. Both the New York Times and the Los Angeles Times critics termed his performance “overpowering” and “outstanding.” He also starred in the TV series Nightingales, the Murder, She Wrote pilot, Ballinger, and the BBC production of Agatha Christie’s The Mirror Crack’d, co-starring Clair Bloom.
Born in Boston, Barry was graduated from the prestigious Boston Latin School and earned a degree in anthropology from Brandeis University. A friend took him to Lee Strasberg’s Actor’s Studio, where he fell in love with acting, and almost overnight, decided to pursue an acting career. He hasn’t looked back since.
Newman’s resume also includes important work on the Broadway stage having been featured in Herman Wouk’s comedy, Nature’s Way, Mel Tolkin’s Maybe Tuesday, the musical version of What Makes Sammy Run?, the controversial America Hurrah, and Christie’s Mousetrap. At the same time, he starred on the daytime soap, The Edge of Night.
