Barbara Barrie, the American actress who was nominated for an Oscar for the 1979 film "Breaking Away", has died at the age of 95. She passed away at her home in New York City with medical assistance.
Her agent, Gary Gersh, confirmed the news to NBC News in a statement on Thursday. He said her death was medically assisted under the New York State Medical Aid in Dying law, which she strongly supported and spoke up for during her lifetime.
The law came into effect on August 5. It allows adults who are terminally ill and have less than six months to live to get a prescription medication that they take themselves to end their lives.
Barrie's daughter, Jane Harnick, told The New York Times that her mother had been diagnosed with terminal cancer and died on Wednesday. According to the same report, the veteran actress had also been living with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a lung disease that makes it hard to breathe and causes tiredness and weight loss.
Barrie spoke openly about her health before. In a 2014 interview with Playbill about her lung disease, she said her life was full and active, even though what lay ahead was both unknown and known at the same time. She added that she was "living full steam ahead" and wanted to help other people do the same.
Many fans will remember her as Evelyn Stohler in "Breaking Away", where she played the mother of a young man obsessed with cycling. The role earned her a nomination for best supporting actress at the Oscars. The film also starred Dennis Christopher and Paul Dooley, and the three appear together in a well-known photo from the movie.
Her success was not limited to film. In 1971, Barrie was nominated for a Tony Award for best featured actress in a musical for her role in "Company", Broadway.com reported. Her other stage credits include "The Selling of the President" and "The Prisoner of Second Avenue", which showed her range as a theatre performer.
Barrie's death has also brought fresh attention to the Medical Aid in Dying law in New York, which is still new. Her family and her agent made it clear that she believed in the law and wanted others to have the same choice.
Tributes are expected from fans and colleagues in the film and theatre world as people remember an actress who gave a lot to both the stage and the screen.
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