Barry Bostwick is a talented actor and singer who has made a lasting impact on the entertainment industry. Born Barry Knapp Bostwick on February 24, 1945, in San Mateo, California, he is the son of Elizabeth "Betty" (Defendorf) and Bud Bostwick, a city planner and actor.
As a child, Barry was exposed to the performing arts through his parents and his elder brother Peter, with whom he would put on musicals and puppet shows for the neighborhood kids. He attended San Diego's United States International University's School for the Performing Arts in 1967, where he switched from music to drama and also worked as a circus performer.
After graduating, Barry moved to New York and attended the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences at New York University. He made his stage debut at age 22 in a production of "Take Her, She's Mine" and went on to perform in numerous non-musical roles in productions such as "War and Peace" and "The Misanthrope".
Barry's big break came in 1969 with his Broadway debut in "Cock-a-Doodle Dandy", which ran alongside "Hamlet" in which he was featured as Osric. His portrayal of Danny Zuko in the 1972 Broadway high-school musical smash "Grease" cemented his status as a leading man.
In addition to his stage work, Barry has also had a successful film career, appearing in movies such as "Jennifer on My Mind", "Road Movie", and "The Wrong Damn Film". He won the role of Susan Sarandon's boyfriend in "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" (1975),which became a cult classic.
Throughout his career, Barry has been recognized with numerous awards and nominations, including a Tony Award and a Golden Globe Award. He has also appeared in a range of television shows, including "Spin City" and "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit".
In his personal life, Barry has been married twice and has two children, Brian and Chelsea, with his second wife Sherri Jensen Bostwick. In 1997, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer and underwent surgery, which was successful. He has since become an advocate for prostate cancer awareness and has won the Gilda Radner Courage Award from the Roswell Park Cancer Institute.
Barry's legacy is one of versatility and dedication to his craft, and he continues to be an iconic figure in the entertainment industry.
