Barbara Harris (actress)
This article is about the actress. For others, see: disambiguation page.
Barbara Harris (born
July 25,
1935) is an
Academy Award-nominated
American actress.
Early life
Harris was born in
Evanston, Illinois, the daughter of Oscar Harris, an
arborist who later became a
businessman, and Natalie Densmoor, an accomplished
pianist. When she was a teenager, Harris began her
career on the
stage at the Playwrights Theatre in
Chicago, Illinois. She was also a member of The Compass Players, the first ongoing
improvisational theatre troupe in the USA, directed by
Paul Sills, her then-husband.
Career
Harris is generally acknowledged to be one of the pioneering women in the field of improvisational theatre, along with
Elaine May. Scenes that Harris created with
Alan Arkin,
Severn Darden,
Paul Sand, and other celebrated members of the Compass and Second City companies are studied as masterpieces of the form.
Harris'
Broadway debut was in the production
From the Second City (1961). She received a nomination for the 1962
Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for
From the Second City.
She won the Theatre World Award for
Oh Dad, Poor Dad, Mama's Hung You in the Closet and I'm Feeling So Sad. She received a nomination for the 1966 Tony for Best Actress in a Musical for
On a Clear Day You Can See Forever (1965), and won the 1967 Tony for Best Actress in a Musical for
The Apple Tree (1966).
Her motion picture debut was in the role of Sandra Markowitz in
A Thousand Clowns (1965) opposite
Jason Robards at
United Artists. Other major movie roles include Muriel Tate in
Plaza Suite (1971); Allison Densmore in
Who Is Harry Kellerman and Why Is He Saying Those Terrible Things About Me? (1971); Albuquerque in
Nashville (1975); Blanche Tyler in
Hitchcock's
Family Plot (1976); Ellen Andrews in
Disney's
Freaky Friday (1976); Trixie Lane in
Movie Movie (1978); Evelyn Kelcher in
Peggy Sue Got Married (1986); and Fanny Eubanks in
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (1988).
Harris received a nomination for the
Academy Award for
Best Actress in a Supporting Role for
Who Is Harry Kellerman and Why Is He Saying Those Terrible Things About Me? She received
Golden Globe nominations for Best Motion Picture Actress - Musical/Comedy for
A Thousand Clowns; Best Supporting Actress - Motion Picture for
Nashville; Best Motion Picture Actress - Musical/Comedy for
Family Plot; and Best Motion Picture Actress - Musical/Comedy for
Freaky Friday.
Harris currently teaches and directs.
Left-handed
Childless
Height: 5'7". (five foot, seven inches)
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