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Barry Dennen
Age: 71
Height:
Birth Place: Chicago, Illinois, USA
Born: Feb. 22nd, 1938
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Barry Dennen's Main TV Roles
NOTE: Complete List of Works can be found at
IMDB
BIOGRAPHY: A man you certainly love to hate, Barry Dennen's marvelously reedy, snake-eyed Pontius Pilate in Jesus Christ Superstar (1973) reminds one immediately of the equally cruel and calculated Jay Robinson (I) and his no-holds-barred performance of Caligula in The Robe (1953). The same slimy countenance permeates both characters to delicious effect. Since then Barry's natural malevolence has been afforded many opportunities to act out (and stand out) elsewhere, particularly on the musical stage. These days, however, his deep, dark voicings can be heard in video games.
The actor was born in Chicago, Illinois, on February 22, 1938. His early career started off in New York where he lived a typical bohemian actor's life, finding work when he could on the early 60s Shakespearean stage ("Henry V," "Measure for Measure," "The Taming of the Shrew") and in musicals ("Stop the World...I Want to Get Off"). He appeared in a couple of late 1960s short films before moving to England for the next fifteen or so years, thriving on the stage and TV. While there Harold Prince selected Barry to play the seedy Master of Ceremonies in the original London production of "Cabaret" (1969). A critical smash, he earned the coveted Evening Standard Award for "Best Actor". From there came an Andrew Lloyd Webber invitation to originate the role of Pontius Pilate on the "concept album" of "Jesus Christ Superstar". He returned to New York in the early 70s to play the procurator and judge in the landmark Broadway version of the rock opera to much acclaim, then went on to reprise the salacious role in Norman Jewison's feature film adaptation.
Since his return, the slivery-eyed Barry has taken on numerous characters on stage, screen and TV. His first work (before "Superstar") with director Jewison was as Mendel, a minor role, in the ambitious, large-screen version of Fiddler on the Roof (1971) starring Topol. It was Barry's suggestion to have Jewison direct "Superstar" the film. The rest of the 1970s had Barry often in warped featured roles in such films as the British horror Madhouse (1974) starring Vincent Price (I); Brannigan (1975), one of John Wayne (I)'s last action thrillers; The Kentucky Fried Movie (1977), John Landis' irreverent sketch-like spoof of films; Stanley Kubrick's best-selling shocker The Shining (1980) starring Jack Nicholson; and friend Joan Rivers comedy Rabbit Test (1978). During this period he also kept his evil image in tact on TV with his portrayal of Adolph Hitler in the mini-movie Ring of Passion (1978) (TV).
Barry continued as a transcontinental actor appearing from time to time back in England (on TV's "Oppenheimer" and "Beau Geste"). He never abandoned his theatre roots for too long either, appearing in both dramatic plays and musicals - "Comedians," "Ghetto," "Annie Get Your Gun," "She Loves Me," "The Pirates of Penzance," "Irma La Douce," "Sweet Charity," and, more recently, "Silent Partners" in 2006. An openly gay actor, he also went all out as "Papa Rose" in the outlandish spoof of the famed musical "Gypsy," aptly titled "West Hollywood Gypsy," in the early 1990s.
Film work came with less frequency in later years with sporadic appearances in Shock Treatment (1981) Trading Places (1983), Memed My Hawk (1984), Clifford (1994), Titanic (1997), Manhood (2003) and Simple Joys (2006). In 2004, he returned triumphantly to the stage in a touring production of "Jesus Christ Superstar" along with his friend, the original Judas Carl Anderson (II). These days Barry is more heard than seen doing voice-overs for films (The Dark Crystal (1982)) and countless video games.
Barry is a writer by nature and has scripted both several screenplays and teleplays. He also wrote a moving 1997 book entitled "My Life with Barbra: A Love Story" in which he fondly recalls his three-year relationship (1960-1963) with (then) nightclub singer Barbra Streisand as both her mentor and live-in lover.
TRIVIA:
- UCLA graduate.
- Once lived with 'Barbra Streisand' (qv).
- Wrote of his three-year living experience with Streisand in New York while both were struggling performers in a memoir, "Life With Barbra: A Love Story," in which he claims to be Barbra's first lover and mentor. She was 17 at the start of their relationship.
- Best known for his oily villainy on both the Broadway and London stage ("Cabaret," "Jesus Christ Superstar").
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