Biography

An American actress who achieved cult status in the 1970s with her participation in the neo-expressionist off-off Broadway movement with roles in Women Behind Bars and The Dirtiest Show in Town. Barr was raised in Lake Forest, Illinois. She graduated from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and began her career in the 1971 Los Angeles production of Tom Eyen's Dirtiest Show in Town. She went on to star in Eyen's Women Behind Bars, and play Anita Bryant in Ronald Tavel's The Ovens of Anita Orange Juice at Williamstown Theater Festival and later again in New York, among many other productions. She also appeared in Eyen's White Whore and the Bit Player, Ms Neffertiti Regrets and Give My Regards to Off-Off Broadway at Ellen Stewart's La MaMa ETC. And performed at Theater Genesis at St. Mark's Church in the Bowery, and Manhattan Theater Club. In the early 90's Barr wrote and performed a solo performance piece titled "Protect Me From What I Want" in comedy venues around Los Angeles. Barr went on to guest star on numerous TV series, including Hill Street Blues, Night Court, Seinfeld and Cheers where she was the only actor to appear as two different characters on two separate episodes. She was a series regular on ABC's Max Headroom and also appeared in Martin Ritt's Nuts, and Dario Argento's Trauma.