Barbara Barrie Dies at Ninety-Five With Medical Assistance in New York

Barbara Barrie, the Oscar-nominated actress known for her memorable roles in Breaking Away and Barney Miller, died on Wednesday at her Manhattan home at the age of 95 with medical assistance following a terminal cancer diagnosis.

Her death occurred under the New York State Medical Aid in Dying law, which took effect in August and permits terminally ill adults to obtain life-ending prescriptions.

Barrie spent seven decades in the entertainment industry, earning widespread acclaim on stage and screen while also living with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis since 2014.

Her daughter, Jane Harnick, said in an interview that her mother had long maintained firm views on end-of-life choices.

"For years and years, her whole life before she was ever sick with any illness, she always used to say, 'When my time comes, I just want to take something and go to sleep,'" said Jane Harnick, her daughter.

Gary Gersh, an agent for the actress, confirmed the passing in a statement, noting her long advocacy for the legislation.

The Chicago native earned an Academy Award nomination for her supporting role in the 1979 film Breaking Away and won best actress at the Cannes Film Festival in 1964 for One Potato, Two Potato.

She also received a Tony nomination for the original Broadway production of Stephen Sondheim's musical Company in 1970.

Television audiences recognized her as the wife of the police captain in Barney Miller and as the grandmother in Suddenly Susan.

Before the New York law was enacted, Barrie had considered traveling to Switzerland or Vermont to secure medical aid in dying, according to Times of India.

She is survived by her daughter Jane and son Aaron, both born from her marriage to director Jay Harnick, who died in 2007.

Family members and medical personnel coordinated the process on her final day as her condition declined.

"I love you too," Barrie told her family as they gathered around her bed before she fell asleep, according to Times of India.