The ‘Vanishing Point’ And ‘Petrocelli’ Star Was 92

Barry Newman, who is remembered for his acting roles as a Vietnam War hero who becomes a pill-addicted driver for hire in the 1971 film The Vanishing Point and as a defense attorney in the legal TV drama Petrocelli, has died. He was 92.

Newman died on May 11 of natural causes at New York-Presbyterian Columbia University Irving Medical Center.

Born in Boston, Massachusetts on November 7, 1930, Barry Newman’s first acting role on stage was in the 1957 Herman Wouk comedy Nature’s Way, in which he played a jazz musician. His first film role was the gangster-themed Pretty Boy Floyd in 1960. One year later he started making the rounds as a guest star on television in series like Way Out, The Defenders and Naked City.

While working at nights on Broadway in What Makes Sammy Run, Newman appeared on a recurring basis on the daytime drama The Edge of Night from 1964 to 1966.

In 1974, he segued into the lead on the aforementioned Petrocelli, which was spun-off from his role as Tony Petrocelli in the 1970 film The Lawyer and resulted in an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series in 1975, and a Golden Globe nomination in 1976 for Best Actor in a Television Series – Drama. Following Petrocelli’s demise, he appeared in over 20 TV movies and peppered his acting resume with guest spots on series like The Fall Guy, LA Law, JAG and NYPD Blue.

More recently, Newman reunited with The Lawyer director Sidney J. Furie to star in the indie film Finding Hannah in 2022.

In addition to his wife — they were married twice and together since 1991 — Newman’s survivors include his niece, author-journalist Judith Newman, and many nephews.