What happened to Barry Newman?

Barry Newman died on May 11, 2023, at age 92. His death was announced by his wife, Angela Newman. No cause of death was not announced, however, he was once diagnosed with cancer.

He was best known for his role as Kowalski in the 1971 film Vanishing Point. Directed by Richard C. Sarafian, the role was originally supposed to be played by Gene Hackman, but 20th Century Fox insisted on using Newman.

“Sorry to hear about the passing of Barry Newman, star of Vanishing Point. Back in the pre-cable days when a movie could remain in theatrical release for years, literally, I saw his pedal-to-the-metal classic countless times in first-run, second round, and drive-in theatres,” Senior Media Writer, Joe Leydon.

Newman got his first acting job in Herman Wouk’s first comedy Nature’s Way, in which he played as a jazz musician. He went on to star in the New York production of Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap.