Bernard Barrow

Who was Bernard Barrow?

Bernard Elliott "Bernie" Barrow was an American actor and collegiate drama professor. He was best known as an actor for his role as "Johnny Ryan", a publican and the patriarch of an Irish-American family on the television soap opera, Ryan's Hope, on which he appeared from 1975 until the show's demise in 1989.

Born in New York City, he received a bachelors degree at Syracuse University in 1947, a masters at Columbia in 1948, and a doctorate from Yale Drama School in 1957. He taught theater at Brooklyn College for three decades. He directed summer stock and community theater throughout these years as well. Before starring on Ryan's Hope, he played the role of "Earl Dana" on Where the Heart Is in 1969-70, "Dan Kincaid" on The Secret Storm from 1970 to 1974 and "Ira Paulson" on The Edge of Night in 1974-75. After his 13-year run with RH, he was cast in 1990 in the role of "Louie Slavinsky" on Loving, and continued with the role even after his diagnosis with lung cancer. Barrow died at the age of 65 in New York City.

Before Ryan's Hope, Barrow had a small part in one of the most-watched TV episodes of its time.