WASHINGTON: Barry Dennen, best known for playing Pontius Pilate in both the original Broadway and film versions of ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’, has passed at the age of 79.
Dennen had suffered a brain injury after a fall at home in June and was in the hospice care where he died, reports Deadline.
The late actor had a brief relationship with Barbra Streisand in the early 1960s, when he helped her to transition from cabaret singer to international superstar diva.
Dennen’s long-spanning career also included minor roles in ‘The Shining,’ ‘Fiddler On The Roof’ and ‘Titanic’ and voice roles in popular animation shows such as ‘Batman: The Animated Series,’ ‘DuckTales’ and ‘Avatar: The Last Airbender.’
Dennen was born in Chicago in February 1938 and he grew up in Los Angeles, where his love of performing was born. He is survived by his two adopted sons Timothy and Barnaby.