Bernard Aloysius Kiernan "Barnard" Hughes (July 16, 1915 â€" July 11,
2006) was an American actor of television, theater and film. Hughes
became famous for a variety of roles; his most-notable roles came
after middle age, and he was often cast as a dithering authority
figure or grandfatherly elder.Hughes was born in Bedford Hills, New
York, the son of Irish immigrants Marcella "Madge" (née Kiernan) and
Owen Hughes. He attended La Salle Academy and Manhattan College in New
York City. Hughes served in the United States Army during World War
II. Hughes was married to actress Helen Stenborg. They married on
April 19, 1950, and remained married until his death. Hughes was five
days shy of his 91st birthday when he died. The Hugheses had two
children, the theatre director Doug Hughes, and a daughter, Laura.
Hughes and his wife are interred at Church of the Transfiguration,
Episcopal (Manhattan) in New York City.Hughes changed the "e" in his
first name to an "a" to help his acting career on the advice of a
numerologist. Through high school and college, Hughes worked a series
of odd jobs, including a stint as a dockworker and as a salesman at
Macy's. He auditioned for the Shakespeare Fellowship Repertory company
in New York City on the advice of a friend, and ended up joining the
company for two years.Hughes played more than 400 theatre roles,
including the one for which he was perhaps most famous, in Hugh
Leonard's Da. He won Broadway's 1978 Tony Award as Best Actor for his
portrayal of the title role; in 1988 he recreated the role for the
film Da.
2006) was an American actor of television, theater and film. Hughes
became famous for a variety of roles; his most-notable roles came
after middle age, and he was often cast as a dithering authority
figure or grandfatherly elder.Hughes was born in Bedford Hills, New
York, the son of Irish immigrants Marcella "Madge" (née Kiernan) and
Owen Hughes. He attended La Salle Academy and Manhattan College in New
York City. Hughes served in the United States Army during World War
II. Hughes was married to actress Helen Stenborg. They married on
April 19, 1950, and remained married until his death. Hughes was five
days shy of his 91st birthday when he died. The Hugheses had two
children, the theatre director Doug Hughes, and a daughter, Laura.
Hughes and his wife are interred at Church of the Transfiguration,
Episcopal (Manhattan) in New York City.Hughes changed the "e" in his
first name to an "a" to help his acting career on the advice of a
numerologist. Through high school and college, Hughes worked a series
of odd jobs, including a stint as a dockworker and as a salesman at
Macy's. He auditioned for the Shakespeare Fellowship Repertory company
in New York City on the advice of a friend, and ended up joining the
company for two years.Hughes played more than 400 theatre roles,
including the one for which he was perhaps most famous, in Hugh
Leonard's Da. He won Broadway's 1978 Tony Award as Best Actor for his
portrayal of the title role; in 1988 he recreated the role for the
film Da.
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