Barry Dennen (born February 22, 1938 in Chicago, Illinois) is an American actor, singer, and writer.
In New York City from 1960 to 1963, he had a relationship with Barbra Streisand, including living together for a year, during which time he helped her develop the nightclub act that began her successful career as a singer and actress.
He moved to London for fifteen years and in 1968 landed the starring role of the master of ceremonies in the London version of Cabaret. In 1970, he played Pontius Pilate on the album of Jesus Christ Superstar, and he played the same role in the Broadway production (1971). In the same year, he played Mendel in Norman Jewison's film of Fiddler on the Roof. According to Dennen's Web site, he suggested to Jewison that he direct a film of Superstar. Jewison did so, and Dennen played Pilate again (1973).
He was the voice actor who portrayed the Chamberlain SkekSil in the Dark Crystal.
Since that time Dennen has had a variety of small parts on American television shows and films, including: Superman 3; The Kentucky Fried Movie; The Shining; Galtar and the Golden Lance; Tales From the Darkside (in an episode which reunited him with The Dark Crystal screenwriter David Odell) and Titanic. He has also done voices for many video games, including Fatman in Metal Gear Solid 2 and Police Chief Bogen in Grim Fandango.
He wrote the screenplay for an episode of Amazing Stories titled "The Secret Cinema" (1985) and cowrote that for an episode of The Comic Strip Presents... titled "Demonella" (1993). His autobiographical book, My Life With Barbra: A Love Story (1997), deals with their relationship and with his gradual realization that he's homosexual.
Once lived with Barbra Streisand.
Best known for his oily villainy on both the Broadway and London stage ("Cabaret," "Jesus Christ Superstar").
Wrote of his three-year living experience with Streisand in New York while both were struggling performers in a memoir, "Life With Barbra: A Love Story," in which he claims to be Barbra's first lover and mentor. She was 17 at the start of their relationship.
UCLA graduate.
