Olivia Barash (born January 11, 1965) is an American actress. She began her career as a child actor, appearing in television series such as Little House on the Prairie, Charlie's Angels, and Soap. She subsequently had a lead role on the short-lived sitcom In the Beginning, which originally aired in 1978. She also had a lead role in the Walt Disney television film Child of Glass (1978). As a young adult, Barash established herself in supporting film roles in Repo Man (1984), Tuff Turf (1985), Patty Hearst (1988), and Floundering (1994).
Biography Early life and performances Barash was born January 11, 1965, in Miami, Florida. Barash was raised in New York City, and began acting professionally at age 11. During her early years of acting, singing and dancing in classic musicals on stage in New York, she starred as "Baby June" in Gypsy with Angela Lansbury. She was the first child actress to win the New York Critic's Circle Award. Moving to Hollywood as a teen with her family, she attended Palisades High School in Pacific Palisades, California, and graduated in 1982.
Barash appeared in the pilot episode of The Incredible Hulk, aping the famous "flower girl" scene from James Whale's Frankenstein. In this version, she befriends the Hulk, but their friendship is cut short by her hunter father, who shoots the Hulk with a rifle, causing the Hulk to hurl him hundreds of feet into a nearby lake. Barash also appeared as a guest in two episodes of Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman in 1977, and in 1978, was cast in a main role on the sitcom In the Beginning, which followed a conservative Catholic priest and liberal, socially-conscious nun who run a mission in Baltimore; the series ran only five episodes on CBS, though a total of nine were filmed before the series was canceled. The same year, she starred in the Walt Disney television film Child of Glass, in which she portrayed the ghost of a young girl murdered during the Antebellum era.
Later career In 1984, Barash appeared in Repo Man, in which she had a supporting role playing a UFO cultist. The following year, she appeared opposite Robert Downey, Jr., James Spader and Kim Richards in the teen drama Tuff Turf (1985). In 1987, Barash had a main supporting role in the television series Fame, playing Maxie Sharp. In 1988, she had a supporting role in Paul Schrader's biopic Patty Hearst.
In 1990, Oliver Stone wrote Barash into The Doors portraying a folksinger on the Sunset Strip, performing her original song, "Who's Walking Away".
Barash went on to sign to Warner Chappell Music as a songwriter/artist in 1992. Her focus shifted to recording and playing her music through the nineties and into this century.
Filmography
Film Year Title Role Notes 1978American Hot WaxSusie1981The Time CrystalBaketalso known as Through the Magic Pyramid1984Repo ManLeila1985Tuff TurfRonnie1988Patty HearstFahizah1989Dr. AlienLeeanne1989Grave SecretsDarla1994FlounderingRuthie2001Perfect FitJanet2009Repo ChickRailroad Employee2013Blue DreamRachel Purviance2014Theory of a Deadman: DrownRevivalistVideo short2015Elvis of Venice (voice)Post-production
Television Year Title Role Notes 1968Lupita1 episode1970–71LouiseTV series1977Code RJan"Suzy's Day Off"1977Mary Hartman, Mary HartmanBrownie2 episodes1977SoapMolly"1.4"1977The Incredible HulkGirl at Lake"The Incredible Hulk"1978In the BeginningWillieMain role1978ABC Afterschool SpecialEugenie Legrand"Michel's Mixed-Up Musical Bird"1978Child of GlassInez DumaineTV film1978Charlie's AngelsSam"Mother Angel"1978–79ABC Weekend SpecialCharlotte Cooper"The Contest Kid and the Big Prize", "The Contest Kid Strikes Again"1979AliceMelissa Lloyd"Tommy's First Love"1979RuthieTV film1979Out of the BlueLaura RichardsMain role1981ABC Weekend SpecialJenny"Zack and the Magic Factory"1981Little House on the PrairieSylvia Webb"Sylvia: Parts 1 & 2"1981BaketTV film1983One Day at a TimeOlivia Birvey"A Young Man's Fancy"1984Night CourtMary Elaine Montgomery"Santa Goes Downtown"1984SpencerMarsha"Fast Times"1987FameMaxie SharpMain role (season 6)1987OharaRita Riley"Take the Money and Run"1988St. ElsewhereAnnette"Down and Out on Beacon Hill"198921 Jump StreetBecky"Nemesis"
Theatre Year Title Role Theatre Venue 1974 Gypsy Baby June Winter Garden Theatre, Broadway
Awards and nominations Year Association Category Nominated work Result 1982 Young Artist Award Best Young Actress in a Television Series Little House on the Prairie
References
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