Barnard Hughes
Hughes inDoc (1975)
Born	Bernard Aloysius Kiernan Hughes (1915-07-16)July 16, 1915 Bedford Hills, New York, U.S.
Died	July 11, 2006(2006-07-11) (aged 90) New York City, U.S.
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1939–2000
Spouse	Helen Stenborg ​ ​ (m. 1950)​
Children	2, includingDoug

Bernard Aloysius Kiernan "Barnard"Hughes (July 16, 1915 – July 11, 2006) was an American actor. His most successful roles came after middle age, and he was often cast as a dithering authority figure or grandfatherly elder.

Bernard Aloysius Kiernan Hughes was born inBedford Hills, New York, on July 16, 1915, the son of Irish immigrants Marcella (née Kiernan) and Owen Hughes.^[1][2] He attendedLa Salle Academy andManhattan College inNew York City, during which time he worked a series of odd jobs, including a stint as a dockworker and as a salesman atMacy's.^[3] He joined theU.S. Army duringWorld War II.

Hughes, as he revealed onThe Dick Cavett Show, was inspired to become an actor after seeing English actorDennis King'sBroadway run asRichard II in the playRichard of Bordeaux. He asked for his first name to be spelled "Barnard" instead of "Bernard" in his professional credits after anumerologist told him it wouldhelp his acting career.^[3] He auditioned for New York's Shakespeare Fellowshiprepertory company on the advice of a friend, and performed with them for two years.^[3]

Hughes had over 400 stage roles. He won Broadway's 1978 Best ActorTony Award for his performance as the title character inHugh Leonard'sDa.^[4] In 1988, he reprised the role for the film adaptationDa. He appeared in the film adaptation ofHamlet (1964) and in such films asMidnight Cowboy (1969),Where's Poppa? (1970),Cold Turkey (1971)The Hospital (1971),Tron (1982),Maxie (1985),The Lost Boys (1987),Doc Hollywood (1991), andSister Act 2: Back in the Habit (1993).^[5] He also played the old man who gave a ride to Felix and Oscar inThe Odd Couple II (1998) and was featured inThe Fantasticks (1995).^[6]

Hughes appeared on TV in such series asNaked City,The Secret Storm,Dark Shadows,Love Story,Blossom, andHomicide: Life on the Street.^[6] In 1973, he had a notable recurring role onAll in the Family as a Roman Catholic priest, Father John Majeski, doing battle withArchie Bunker, and won an Emmy for his portrayal of a senile judge onLou Grant.^[3] Hughes made three appearances inThe Bob Newhart Show as the father of Dr. Robert Hartley. He was the central character in three sitcoms:Doc, in which he played a physician;Mr. Merlin, in which he playedMerlin, a magician mentoring a 20th-century teenager; andThe Cavanaughs, co-starringChristine Ebersole, in which he played the family patriarch (Art Carney played his brother, andGlynis Johns made guest appearances). Hughes sang "Danny Boy" in one episode of the latter series. He also made a memorable appearance as The King (with Jim Dale as The Duke) in the PBS mini-seriesAdventures of Huckleberry Finn.

Hughes also made recurring appearances on daytime dramas includingGuiding Light,The Secret Storm andAs the World Turns as well as a brief appearance as aprivate investigator in an early episode ofDark Shadows. He also did many voice-overs for various television commercials includingKix cereal.^{[citation needed]}

Hughes married actressHelen Stenborg on April 19, 1950, and they remained married until his death in July 2006. They had a son namedDoug, who became a theater director, and a daughter named Laura.

Hughes died of natural causes inNew York City on July 11, 2006, five days before his 91st birthday.^[3] He is interred at theEpiscopal Church of the Transfiguration inManhattan, where his wifeHelen was also interred after her death in 2011.

• Barnard Hughes atIMDb
• Barnard Hughes at theInternet Broadway Database
• Barnard Hughes at theInternet Off-Broadway Database (archived)
• Barnard Hughes and Helen Stenborg papers, 1880s–2011, held by Billy Rose Theatre Division,New York Public Library for the Performing Arts.

• 1915 births
• 2006 deaths
• 20th-century American male actors
• American male film actors
• American male stage actors
• American male television actors
• American people of Irish descent
• Drama Desk Award winners
• Male actors from New York City
• Military personnel from New York City
• Military personnel from New York (state)
• Manhattan College alumni
• People from Bedford Hills, New York
• Primetime Emmy Award winners
• Tony Award winners
• United States Army personnel of World War II

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