The Tragic First Love Who Started Barbra Streisand To Stardom

Barry Dennen, who found fame as Pontius Pilate in the original stage and film versions of "Jesus Christ Superstar," died in Sept. 2017 at the age of 79 — after a life that included launching the career of first love Barbra Streisand!

The busy actor later came out as gay, but Barry romanced Barbra while the two first started out in New York City in the 1960s. Audio buff Barry became the first person to ever record Barbra on tape. "The moment I heard the first playback," he later recalled, "I went insane!"

The busy actor later came out as gay, but Barry romanced Barbra while the two first started out in New York City in the 1960s. Audio buff Barry became the first person to ever record Barbra on tape. "The moment I heard the first playback," he later recalled, "I went insane!"

"I knew there was something special," he continued. "A voice the microphone loved." Barbra, however, insisted that she was an actress, and not a singer — until she finally needed money, and won a talent contest at a Greenwich Village bar. Barry and Barbra later moved in together as they both began to work the NYC cabaret circuit.

Barry ultimately made the mistake of taking Barbra for granted, however — saying that she dumped him after he once didn't come straight home after returning to Manhattan from a trip to California. Barbra later recalled Barry in an interview, talking about performing "Cry Me a River" in concert.

"I had a specific person in mind," she said. "I tried to recreate in my mind the details of his face. I don't sing it quite the same way anymore, because I don't quite feel the same way about that person."

"I had a specific person in mind," she said. "I tried to recreate in my mind the details of his face. I don't sing it quite the same way anymore, because I don't quite feel the same way about that person."

Barry went on to the hit stage and film productions of "Jesus Christ Superstar" — and found further screen immortality in "The Shining," "Fiddler on the Roof," and the Eddie Murphy comedy "Trading Places." He was working steadily until suffering what became a fatal head injury after falling at home in June 2017.