Barbra Streisand

Barbra Streisand
Name	Barbra Streisand
Caption	Streisand in 1976
Birth name	Barbara Joan Streisand
Birth date	24 April 1942
Birth place	Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
Occupation	Singer, actress, filmmaker
Years active	1960–present
Spouse	Elliott Gould (m. 1963; div. 1971), James Brolin (m. 1998)
Children	Jason Gould
Awards	Full list

Barbra Streisand is an American singer, actress, and filmmaker. A cultural icon for over six decades, she is among the few entertainers to have won all major American entertainment awards, including an Academy Award, multiple Emmy Awards, a Tony Award, and multiple Grammy Awards. Renowned for her powerful voice and distinctive style, she is one of the best-selling music artists of all time and a pioneering figure in the film industry.

Early Life

Barbara Joan Streisand was born in the Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn to a Jewish family. Her father, Emanuel Streisand, a high school teacher, died when she was just fifteen months old, after which her mother, Diana Kind, struggled financially. She attended Erasmus Hall High School, where she performed in school productions and began singing in local clubs like the Bon Soir in Greenwich Village. Her early ambition was to become an actress, and she briefly studied at the Theatre Studio Inc. in Manhattan before her singing career took precedence.

Career

Streisand's professional breakthrough came in 1962 with her starring role in the Broadway musical I Can Get It for You Wholesale, for which she won the New York Drama Critics' Circle award and met her first husband, Elliott Gould. Her career rapidly expanded into television with specials like My Name Is Barbra, which earned her an Emmy Award. She signed with Columbia Records, beginning a historic recording partnership. Throughout the 1970s and beyond, she successfully merged her music, acting, and directing pursuits, becoming a powerful force in Hollywood and founding her own production company, Barwood Films.

Music

Streisand's recording career, exclusively with Columbia Records, is one of the most successful in history. Her early albums, such as The Barbra Streisand Album, won multiple Grammy Awards. She has achieved number-one albums across six consecutive decades, with hits like "The Way We Were", "Evergreen", and "Woman in Love". Her collaborations include duets with artists like Neil Diamond, Barry Gibb, and Céline Dion. Major concert residencies, including her famed 1994 return to Las Vegas and 2006 tour, were landmark events, documented in releases like Barbra: The Concert.

Film Career

Streisand made her film debut in a reprisal of her Broadway role in Funny Girl, winning the Academy Award for Best Actress. She starred in a series of successful films including Hello, Dolly!, The Way We Were, and A Star Is Born, for which she won an Academy Award for Best Original Song. She turned to directing with Yentl, becoming the first woman to win a Golden Globe Award for Best Director. She later directed and starred in The Prince of Tides and The Mirror Has Two Faces, earning nominations from the Directors Guild of America.

Personal Life

Streisand was married to actor Elliott Gould from 1963 to 1971; their son is actor Jason Gould. In 1998, she married actor James Brolin. A longtime supporter of the Democratic Party, she is active in political and philanthropic causes, including the Streisand Foundation. She has homes in Malibu and New York City, and is an avid collector and designer, interests reflected in her book My Passion for Design. Her public statements and outspoken nature have frequently drawn media attention.

Legacy

Barbra Streisand is considered one of the most important entertainers of the 20th century. She holds the record for the most top-ten albums by a female artist on the ''Billboard'' 200 chart. Institutions like the American Film Institute have honored her, and she has received the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Her influence extends across music, film, and fashion, inspiring countless artists including Donna Summer, Céline Dion, and Lady Gaga. The phenomenon of the "Streisand effect" is named for a 2003 incident involving her residence in Malibu.

Category:American film directors Category:American singers Category:Actresses from New York City