Barbra Streisand biography, young, husband, net worth, age, awards, height and weight 2025

Barbra Streisand's biography

Modern pop culture has unfairly pigeonholed singer and actress Barbra Streisand, just look at the animated series South Park, in which the superstar of the 60s appears in the image of iron Godzilla.

Barbra Streisand ‒ the most famous singer of the 20th century

But Barbara (stage name Barbra) Streisand is a cultural giant whose contributions go far beyond spawning concepts like the Streisand Effect and the track of the Duck Sauce group named in her honor, which conquered world dance floors in 2010.

Duck Sauce ‒ Barbra Streisand

Streisand has won 2 Oscars: for her role in the musical Funny Girl and for the song from the movie The Star Is Born. Three more times she was nominated for the main prize of the Academy Awards: for her role in the film The Way We Were, for the film The Prince of Tides (as a director) and for the song from the musical The Mirror Has Two Faces.

Oscars 1969: Barbara Streisand and her candid attire

By the 1980s, critics recognized Streisand as America's most influential performer, overshadowing even Frank Sinatra, as well as one of the richest female singers in the world.

By the beginning of the 21st century, the total number of Streisand's albums sold reached a quarter of a billion copies. There are 34 gold, 27 platinum and 13 multi-platinum albums in the singer's discography.

Barbra Streisand's songs have been popular for over 50 years

Sony Records still believes that the 1992 contract with Streisand was commercially more profitable than similar agreements with Michael Jackson and Madonna.

Childhood. From ugly duckling to superstars

"I came to Hollywood without veneers on my teeth, without a nose reshaped by plastic surgeons and without a resounding pseudonym. It does me credit," Streisand said in one of her interviews. But Barbara's path to fame was difficult, and not only because her appearance did not meet the glamour standards.

The baby was born in the family of school secretary Diana and grammar teacher Emanuel. Barbara's father died when she was barely one year old. After his death, the family was on the verge of poverty. The situation improved when Diana married again. But Barbara's relationship with her mother's new partner was troubled, to put it mildly ‒ the stepfather beat the girl for the slightest offense.

Barbara Streisand was born on April 24, 1942

The strained atmosphere in the family affected Barbara's relations with her peers. Classmates avoided this unsociable, ungainly, awkward, big-nosed girl in baggy clothes. Nobody suspected that in her heart she always knew for sure that she would become a star.

From an early age the little girl was drawn to creativity

After classes, she'd disappear into movie theaters, staring at the screen spellbound, and at home she'd lock herself in the bathroom, dress up and dance in front of the mirror, imagining herself a commercial star. Not only her stepfather, who outright called his stepdaughter ugly, but also her mother, who never supported her daughter's ambitions, laughed at her dreams of stardom.

In childhood, Barbara Streisand was considered a plain girl

At 12, the demure little girl rebelled against the domestic terror, throwing this phrase at her parents: "You will hear about me. I will break your ideas of beauty." She smeared her face and hair with bright green dye and went to school looking like this. The teachers sent her back, and her mother, becoming enraged, shaved Barbara baldly. While her hair grew back, the girl drew funny caricatures and inscriptions on her head every day.

The difficulties didn't break the young star with her own vision of beauty, and her later success is the best proof of that. Later, the ironic phrase "Hello, Gorgeous!" from the musical Funny Girl, for which Barbra Streisand won her first Oscar, became the actress's calling card and symbol of her victory over circumstances.

Natural-Born Talent

Streisand studied neither singing nor acting. She mastered both naturally.

Barbra Streisand and Ray Charles ‒ Crying Time (1973)

She began to sing in early childhood. Barbra's first audience was the neighbors in their apartment building, who were already amazed by the little girl's surprisingly powerful voice. Then young Streisand wowed her classmates' parents at a school event. That evening, only her mother sat stone-faced—already critical of her daughter's every move.

On the right side ‒ Barbara with her elder brother Sheldon

She harshly criticized Barbara when she sang happy birthday to her ("A fright with a huge nose, what are you trying to prove here?"), when she bombed her first studio audition at age 9, and when her first demo recorded after turning 13 got zero response from music agents.

Still, Barbra gained valuable experience in high school: she performed at weddings, sang at summer camp, and joined the school choir, where she befriended Neil Diamond, who alongside Barbra and Elton John is now considered one of the most successful performers in history.

Diamond and Streisand have known each other since childhood

At 14, Barbara saw her first Broadway musical and caught theater fever. From then on, she saw singing as more than just a hobby and desperately searched for any chance to get on stage. She worked at the theater during summer breaks... as a janitor, and was only given one chance to play a wordless role as a bald Japanese man.

Barbra Streisand and Princess Margaret (on the right side), 1969

After graduating at 16, she moved out and crashed at friends' places ‒ she couldn't even afford to rent a room. When her theater dreams didn't pan out, she turned back to singing. On a friend's tip, she entered a talent contest at a famous Manhattan gay club and won first prize ‒ a regular gig at the venue for $125 a week.

Barbra Streisand's rare photo: she is 19 years old

That singing gig became her gateway to Broadway. During one performance, Barbara caught the eye of the director of the musical comedy I Can Get It For You Wholesale, who offered her a small comic role as a dowdy secretary. That's how Streisand made her Broadway debut.

Streisand's debut in the musical I Can Get It For You Wholesale

The role was small, but Barbra made it unforgettable. Much to the surprise of the musical's leading stars, she stole the show and earned a Tony Award nomination.

Barbra Streisand ‒ Woman in Love

This led to an appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show and a contract with Columbia Records (a Sony Entertainment label), which released Barbra Streisand's debut album, The Barbra Streisand Album, in 1963. It received platinum status in the States. The record was awarded two Grammy Awards: Best Female Pop Vocal Performance and Album Of The Year.

Over the next two years, Barbra Streisand released 5 more albums, each of which also went platinum. Her records dominated the top of the Billboard 200 charts for extended periods. In the years that followed, she became the only artist to have albums hit #1 on the Billboard 200 across five decades.

Cinema career

Her film career proved equally impressive. Two major musicals starring Barbra Streisand hit theaters back-to-back: Funny Girl and Hello, Dolly!. The first, a largely autobiographical tale, followed Fanny Brice's transformation from ordinary girl to global superstar. The second delivered a witty tale about the scheming matchmaker Dolly Levi.

Streisand's audition for Funny Girl didn't go exactly as planned. She had to perform Fanny's first kiss scene with her screen lover. Omar Sharif had already been approved for the role of the lover.

In the photo: Barbra Streisand and Omar Sharif

Taking the stage, she stumbled and knocked down the curtain, sending the camera crew into fits of laughter. Director William Wyler, who'd already seen hundreds of hopefuls, was about to dismiss her when Omar Sharif suddenly yelled: This idiot bit me! Barbra, inexperienced and having never really kissed a man before, bit his lip – and that's exactly what convinced Wyler she was perfect for the role.

By 1970, in The Owl and the Pussycat, Barbra was playing Doris, a streetwise woman of loose morals who clashes with the uptight, moralistic Felix. Her character made cinema history by being the first to drop the F-bomb on screen.

Barbra Streisand in the film The Owl and the Pussycat

For A Star Is Born, Barbra Streisand commanded a staggering $15 million – a fortune by 1979 standards. The story follows the romance between faded rock star John and rising singer Esther, whose encounter with the declining idol launches her to stardom.

In 1983, Streisand brought the musical Yentl to audiences. The film follows a determined Jewish girl in early 20th-century Eastern Europe who disguises herself as a man to pursue an education. Streisand was simultaneously a producer, director, screenwriter and performer of the key role. The film received 6 nominations for Golden Globe (2 awards: Best Motion Picture ‒ Comedy or Musical and Best Director) and 5 nominations for Oscars (1 award ‒ Best Original Song).

Though Barbra Streisand rarely appears in films anymore, she returned in 2010 for the dark comedy Little Fockers, playing the outrageous family matriarch Roz Focker. She shared the screen with Robert De Niro, Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson.

Meet the Fockers: Barbara Streisand as Roz

In 2012, she appeared in the comedy The Guilt Trip – about a young inventor helping his mother reconnect with an old flame while she tries to figure out why his love life is such a disaster. Comedian Seth Rogen.

Shot from the movie The Guilt Trip (2012)

Queen of duets

Streisand is known not only as a singer with a voice reminiscent of an opera mezzo-soprano who made an enormous contribution to world pop culture, but also as the performer who most frequently sings duets. In the 60s she managed to sing with Frank Sinatra (I've Got A Crush On You), the king of rhythm and blues Ray Charles (Crying Time), and star of musicals Judy Garland (Happy Days Are Here).

At the turn of the '70s and '80s, Streisand collaborated with Barry Gibb from the Bee Gees (Guilty, What Kind Of Fool) and disco star Donna Summer (No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)). Her duets with longtime friend Neil Diamond (You Don't Bring Me Flowers) and with heartthrob Don Johnson (Till I Loved You) were hugely popular.

Barbra Streisand and Celine Dion – Tell Him

The '90s were marked by collaborations with Celine Dion (Tell Him), Bryan Adams (I Finally Found Someone), and Johnny Mathis (One Hand, One Heart).

In 2002, Barbra offered the rising star of pop music, Josh Groban, to record a song together. The result of their efforts was the composition All I Know of Love.

The duet of Barbra Streisand and Frank Sinatra

The singer spoke about the experience of their collaboration: "I was only 21 years old. When Barbra offered me the chance to record a song, I couldn't believe it. She didn't have to do it, but she did, and it was wonderful. As for work, in this regard, she is a perfectionist. She has to be convinced a hundred times that something is the best option before accepting it. She constantly rehearses. That's why she's always on top."

In 2016, Streisand released the album Encore: Movie Partners Sing Broadway — a collection of her songs from movie soundtracks. It contains duets with many celebrities, including Hugh Jackman (Any Moment Now from the musical Smile), Alec Baldwin (The Best Thing That Ever Has Happened from the musical Road Show), Chris Pine (I'll Be Seeing You from the musical My Fair Lady).

To overcome the main fear

It is surprising, but despite the successful acting career and the phenomenal success of her audio recordings, for almost thirty years Streisand was paralyzed with fear at the thought of performing live in front of an audience.

Fear of the stage appeared in her in 1966. During a major tour across the USA, she, a Jewish woman from Brooklyn, received threatening letters from extremists who promised to shoot the singer during a performance. She forgot the lyrics of the song because of fear right during the concert. She stood there in silence while several thousand audience members watched her struggle.

Streisand did not give concerts for 27 years for fear of performing

Barbra decided to take the stage again only in September 1993, 27 years after that fateful performance. The cost of tickets for the first concert of the singer after such a long break reached one and a half thousand dollars, and nevertheless, all the tickets were sold out half an hour after the start of sales. Time magazine called Streisand's performance the main musical event of the century. The honorable title was confirmed by five Emmy statuettes.

Barbara Streisand's personal life

The success of her first album went to Barbara's head, and she didn't hesitate to accept a proposal from actor Elliott Gould, who was unknown at the time. At the wedding, her mother muttered in surprise: "How could someone so plain land such a handsome guy!"

Barbra Streisand's first husband ‒ Elliott Gould

In 1966, the couple became parents to a boy born on December 29, whom they named Jason. When he was 5 years old, Barbra and Elliott divorced because Streisand was too focused on her career. After the divorce, she sent her son to a specialized boarding school and essentially forgot about him for the next 20 years.

Streisand and Gould's marriage lasted 8 years

Barbra Streisand and Elliott Gould's son eventually became an actor himself: he debuted in 1989's Say Anything… and starred in his mother's 1991 film The Prince of Tides. He is openly gay and married to a male underwear model.

In 1973, the newly divorced Streisand set her sights on stylist John Peters, luring him to her home under the pretext of work. Soon she declared him her personal hairdresser and convinced him to move into her home. The man was married, and the singer called his wife 10 times a day, claiming she was expecting Peters' baby, even though they weren't intimate.

For 8 years Streisand had love-affairs with a hairdresser John Peters

Eventually, John agreed to marry Barbra. Their relationship lasted 8 years until Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau proposed to Barbra, completely captivated by the singer. However, at the last moment, Streisand refused to officially marry, saying all men were liars: "I could write a whole book about the promises men made me in bed."

Canadian politician Pierre Trudeau asked Barbra Streisand to marry him

After that, the woman went on what you might call a spree, treating men like disposable commodities. Hollywood's most handsome leading men ended up in her bed: billionaire Richard Baskin, TV star Peter Jennings, actors Don Johnson, Robert Redford, Jon Voight, and Richard Gere, plus tennis player Andre Agassi, who was 28 years younger than Barbra. The formerly plain woman reveled in her newfound power over men, who would fulfill her every whim without question.

With Robert Redford (on the left side) and Don Johnson (on the right side)

This series of affairs was interrupted when she married actor James Brolin in 1998. With him, she allowed herself to feel vulnerable for the first time. "Today, a man is considered a gentleman if he takes a cigarette out of his mouth before a kiss" ‒ a famous Streisand quote that seems to have no relation to the imposing Brolin.

Barbra Streisand is married to James Brolin

Streisand is probably the only Hollywood star who's never gone under the knife for cosmetic surgery. She doesn't even have her ears pierced (she wears clips). First, the singer has a terrible fear of pain, and second, she embraces her natural look. Plus, even in her eighties, she looks absolutely stunning.

Streisand effect

The famous Streisand effect (increased interest in any information following the attempt to limit it) appeared in 2003. Barbra Streisand sued photographer Kenneth Adelman, who had posted a photo of her Malibu mansion on an image hosting site alongside 12,000 other neighborhood shots.

Before news of Streisand's lawsuit broke, only 6 people had viewed the photo – and two of them were Barbra's own lawyers. After the court dismissed her case, the photo exploded online with over 420,000 views.

Barbra Streisand now

These days, Barbra Streisand rarely appears in films. In 2018, she appeared in the documentary "Bergman." According to Zoomboola.com, her net worth is estimated to be $400 million.

In 2019, Barbra joined Instagram, which she actively maintains to this day. She shares personal updates and her thoughts on various issues. She's also known for donating her Disney shares in 2020 to George Floyd's daughter, following his death during a police encounter.

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Glenn Price

Of those people about whom the ringing is heard, and what it is not clear about :)

2021-05-18 10:52:59
Mary Lamb

The famous Streisand, I think everyone is familiar with her, for so many years in the cinema. And also that song, remember? And the Streisand effect :)) Yes, she became a household name

2021-03-27 16:30:40
Christopher Harris

Now I think the actress fits into the cinema much better, in old films I don`t like

2021-03-14 17:04:50
Mary Morales

A woman should be talented in everything, like Barbara. I think she`s just a great woman.

2021-02-28 18:50:27
George Atkins

Oh, this is generally a versatile personality, a very talented woman and actress. In America she is just an idol.

2021-02-17 16:24:56

Photos: Barbra Streisand