--- name: "Barry Bostwick" canonical: "https://film.one/person/barry-bostwick" fi1m_id: "barry-bostwick" imdb_id: "nm0000960" tmdb_id: 13473 wikidata_id: "Q809019" roles: ["Actor"] born: "24 February 1945" reviewed_on_fi1m: 1 average_as: "actor" average_over: 1 updated: "2026-09-23T14:27:16.394920+00:00" licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Barry Bostwick ## Identity Barry Bostwick - **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/barry-bostwick - **Type:** Person - **Fi1m ID:** barry-bostwick - **IMDb ID:** nm0000960 - **TMDB ID:** 13473 - **Wikidata ID:** Q809019 - **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barry_Bostwick, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q809019, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000960/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/13473 Actor. Born 24 February 1945 in San Mateo, California, USA. ## Details - **Work:** Actor - **Born:** 24 February 1945, San Mateo, California, USA - **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barry_Bostwick, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q809019, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000960/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/13473 ## Fi1m on Barry Bostwick > Barry Bostwick's trade is the square: the man in the tie who walks into the madhouse and keeps his manners. He did it well in *The Rocky Horror Picture Show* and for six years in *Spin City*, and it is harder than it looks. Two wet people stand on a doormat in *The Rocky Horror Picture Show* (1975), and a man in a corset and pearls comes down in a lift and sings at them. Everything in that scene belongs to Tim Curry, and Barry Bostwick's job is to make sure of it. He plays Brad Majors as a man whose good manners are the last thing he has left, apologising his way into a house that has no use for apologies, and he never once winks at us to say he knows the joke. We grinned like idiots when Curry arrived, and we realised only afterwards that the grin needed someone on screen who was not grinning. That was Bostwick. He came to the film from New York theatre, where he had spent the late 1960s in musicals and had originated Danny Zuko in the 1972 Broadway production of *Grease*. The stage is where people who saw him talk about bluff and physical comedy, in *The Robber Bridegroom* (1977) and *They Knew What They Wanted* (1976), and little of that was asked for on screen. What the screen wanted from him was the square. After Brad came the miniseries *George Washington* (1984), films that included the little-loved *Megaforce* (1982), and then the part that kept him in living rooms for six years: Mayor Randall Winston in *Spin City* (1996–2002), 144 episodes as the straight man again, this time opposite Michael J. Fox. It is the same trick, and he is good at it. The straight man in a comedy has to believe in the rules everyone else is breaking, and Bostwick believes in them with his whole face. The cost is that nobody remembers the straight man. Half a century on he is still Brad, still turning up to host the anniversaries, and the profiles still lead with the doormat. The voice work in animated series and family films that fills his later years leans on the same quality, the grandfather or the official who sounds as if he means it. We would not pretend the film career is deep. One part carries it, and that part is designed to be looked past. But watch *Rocky Horror* again and keep your eyes on the wrong person for a change. Bostwick has said of his casting alongside Susan Sarandon: "I think it was perfect for the film because we were strangers in a strange land." The film needed someone to stand there dripping and be shocked by it, and he was. ## Biography Barry Bostwick is an American actor. He is known for his role as Brad Majors in the 1975 film *The Rocky Horror Picture Show*. Bostwick trained at New York University’s Graduate Acting Program after studying at the United States International University. He began his career on the stage, originating the role of Danny Zuko in the Broadway production of *Grease* and winning a Tony Award for his performance in the 1977 musical *The Robber Bridegroom*. He later played Mayor Randall Winston in the sitcom *Spin City* (1996–2002). *Sources: en.wikipedia.org, usatoday.com.* ## On Fi1m (1) - *The Rocky Horror Picture Show* (1975), Fi1m 72, as Brad Majors — [page](https://film.one/film/the-rocky-horror-picture-show.md) ## Complete filmography (165) Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page. - *Beaks Bloody* (2025), as Hampton Dansley - *Daruma* (2024), as Horace - *Love, Danielle* (2024), as Bryce - *Isla Monstro* (2024), as Potus (voice) - *The Potwins* (2024), series, as Grandpa Davis - *Outlaw Johnny Black* (2023), as Tom Sheally - *Single All the Way* (2021), as Harold - *Doogie Kamealoha, M.D.* (2021), series, as Will - *Love by Drowning* (2020), as Val Martin Sr. - *The Rocky Horror Musical Live Stream* (2020), as Brad Majors - *Molly Robber* (2020), as Ron "Dad" · Executive Producer - *American Pie Presents: Girls' Rules* (2020), as Peepaw - *Viral Vignettes* (2020), series, as Jack - *Christmas in Louisiana* (2019), as Timothy - *A Christmas Miracle* (2019), as Santa Dean - *Undercover Brother 2* (2019), as The Man - *The Field* (2019), as George - *3 from Hell* (2019), as Narrator - *Santa Girl* (2019), as Santa Claus - *Grand-Daddy Day Care* (2019), as Dynamite Dan North - *Slay Belles* (2018), as Santa - *Signed, Sealed, Delivered: To the Altar* (2018), as Bill - *Incredibles 2* (2018), as Mayor (voice) - *Christmas in Mississippi* (2017), as Mr. Kriss - *A Mermaid's Tale* (2017), as Art - *Will & Grace* (2017), series, as Jerry Wise - *Signed, Sealed, Delivered: Home Again* (2017), as Bill Haywith - *Bigger Fatter Liar* (2017), as Larry Wolf - *Three Days in August* (2016), as John - *The Great Indoors* (2016), series, as Mather - *Diani and Devine Meet the Apocalypse* (2016), as The Senator - *American Housewife* (2016), series, as Thomas - *Milo Murphy's Law* (2016), series, as Clyde (voice) - *Skirtchasers* (2016), as Damien Samuels · Producer - *Alleluia! The Devil's Carnival* (2016), as The Watchword - *The Land Before Time XIV: Journey of the Brave* (2016), as Grandpa (voice) - *Tales of Halloween* (2015), as Mr. Abbadon - *Helen Keller vs. Nightwolves* (2015), as Jonathan - *Gigi Does It* (2015), series, Actor - *Love Under the Stars* (2015), as Walt Godfrey - *November Rule* (2015), as Lance - *The Scorpion King 4: Quest for Power* (2015), as Sorrell Reskov - *Dragula* (2014), as Dragula - *Enlisted* (2014), series, as Russell - *Masters of Sex* (2013), series, as Morris — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/tv/masters-of-sex.md) - *The Goldbergs* (2013), series, as Professor Majors - *Teen Beach Movie* (2013), as Big Poppa - *Blast Vegas* (2013), as Sal Rowinski - *Finding Joy* (2013), as Alan - *FDR: American Badass!* (2012), as FDR - *The New Normal* (2012), series, as Marty - *Home Run Showdown* (2012), as Big Al - *Scandal* (2012), series, as Jerry Grant - *New Girl* (2011), series, as Robert — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/tv/new-girl.md) - *Franklin & Bash* (2011), series, as Jacob 'Falcon' Riley - *The Selling* (2011), as Father Jimmy - *Some Guy Who Kills People* (2011), as Sheriff Walt Fuller - *2010: Moby Dick* (2010), as Captain Ahab - *Glory Daze* (2010), series, as Mr. Wilson - *Hot in Cleveland* (2010), series, as Hugh - *Miss Nobody* (2010), as Father Grisham - *Secrets of the Mountain* (2010), as Henry Beecham - *Bedrooms* (2010), as Roger - *Cougar Town* (2009), series, as Roger Frank - *The Forgotten* (2009), series, as Bill Ramey - *Glee* (2009), series, as Tim Stanwick — Fi1m 68, [page](https://film.one/tv/glee.md) - *Hannah Montana: The Movie* (2009), as Mr. Bradley - *Holiday Baggage* (2008), as Pete Murphy - *Childrens Hospital* (2008), series, as Grandpa Richie - *Depth Charge* (2008), Actor - *Phineas and Ferb* (2007), series, as Grandpa (voice) - *Nancy Drew* (2007), as Dashiel Biedermeyer - *Evening* (2007), as Mr. Wittenborn - *Love Is a Four Letter Word* (2007), as Martin Harper - *Ugly Betty* (2006), series, as Roger Adams - *'Til Death* (2006), series, as George Von Stuessen - *Psych* (2006), series, as Roland Armitage - *Spymate* (2006), as The President - *Ghost Whisperer* (2005), series, as Don Sullivan - *Out of Practice* (2005), series, Actor - *Supernatural* (2005), series, as Jay — Fi1m 77, [page](https://film.one/tv/supernatural.md) - *American Dad!* (2005), series, as VanDouzen (voice) - *Chestnut: Hero of Central Park* (2004), as Thomas Trundle - *The Skulls III* (2004), as Nathan Lloyd - *Swing* (2003), as Freddie - *Cold Case* (2003), series, as Roy Brigham Anthony (2005) - *Las Vegas* (2003), series, as Martin - *Nip/Tuck* (2003), series, as Roger Payne — Fi1m 70, [page](https://film.one/tv/nip-tuck.md) - *101 Dalmatians II: Patch's London Adventure* (2003), as Thunderbolt (voice) - *Less than Perfect* (2002), series, as Max Damarius - *What I Like About You* (2002), series, as Jack Tyler - *She Spies* (2002), series, as Gary McNamara - *Baby Bob* (2002), series, as Jack Collins - *Scrubs* (2001), series, as Mr. Randolph - *Disney's California Adventure Grand Opening Special* (2001), Actor - *CSI: Crime Scene Investigation* (2000), series, as Collin Winthrop - *Law & Order: Special Victims Unit* (1999), series, as Oliver Gates - *Men in White* (1998), as President Smith - *One Hot Summer Night* (1998), as Art Brooks - *The New Batman Adventures* (1997), series, as Irv Kleinman / Bernie Benson (voice) - *Lexx* (1997), series, as Thodin - *I Worship His Shadow* (1996), as Thodin - *A Different Kind of Christmas* (1996), as Frank Mallory - *Spin City* (1996), series, as Randall Winston - *The Secret Agent Club* (1996), as Vincent Scarletti - *Spy Hard* (1996), as Norman Coleman - *High Society* (1995), series, as Mark Finnegan - *The Secretary* (1995), as Eric Bradford - *The Return of Hunter: Everyone Walks in L.A.* (1995), as Matt Sherry - *Project: Metalbeast* (1995), as Miller - *919 Fifth Avenue* (1995), as Lawrence Van Degen - *Once in a Lifetime* (1994), as Dr. Matthew Dane - *In the Heat of Passion II: Unfaithful* (1994), as Phillip - *Praying Mantis* (1993), as Don McAndrews - *Eight Hundred Leagues Down the Amazon* (1993), as Garral - *Weekend at Bernie's II* (1993), as Arthur Hummel - *Between Love and Hate* (1993), as Justin Conrad - *The Last U-Boat* (1993), as Captain Hawkins - *The Golden Palace* (1992), series, as Nick DeCarlo - *Russian Holiday* (1992), as Grant Ames - *Captive* (1991), as Paul Plunk - *The Great Air Race* (1991), series, as Roscoe Turner - *Challenger* (1990), as Commander Francis R. Scobee - *Aladdin* (1990), as Genie of the Lamp / Genie of the Ring - *Parent Trap: Hawaiian Honeymoon* (1989), as Jeffrey Wyatt - *Judith Krantz's Till We Meet Again* (1989), series, Actor - *Parent Trap III* (1989), as Jeffrey Wyatt - *War and Remembrance* (1988), series, as 'Lady' Aster - *Addicted to His Love* (1988), as Larry Hogan - *Body of Evidence* (1988), as Alex Dwyer - *I'll Take Manhattan* (1987), series, as Zachary Amberville - *Dads* (1986), series, Actor - *George Washington II: The Forging of a Nation* (1986), series, as George Washington - *George Washington II: The Forging of a Nation* (1986), as George Washington - *Pleasures* (1986), as Ben Scott - *Betrayed by Innocence* (1986), as Nick DeLeon - *Deceptions* (1985), as Grant Roberts - *Deceptions* (1985), series, as Grant Roberts - *A Woman of Substance* (1985), series, as Major Paul McGill - *George Washington* (1984), series, as Gen. George Washington - *An Uncommon Love* (1983), as Kinser - *The Hitchhiker* (1983), series, as Tony Lynch - *Summer Girl* (1983), as Gavin Shelburne - *MegaForce* (1982), as Ace Hunter - *Working* (1982), as Steelworker - *American Playhouse* (1982), series, as Steelworker - *Red Flag: The Ultimate Game* (1981), as Maj. Jay Rivers - *Foul Play* (1981), series, as Detective Tucker Pendleton - *The Silent Lovers* (1980), as John Gilbert - *Scruples* (1980), series, as Spider Elliott - *Once Upon a Family* (1980), as Henry Demerjian - *Young Guy Christian* (1979), as Guy Christian - *You Can't Take it With You* (1979), as Anthony Kirby, Jr. - *Murder by Natural Causes* (1979), as Gil Weston - *Movie Movie* (1978), as Johnny Danko / Dick Cummings - *The Quinns* (1977), as Bill Quinn - *Charlie's Angels* (1976), series, as Ted Machlin - *The Rocky Horror Picture Show* (1975), as Brad Majors — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/film/the-rocky-horror-picture-show.md) - *The Chadwick Family* (1974), as Duffy McTaggert - *Slither* (1974), as Dick Kanipsia - *Road Movie* (1974), as Hank - *Jennifer on My Mind* (1971), as Minstrel #1 - *Hawaii Five-O* (1969), series, as Lucas Sandover - *The Roommates*, as Henry - *Aaah! Roach!*, as The Exterminator ## Gallery - ![Barry Bostwick](https://film.one/media/person/1340342/gallery-973f31df656b.jpg) Barry Bostwick — CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/22/Barry_Bostwick_Photo_Op_GalaxyCon_Des_Moines_2025_%28cropped%29.jpg/1280px-Barry_Bostwick_Photo_Op_GalaxyCon_Des_Moines_2025_%28cropped%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Barry Bostwick pictured at the 2025 Mid-Atlantic Nostalgia Convention.](https://film.one/media/person/1340342/gallery-af65c55e27f0.png) Barry Bostwick pictured at the 2025 Mid-Atlantic Nostalgia Convention. — John Mathew Smith & www.celebrity-photos.com, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f7/Barry_Bostwick.png/1280px-Barry_Bostwick.png?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Barry Bostwick at GalaxyCon Richmond in 2024](https://film.one/media/person/1340342/gallery-56213358d41b.jpg) Barry Bostwick at GalaxyCon Richmond in 2024 — Super Festivals from Ft. Lauderdale, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/17/Barry_Bostwick_%2853603466882%29.jpg/1280px-Barry_Bostwick_%2853603466882%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Barry Bostwick at GalaxyCon Richmond in 2024](https://film.one/media/person/1340342/gallery-9e330fe41d1a.jpg) Barry Bostwick at GalaxyCon Richmond in 2024 — Super Festivals from Ft. Lauderdale, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b1/Barry_Bostwick_%2853603466882%29_%28cropped%29.jpg/1280px-Barry_Bostwick_%2853603466882%29_%28cropped%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Barry Bostwick at GalaxyCon Richmond in 2024](https://film.one/media/person/1340342/gallery-aea673261416.jpg) Barry Bostwick at GalaxyCon Richmond in 2024 — Super Festivals from Ft. Lauderdale, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3b/Barry_Bostwick_%2853604102233%29.jpg/1280px-Barry_Bostwick_%2853604102233%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Barry Bostwick at GalaxyCon Richmond in 2024](https://film.one/media/person/1340342/gallery-e5d3bc6e14e1.jpg) Barry Bostwick at GalaxyCon Richmond in 2024 — Super Festivals from Ft. Lauderdale, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/24/Barry_Bostwick_%2853604102233%29_%28cropped%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) ## Awards ### Other awards — 1 won, 2 nominated - Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical 1977: Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical (won) - Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play 1976: Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play (nominated) - Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical 1972: Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical (nominated) *From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.* --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/barry-bostwick