Barry Knapp Bostwick (born February 24, 1945) is an American actor. He is best known for portraying Brad Majors in The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975) and Mayor Randall Winston in the sitcom Spin City (1996–2002). Bostwick has also had considerable success in musical theatre, winning a Tony Award for his role in The Robber Bridegroom and performing the role of Danny Zuko in the original Broadway production of Grease.
Early life, family and education Bostwick was born February 24, 1945, in San Mateo, California. He is the son of Elizabeth "Betty" (née Defendorf), a housewife, and Henry "Bud" Bostwick, a city planner and actor. Barry's only sibling, older brother Henry "Pete" Bostwick, died at age 32 in a car accident on July 20, 1973.
Bostwick attended San Diego's United States International University in 1967, majoring in acting, got his start on the Hillbarn Theatre stage now located in Foster City, and worked for a time as a circus performer. He also attended NYU's Graduate Acting Program, graduating in 1968.
Career Bostwick was a member of First National Nothing, who released one album, 1970's If You Sit Real Still and Hold My Hand, You Will Hear Absolutely Nothing. The album describes them as "A rock-theater commune made up of musicians, actors, dancers, singers, designers, writers, composers, and friends that started a long, long time ago as a lost tribe in California and has ended up as a theatrical performing company in New York City."
In 1970, Bostwick was a member of a pop band called The Klowns, assembled and promoted by Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, whose members performed wearing stylized clown makeup and costumes. Their sole album, released in 1970, was produced by Jeff Barry, and generated a minor Billboard hit single, "Lady Love." "Lady Love" at #95 chart position.
Bostwick replaced C.C. Courtney in the musical Salvation. His next stage appearance was in the 1971 rock opera Soon, which closed after three performances. In 1972, Bostwick originated the role of bad boy Danny Zuko in the stage production of Grease, earning a Tony Award nomination for his performance. This was followed by a voice role as Terr in the English-dubbed version of Fantastic Planet in 1973. He starred with Tim Curry and Susan Sarandon in The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975), portraying Brad Majors. He won a Tony Award for his performance in the 1977 musical The Robber Bridegroom. In 1981, Bostwick starred in the TV series adaptation of the 1978 film Foul Play, with his role modeled after Chevy Chase's. The following year, he starred in Megaforce. In 1984, Bostwick played George Washington in the CBS four-part miniseries on Washington's life. In 1986, he portrayed Washington again in the two-part sequel, George Washington - The Forging of a Nation.
Bostwick starred, along with Carl Weintraub, as Rick Armstrong in the short-lived ABC sitcom Dads during the 1986–87 season. From 1996 to 2002, Bostwick portrayed Randall Winston, the mayor of New York City in the sitcom Spin City opposite Michael J. Fox and his successor, Charlie Sheen. In 2006, Bostwick replaced Peter Scolari as Mr. Tyler, the father of Amanda Bynes's and Jennie Garth's lead characters, on What I Like About You.
Bostwick had a recurring role between 2004 and 2007 on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. He has also had leading roles in various mini-series, including George Washington, its sequel George Washington II: The Forging of a Nation, Scruples, A Woman of Substance, War and Remembrance, and Till We Meet Again.
Bostwick served as host of the nationally televised annual A Capitol Fourth celebration on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. for eight years. Bostwick was also seen in a Pepsi Twist commercial. In the Cold Case episode "Creatures of the Night," in which he is the main suspect, the theme of the episode revolves around The Rocky Horror Picture Show, which is among his best-known performances to date.
In 2003, Bostwick appeared on Scrubs as a patient diagnosed with prostate cancer, a disease Bostwick had in real life. In 2008, he appeared in an episode of TV series Ugly Betty as an attorney to the Meade family. In 2007, Bostwick gained a recurring role, as Grandpa Clyde Flynn on the animated television series, Phineas and Ferb. Bostwick is also the spokesperson for Optimum Voice.Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: In June 2009, he played Father Jimmy, the ineffective exorcist, in the independent horror comedy The Selling, written by Gabriel Diani and directed by Emily Lou.
Other television credits include guest appearances in Charlie's Angels, Hawaii Five-O, The Golden Palace, Grace Under Fire, and Las Vegas.
Bostwick was supposed to appear on the third season of Private Practice as "the Captain," a father of the Addison Montgomery character, but had to resign due to a scheduling conflict. In 2011, Bostwick portrayed a small-town sheriff in the John Landis–produced thriller Some Guy Who Kills People
In October 2010, Bostwick briefly appeared in the Rocky Horror-themed Glee episode.
From 2010 to 2014, Bostwick had a recurring role as Roger Frank on the sitcom Cougar Town which starred Courteney Cox. In season three of the show, Bostwick's character becomes mayor of the town the comedy is set in, Gulf Haven. In 2015, he portrayed Collin Winthrop, father of the Gig Harbor Killer, in the season-ending CSI: Crime Scene Investigation episode "The End Game." He has also had a return to cult musical horror films in the form of Terrance Zdunich's Alleluia! The Devil's Carnival, which is a sequel to the 2012 short film The Devil's Carnival, of which he was not previously a cast member, being a newcomer to the franchise. He starred in Darren Lynn Bousman's segment of the anthology film Tales of Halloween, which was his second time acting under Bousman after Alleluia! The Devil's Carnival, and appeared in the comedy horror film Helen Keller vs. Nightwolves.
In 2020, Bostwick executive produced and starred in the short film Molly Robber as Ron Baker, which won an Audience Award at the 2020 Austin Film Festival and was an official selection at the 2021 Tribeca Film Festival.
Personal life Bostwick married Stacey Nelkin in 1987, and they were divorced in 1991. He married his second wife Sherri Ellen Jensen in 1993; they have two children.
In 1997, Bostwick was diagnosed with prostate cancer, and had his prostate removed in July of that year. In 2004, he won the Gilda Radner Courage Award from Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center.
Select filmography Film Year Title Role Notes Reference(s) 1971 Jennifer on My Mind Minstrel #1 1973 Fantastic Planet Narrator Voice 1974 Road Movie Hank 1975 The Wrong Damn Film Alex Rounder The Rocky Horror Picture Show Brad Majors 1978 Movie Movie Johnny Danko / Dick Cummings 1982 Megaforce Commander Ace Hunter 1990 The Greatest Adventure: Stories from the Bible Joseph Voice, episode: "Joseph and His Brothers" A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information. 1993 Eight Hundred Leagues Down the Amazon Garral Weekend at Bernie's II Arthur Hummel 1994 In the Heat of Passion II: Unfaithful Phillip 1995 Project: Metalbeast Miller Direct-to-video 1996 The Secret Agent Club Vincent Scarletti Spy Hard Norm Coleman 2003 101 Dalmatians II: Patch's London Adventure Thunderbolt Voice, direct-to-video Swing Freddie 2004 The Skulls III Nathan Lloyd Chestnut: Hero of Central Park Thomas Trundle 2007 Nancy Drew Dashiel Zachary Biedermeyer Evening Mr. Wittenborn 2009 Hannah Montana: The Movie Mr. Bradley 2010 Miss Nobody Father Grisham Bedrooms Roger Moby Dick Captain Ahab It's a Dog Gone Tale: Destiny's Stand Arlen Hanley 2011 The Selling Father Jimmy 2012 Some Guy Who Kills People Sheriff Walt Fuller FDR: American Badass! Franklin D. Roosevelt 2013 Finding Joy Alan 2015 Alleluia! The Devil's Carnival The Watchword The Scorpion King 4: Quest for Power Sorrell Raskov Home Run Showdown Big Al 2016 The Land Before Time XIV: Journey of the Brave Grandpa Longneck Voice, direct-to-video Range 15 President Three Days in August John 2017 A Mermaid's Tale Art Direct-to-video 2018 Incredibles 2 Mayor of New Urbem Voice Cameo Santa Girl Santa Claus 2019 Grand-Daddy Day Care Dynamite Dan North 3 from Hell Narrator Undercover Brother 2 The Man 2020 American Pie Presents: Girls' Rules PeePaw Molly Robber Ron Baker Short film 2021 Single All the Way Harold 2022 In Search of Tomorrow Himself Documentary film 2023 Outlaw Johnny Black Tom Sheally 2025 Love, Danielle Bryce
Television