Barbara Lusch

Last updated
Barbara Lusch
Born (1957-10-26) October 26, 1957 (age 67)
Portland, Oregon, U.S.
Alma mater Oregon State University
Occupations
  • Actress
  • singer
Years active1982–present
Website www.barbaralusch.com

Barbara Anne Lusch [1] (born October 26, 1957) [2] [3] is an American jazz singer and actress from Portland, Oregon. She made her feature film debut in the slasher film Unhinged (1982) and later appeared onstage in the 1985 Atlantic City production of Fiddler on the Roof as Chava, opposite Theodore Bikel. She later had guest roles on the television series Coach (1989), The Trials of Rosie O'Neill (1990), and Nowhere Man (1996).

Contents

In the mid-1990s, Lusch began performing as a singer in local Portland bands before beginning a solo career in 2002, performing and recording contemporary jazz music.

Biography

Lusch was born and raised in Portland, Oregon, the daughter Peggy (née Stoecklein) and Roy Lusch, a dentist. [1] [4] She graduated from Oregon State University. [5] She made her feature film debut in the locally-produced slasher film Unhinged (1982). She later worked as a model in Los Angeles and San Francisco. [6]

From October through December 1985, she appeared onstage at the east coast run of Fiddler on the Roof as Chava, opposite Theodore Bikel, Bess Meisler, and Fritzi Burr, staged at the Claridge Hotel in Atlantic City, New Jersey. [7] She subsequently made appearances on the television series The Trials of Rosie O'Neill and Coach (both 1989). [6]

She was a close friend of actress Rebecca Schaeffer, and spoke at Schaeffer's funeral following her 1989 murder. [3] [8] Lusch testified along with Schaeffer's agent Jonathan Newton, and her boyfriend, Brad Silberling, in the 1991 trail against Schaeffer's killer, Robert John Bardo. [9] [10]

Lusch began her career as a singer in the mid-1990s [11] in the band Pepe and the Bottle Blondes. [6] [12] She began a solo career as a jazz singer in 2002, [6] and released her self-titled debut album in 2005. [13] This was followed by Surprisingly Good for You, released in 2006. [14] Lusch has performed locally in her hometown of Portland at various venues, as well as at New York City's Metropolitan Room. [15] In 2014, she released her second album, Rock Me Sweet, recorded at Capitol Studios, [16] which consists of jazz interpretations of 1980s pop and rock songs. [17]

In 2018, she had a supporting role in the film Pretty Broken . [18] In 2024, Lusch made a minor appearance in the film My Dead Friend Zoe . [19]

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNotesRef.
1982 Unhinged Gloria [20]
1989Criminal ActVal [20]
1989 Coach Coat Check Girl2 episodes [21]
1990 After the Shock Survivor [21]
1990 The Trials of Rosie O'Neill Caroline2 episodes [21]
1996 Nowhere Man Brenda1 episode [21]
1997 Total Reality Marla [21]
1999BirddogSydney
2018 Pretty Broken Sandy [18]
2024 My Dead Friend Zoe Conductor [19]

Stage credits

YearTitleRoleNotesRef.
1985 Fiddler on the Roof Chava The Claridge Hotel, Atlantic City, New Jersey [7]

Discography

References

  1. 1 2 "Obituary: Roy W. Lusch DMD". The Oregonian . Archived from the original on July 8, 2025.
  2. ↑ "Barbara Lusch Biography". Moviefone . Archived from the original on July 8, 2025.
  3. 1 2 "Actress: Friends Unaware of Danger". Los Angeles Times . July 20, 1989. p. 24 – via Newspapers.com. Barbara Lusch, a 31-year-old actress from Burbank who described herself as Schaeffer's best friend...
  4. ↑ "Roy Lusch Obituary". Dignity Memorial. Archived from the original on July 8, 2025.
  5. ↑ Cathcart, Paul (June 15, 2009). "OSU Alumni, Friends to Celebrate "An Orange and Black Evening" in Portland". Oregon State University . Archived from the original on July 8, 2025.
  6. 1 2 3 4 "Barbara Lusch Biography". All About Jazz. Archived from the original on July 8, 2025.
  7. 1 2 Spatz, David J. (October 11, 1985). "'Fiddler' Is Shorter But Still Very Sweet". The Press of Atlantic City . pp. V1, V5 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ↑ Jones, Charisse (July 24, 1989). "Actress Called 'Precious Gift'". Los Angeles Times . p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ↑ "CA V. Robert John Bardo: Obsessive Fan Murder Trial – Jonathan Howard, Barbara Lusch & Bradley Silberling". Court TV . Archived from the original on July 8, 2025.
  10. ↑ Leeson, Fred (October 2, 1991). "Close friends testify Schaeffer was cautious". The Oregonian . p. B6 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ↑ Roth, Robin (December 6, 1996). "Pepe & the Bottle Blondes: Root for a Dapper Latin Beat". The Oregonian . p. 40 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ↑ "Portland chanteuse lights up the Liberty". The Daily Astorian . September 1, 2005. p. 4 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ↑ "Vocalist Barbara Lusch up next in Noon Concerts". The Oregonian . July 7, 2005 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ↑ "Surprisingly Good for You – Barbara Lusch". AllMusic . Archived from the original on July 8, 2025.
  15. ↑ "Barbara Lusch". Theater Mania. October 22, 2015. Archived from the original on July 8, 2025.
  16. ↑ "Take Five With Barbara Lusch". All About Jazz. November 5, 2014. Archived from the original on July 8, 2025.
  17. ↑ "Rock Me Sweet – Barbara Lusch". AllMusic . Archived from the original on July 8, 2025.
  18. 1 2 "Cast – Pretty Broken (2018)". Kinorium. Archived from the original on July 8, 2025.
  19. 1 2 "My Dead Friend Zoe (2025) Full Cast and Crew". Moviefone . Archived from the original on July 8, 2025.
  20. 1 2 "Barbara Lusch Filmography". Turner Classic Movies . Archived from the original on July 8, 2025.
  21. 1 2 3 4 5 "Barbara Lusch List of Movies and TV Shows". TV Guide . Archived from the original on July 8, 2025.
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