Artist Bio

(Bio as of February 2025)

Philip Barry (1896–1949) was an acclaimed American playwright best known for his ability to write sophisticated high comedy which skillfully blended wit, romance, personal introspection as well as social commentary.  He is the third most prolific American playwright with 20 of his plays making it to Broadway.  Only Neil Simon with 49 and Eugene O’Neill with 25 had more.

Born in Rochester, New York to blue collar Irish Catholic immigrants, his father was a successful stone mason but died when Barry was but a year old. Under probate law at the time, the infant Barry was entitled to his share of his father’s estate which enabled him to attend Yale University.  Following Yale, he enrolled in George Pierce Baker’s famed “47 Workshop” at Harvard.  Other Baker alumni included Eugene O’Neil and Thomas Wolfe.

By the time he headed to Cambridge for Baker’s Workshop, Barry had fallen in love with Ellen Semple, the daughter of a very successful Wall Street banker.  The agreement Barry struck with his fiancée, her father, and himself, was that he would submit one of the plays – developed during his time at Harvard – for the Herndon Prize; a prestigious competition that included a $500 prize and a professional production. If Barry won the Prize, he would make his living as a playwright; if not, he would pursue an advertising career in New York.  While returning from their honeymoon in September 1922, Barry did indeed learn that his play (You and I) had won the Herndon Prize and his days as an ad man in New York were not to be.

Barry’s first Broadway hit was Paris Bound in 1927 followed but a year later with Holiday (1928), a play that satirized the American upper class and their struggle between wealth and personal freedom. An understudy in Holiday was none other than Katherine Hepburn. In 1938, she would go on to star in the play’s film adaptation, directed by George Cukor. In 1939, Barry would write his most famous work, The Philadelphia Story. Katharine Hepburn not only starred in that play on Broadway; but Barry sold her the film rights.  Hepburn, Cary Grant and James Stewart went on to star in what was not only a very successful film at the time (it won two Oscars – Best Actor for Jimmy Stewart and Best Adapted screenplay), but a true classic today. The play’s sharp dialogue and engaging characters showcased Barry’s talent for blending humor with deeper social themes.

Other notable plays included Paris Bound (1927), Hotel Universe (1930), The Animal Kingdom (1932), and Without Love (1942). While many of his works examined the tensions between material success and emotional fulfillment, they also highlighted the charm and flaws of America’s social elite.

Barry’s influence on American theater was profound, as he helped shape the genre of sophisticated romantic comedy. His works remain widely regarded for their elegance, humor, and keen observations of human relationships. He passed away in 1949 at the age of 53, leaving behind a legacy of plays that continue to captivate audiences today.