Who Is David Birney?
David Birney was an American actor and director whose career included performances in both contemporary and classical roles in theatre, film, and television.
David Birney, the first child of Jeanne and FBI special agent Edwin B. Birney, attended high schools in Ohio and Brooklyn before enrolling at West High School in Cleveland.
He went on to Dartmouth College, where he obtained a BA in English literature, then UCLA, where he received an MA in Theatre Arts, before deciding to pursue an acting career.
Following prominent parts in theater adaptations such as Hamlet, Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet, Richard II, and Richard III, David eventually obtained his first on-screen role in 1967.
He starred in a Primetime Emmy Award-nominated TV movie named “Saint Joan” after appearing in an episode of the Primetime Emmy Award-nominated series “Love Is a Many Splendored Thing” (1967).
He played Bernie Steinberg in 24 episodes of the Golden Globe-nominated show “Bridget Loves Bernie” from 1972 to 1973, which is one of his best roles to date.
Birney starred as John Quincy Adams in the Primetime Emmy Award-winning series “The Adams Chronicles” in 1976, and he also played Serpico in the series about the famed New York detective who chased down criminal cops.
How Did David Birney Die?
Late David Birney died of Alzheimer’s disease, his wife, Michele Roberge confirmed to the New York Times. He passed away on Friday at his home in Santa Monica, California.
