Susan Barnes

Susan Barnes was inducted into the inaugural College of Applied Human Sciences Hall of Fame in the fall of 2025. She was previously inducted into the College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences Hall of Fame in 2001.

A native of Greene County, Pennsylvania, Barnes graduated from Jefferson-Morgan High School in 1964. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in physical education from West Virginia University in 1968 and a Master of Fine Arts from the University of Arkansas in 1972. While at WVU, she was a four-year member of the cheerleading squad, serving as captain during her junior and senior years. She also performed with Orchesis from 1964 to 1967 and appeared in WVU’s production of West Side Story, marking the beginning of her acting career.

After completing graduate studies in dance, Barnes taught and directed productions at both the high school and university levels. She was a founding member of the Arkansas Repertory Theatre, where she was discovered by actor George Peppard. Her stage work led to a successful career in film and television, with co-starring roles in more than 40 major motion pictures and appearances alongside Paul Newman, Nicolas Cage, Glenn Close, Morgan Freeman, Jeff Bridges, and Andy Garcia. She held regular roles on television series including Laverne & Shirley, Growing Pains, and Titus.

Barnes also contributed to regional theater across the United States and created a college workshop titled “The Business of Show Business” to prepare students for careers in acting. The program included a mentoring component and was offered at institutions such as WVU, UCLA, USC, Washington State University, and The American Academy of Dramatic Arts. She also offered free workshops for students at Morgantown High School.

Her honors include a Fringe First Award (Edinburgh), the Los Angeles–San Francisco Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Actress, and a nomination for an Olivier Award in London. She represented the United States at an international theater conference in Iceland and served as a developmental artist at the Sundance Institute from 1983 to 1992. She was hired for Broadway by Neil Simon and was elected to the Actors Branch of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.