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Barbra Streisand Children: Meet Jason Gould

Written by Ava Wright — 0 Views

Barbra Streisand Children: Meet Jason Gould – Barbra Streisand, born on April 24, 1942, is an American singer and actress with a remarkable career spanning over six decades. She is one of the rare artists to achieve the coveted EGOT status, having received Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony awards for her outstanding contributions to the entertainment world.

Tragedy struck early in Barbra Streisand’s life when her father passed away in August 1943, just a few months after her first birthday. He died at the age of 34 due to complications arising from an epileptic seizure, possibly linked to a head injury sustained years earlier.

This loss plunged the family into near poverty, as her mother struggled to make ends meet working as a low-paid bookkeeper. Barbra Streisand’s childhood was marked by a sense of being an outsider, as she recalled, “Everybody else’s father came home from work at the end of the day. Mine didn’t.” Her mother’s way of coping with the challenges was to provide food instead of emotional support, leaving Streisand craving the love and attention she longed for.

Barbra Streisand’s mother possessed a beautiful singing voice and occasionally sang semi-professionally. In a 2016 interview with Rosie O’Donnell, Streisand shared a pivotal moment from her youth. At the age of 13, she and her mother recorded songs on tape during a visit to the Catskills, marking her initial assertion as an artist and a profound source of inspiration.

The multi-talented Streisand has an older brother, Sheldon, and a half-sister named Roslyn Kind, who is also a singer. Roslyn is the result of her mother’s remarriage to Louis Kind in 1950.

Barbra Streisand Children: Meet Jason Gould

Barbra Streisand’s first husband, Elliott Gould, was the father of her only child, Jason Gould. Jason appeared alongside his mother in the film “The Prince of Tides,” where he played her on-screen son.

In addition to his role in “The Prince of Tides,” Jason Gould also had notable appearances in the romantic comedy-drama “Say Anything…” (1989), where he portrayed the character Mike Cameron. However, after these early acting roles, he has rarely been seen in front of the camera.

In 1997, Jason made his debut in the West End theatre, taking on the role of David, a theater designer, in the drama play “The Twilight of the Golds” at the Arts Theatre in London.

Jason Gould displayed his talents behind the camera as well, as he wrote, produced, and directed the short comedy film “Inside Out” in 1997. The film tells the story of a celebrity child who is outed by the tabloids and features his father, Elliott Gould, playing his on-screen father, and his half-brother, Sam Gould, in the cast. This short film was later included in the compilation film “Boys Life 3” (2000).

In more recent years, Jason Gould shifted his focus to a singing career. He released the EP “Jason Gould” in 2012, which included the single “Morning Prayer/Groove” the following year. He also joined his mother on her 2012 North American tour and her 2013 European tour, and they collaborated on the song “How Deep is the Ocean” for her 2014 album “Partners.” In 2017, Jason Gould released the album “Dangerous Man.”

Babra Streisand’s educational journey began at the Jewish Orthodox Yeshiva of Brooklyn when she was just five years old. Though considered bright and inquisitive, she lacked discipline and often blurted out answers during class. Later, she attended Public School 89 in Brooklyn, where she developed a passion for watching television and going to the movies, fostering her dream of becoming famous and leaving Brooklyn behind.

Barbra Streisand’s remarkable singing talent set her apart in her neighborhood, earning her the reputation of “the girl on the block with the good voice.” She often practiced her singing in the echoing hallway of their apartment building, further enhancing her vocal skills.

She made her singing debut at a PTA assembly, where she received a warm response from everyone except her critical mother. Despite this initial setback, Streisand began to sing at weddings and summer camps. She even attempted to audition at MGM Records when she was only nine. By the age of 13, her mother recognized her potential and helped her create a four-song demo tape that included songs like “Zing! Went the Strings of My Heart” and “You’ll Never Know.”

Becoming an actress was Barbra Streisand’s ultimate goal. Her determination grew stronger after attending her first Broadway play, “The Diary of Anne Frank,” at the age of 14. The play’s star, Susan Strasberg, served as her inspiration. Streisand spent her free time in the library, studying the biographies of renowned stage actresses such as Eleanora Duse and Sarah Bernhardt. She also delved into novels and plays and immersed herself in the acting theories of Konstantin Stanislavski and Michael Chekhov.

In 1956, Barbra Streisand enrolled at Erasmus Hall High School in Brooklyn, where she excelled as an honor student in modern history, English, and Spanish. She joined the Freshman Chorus and Choral Club, where she sang alongside another talented choir member and classmate, Neil Diamond. During that time, Streisand developed her love for art movies shown near the school. She also harbored a crush on Bobby Fischer, the 15-year-old US Chess Champion and fellow student.

During the summer of 1957, she gained her first stage experience as a walk-on at the Playhouse in Malden Bridge, New York. This modest role was followed by appearances as the kid sister in “Picnic” and a vamp in “Desk Set.” In her second year, she worked a night job at the Cherry Lane Theatre in Greenwich Village, assisting backstage. As a senior, she rehearsed for a minor role in “Driftwood,” a play performed in a midtown attic space.

Barbra Streisand graduated from Erasmus Hall in January 1959 at the age of 16. Despite her mother’s pleas to stay out of show business, she rented a small apartment in the heart of the theater district on 48th St. She eagerly pursued any opportunity involving the stage and tirelessly made the rounds of casting offices, determined to fulfill her dream of becoming an actress.