Profile of the Day: Barbra Streisand

Posted April 24, 2026 by Amanda | No Comment

Happy birthday to Barbra Streisand! Today the icon turns 84.

Image: Barbra Streisand / Wikimedia Commons

She was born on April 24, 1942 in Brooklyn, New York to Diana Rosen and Emanuel Streisand. A few months after reaching her first birthday, Streisand’s father died suddenly of complications from an epileptic seizure. After his death, the family fell into poverty.

From a young age, Streisand dreamed of becoming famous. After graduating high school at 16, she immediately began pursuing a career in show business. In 1962, she made her Broadway debut in I Can Get It For You Wholesale, and received a Tony nomination for her performance. She later starred in both the play and film version of Funny Girl, for which she earned an Academy Award.

Today she is one of the highest-selling female recording artists of all time. She’s dominated multiple entertainment fields and is one of the few people to have earned awards in all four major American entertainment awards (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and a Tony).

Do you have a favorite song?

Explore Barbra Streisand’s family tree on Geni and share how you’re connected to the musical legend!