Barry McGuire

Barry McGuire was raised in Arkansas City, Kansas, graduated from the University of Denver and broke into Broadway in his first role in 'Bernadine', which opened on February 2, 1953. After retiring, the actor, puppeteer and magician settled into tiny Elk Falls, Kansas around 2010. Decades earlier, his creative genius had spurred an artistic revival in this dying town. He had transformed stone foundations into tiered native flower gardens that brought a new wave of tourists to this forgotten place. Through the work of a group of artists, Elk Falls became a thriving haven of creativity. McGuire had a theater constructed, and entertained tourists with puppet shows and magic acts. He left Elk Falls to return to acting. His credit list includes regional stage productions from New York to Florida to Indiana, and California. After three years in Elk Falls, he moved to California in 2013 to live closer to friends. He died on March 7, 2023, his 93rd birthday, in Winfield, Kansas.