Los Angeles Times
September 9, 2018
October 9, 1957 - August 24, 2018
On August 24, 2018, Bruce Alan Barris passed away unexpectedly due to complications from an undiagnosed heart condition.
His very big heart was born on October 9, 1957 near Strasbourg, France, where his father was stationed with the US Air Force. The family lived on bases from Newfoundland to Ohio and eventually settled in Camarillo, CA. A graduate of Rio Mesa High School, Bruce was attending UC Santa Barbara when he discovered music engineering. Following completion of a program in sound engineering at Soundmaster Recording School, Bruce began his career at the legendary Sound City Studios, subject of the 2013 documentary by Dave Grohl (and in which Bruce makes a quick cameo appearance). Bruce worked on projects with artists ranging from Tom Petty to George Harrison, earning RIAA Platinum Awards for two albums by Canada's The Tragically Hip, including Road Apples which was recorded at what the liner notes call "Barris Studios," which Bruce just set up in the living room of the band's rental house in New Orleans' French Quarter.
Bruce naturally segued into television and film music with composer Joe Conlan and then into other aspects of the world of post-production sound, beginning at Soundstorm. Whether out in the field recording, in an edit bay, or on the mixing stage, his dozens of credits include the original The Fast and the Furious (which was nominated for an MPSE Golden Reel Award), Michael Mann's Collateral (which received a BAFTA nomination for Best Sound), Miami Vice, Hotel for Dogs, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Ted, Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters, and A Million Ways to Die in the West. He had recently moved into supervising sound and his last projects were Uncle Drew, Mile 22 and the upcoming Magic Camp. Bruce was a member of the Motion Picture Editors Guild, IATSE Local 700.
An avid hiker, mountain biker, skier and snowboarder, Bruce's golf game was improving. His last internet searches the day he passed were regarding tee times at the Woodley Lakes and Balboa golf courses.
Bruce is remembered with love by his family – beloved brother Roy Barris and his wife Consuelo Santana Barris, cousins Eric Larson, Janet Larson Atha and her husband Ron, cousin Benjamin King and his wife Laura, ex-wife and dear friend Robin Ruse-Rinehart Barris, and his cat Lilly. Among the many friends who will miss him greatly are his lifelong friend Brad Sevy and his partner in sound, Elliott Koretz.
He was preceded in death by his parents Roma and Alan Barris, his sister Julia and by furry friends including Polly, Rosie, and Tasmin.
Bruce Barris was truly one of the good guys. We are better for having known him and will always miss him deeply.
If you'd like to make a donation in honor of Bruce, the family suggests the American Heart Association https://www.heart.org,the California Bicycle Coalition http://www.calbike.org/ or a charity important to you.
Please join us soon to celebrate Bruce's life - email celebratebrucebarris@gmail.com for information.
On August 24, 2018, Bruce Alan Barris passed away unexpectedly due to complications from an undiagnosed heart condition.
His very big heart was born on October 9, 1957 near Strasbourg, France, where his father was stationed with the US Air Force. The family lived on bases from Newfoundland to Ohio and eventually settled in Camarillo, CA. A graduate of Rio Mesa High School, Bruce was attending UC Santa Barbara when he discovered music engineering. Following completion of a program in sound engineering at Soundmaster Recording School, Bruce began his career at the legendary Sound City Studios, subject of the 2013 documentary by Dave Grohl (and in which Bruce makes a quick cameo appearance). Bruce worked on projects with artists ranging from Tom Petty to George Harrison, earning RIAA Platinum Awards for two albums by Canada's The Tragically Hip, including Road Apples which was recorded at what the liner notes call "Barris Studios," which Bruce just set up in the living room of the band's rental house in New Orleans' French Quarter.
Bruce naturally segued into television and film music with composer Joe Conlan and then into other aspects of the world of post-production sound, beginning at Soundstorm. Whether out in the field recording, in an edit bay, or on the mixing stage, his dozens of credits include the original The Fast and the Furious (which was nominated for an MPSE Golden Reel Award), Michael Mann's Collateral (which received a BAFTA nomination for Best Sound), Miami Vice, Hotel for Dogs, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Ted, Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters, and A Million Ways to Die in the West. He had recently moved into supervising sound and his last projects were Uncle Drew, Mile 22 and the upcoming Magic Camp. Bruce was a member of the Motion Picture Editors Guild, IATSE Local 700.
An avid hiker, mountain biker, skier and snowboarder, Bruce's golf game was improving. His last internet searches the day he passed were regarding tee times at the Woodley Lakes and Balboa golf courses.
Bruce is remembered with love by his family – beloved brother Roy Barris and his wife Consuelo Santana Barris, cousins Eric Larson, Janet Larson Atha and her husband Ron, cousin Benjamin King and his wife Laura, ex-wife and dear friend Robin Ruse-Rinehart Barris, and his cat Lilly. Among the many friends who will miss him greatly are his lifelong friend Brad Sevy and his partner in sound, Elliott Koretz.
He was preceded in death by his parents Roma and Alan Barris, his sister Julia and by furry friends including Polly, Rosie, and Tasmin.
Bruce Barris was truly one of the good guys. We are better for having known him and will always miss him deeply.
If you'd like to make a donation in honor of Bruce, the family suggests the American Heart Association https://www.heart.org,the California Bicycle Coalition http://www.calbike.org/ or a charity important to you.
Please join us soon to celebrate Bruce's life - email celebratebrucebarris@gmail.com for information.
BARRIS, Bruce
Born: 10/9/1957, Strasbourg, France
Died: 10/24/2018, Los Angeles, California, U.S.A.
Bruce Barris’ westerns – assistant sound editor, sound editor:
South of Heaven, West of Hell – 2000 [assistant sound editor]
A Million Ways to Die in the West – 2014 [sound editor]