Gary Barton

Gary Barton (formerly Federic Barton Katz)

September 1, 1947 – December 31, 2025

Gary Barton, born September 1, 1947, in Boston, Massachusetts, died peacefully in the early morning hours of New Year’s Eve.

Gary was a performer from an early age, with a love of singing and dancing that led him to study theater at New York University after graduating from Newton South High School in 1965. His career began on Broadway, where he worked alongside legends such as Ruth Gordon and Henry Fonda, and continued in Los Angeles, where he became a highly respected casting and studio executive.

Gary served as Director of Casting at CBS and later as Senior Vice President at Disney, where he helped develop The Disney Sunday Movies. Diagnosed with HIV in the early 1980s, Gary went on to live a life that defied expectations. He became a dedicated AIDS activist and received the Leadership Award from AIDS Action in 1992 for his advocacy.

After years of living courageously with multiple illnesses, Gary is now at peace.

He is survived by his sister, Diane Katz, and his nephew, Jordan Katz.