Judith Barsi
Judith Eva Barsi (June 6, 1978 – July 25, 1988) was an American child actress. She began her career in television, making appearances in commercials and television series, as well as the 1987 film Jaws: The Revenge. She also provided the voices of Ducky in The Land Before Time and Anne-Marie in All Dogs Go to Heaven, both released after her death.
Judith Barsi

Anna Rozwadowska Łódź, Poland Official webpage · Made for Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 3.0
- Name
- Judith Barsi
- Birth Name
- Judith Eva Barsi
- Born
- 6 June 1978
- Birthplace
- Los Angeles, California, U.S.
- Died
- 25 July 1988
- Occupation
- Actor
- Full name
- Judith Eva Barsi.
- Nationality
- United States.
- Languages
- English.
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Documentary summary
Judith Eva Barsi (June 6, 1978 – July 25, 1988) was an American child actress. She began her career in television, making appearances in commercials and television series, as well as the 1987 film Jaws: The Revenge. She also provided the voices of Ducky in The Land Before Time and Anne-Marie in All Dogs Go to Heaven, both released after her death.
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Authority files
wikidata · Q235922 · wikipedia · Judith Barsi
In this article
Biography
Biography
She and her mother, Maria, were killed in July 1988 in a double murder–suicide committed in their home by her father, József Barsi.
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Judith Barsi • Birth Name — Judith Eva Barsi • Born — 6 June 1978 • Birthplace — Los Angeles, California, U.S. • Died — 25 July 1988 • Place of death — Los Angeles, California, U.S. • Death Cause — Homicide by gunshot • Resting Place — Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Hollywood Hills, California, U.S. • Occupation — Actor • Years Active — 1984–1988
Early life
Early life
Judith Eva Barsi was born in Los Angeles County, California, on June 6, 1978, the daughter of József Istvan and Maria Barsi.
Career
Career
Maria Barsi began preparing her daughter to become an actress when Judith was five. Barsi's first role was in Fatal Vision (1984), playing Kimberley MacDonald. She went on to appear in more than seventy commercials and guest roles on television. As well as her career in television, she appeared in the film Jaws: The Revenge (1987). She provided the voices of Ducky in The Land Before Time (1988), and Anne-Marie in All Dogs Go to Heaven (1989). By the time she began fourth grade, Barsi was earning an estimated $100,000 per year allowing her family to buy a three-bedroom house in West Hills, Los Angeles. As she was short for her age— at age 10 —she began receiving hormone injections at UCLA to encourage her growth. Her petiteness led casting directors to cast her in roles as children who were younger than her actual age. Her agent Ruth Hansen was quoted in the Los Angeles Times as saying that when she was ten, "she was still playing 7, 8 (years of age)."
Abuse and death
Abuse and death
As Barsi's career success increased, her father József, an alcoholic, became increasingly angry, and repeatedly threatened to kill himself, his wife, and his daughter. He was arrested three times for drunk driving. Before Judith left to film Jaws: The Revenge, József reportedly held a knife to her throat and threatened to kill her if she did not return. In December 1986, Maria reported his threats and physical violence against her to the police. After the police found no physical signs of abuse, she decided not to press charges against him. After the incident with the police, József reportedly stopped drinking, but continued to threaten Maria and Judith with violence, including threats to burn down the house. He also reportedly hid a telegram informing Maria that a relative in Hungary had died, hoping to prevent her from leaving the United States with Judith. The physical violence continued, with Barsi telling a friend that her father threw pots and pans at her, resulting in a nosebleed. As a result of being abused, Judith began gaining weight and developed compulsive behaviors, such as plucking out her eyelashes and pulling out her cat's whiskers. In May 1988, after breaking down in front of her agent, Ruth Hansen, Judith was taken by Maria to a child psychologist, who identified severe physical and emotional abuse and reported her findings to child protective services. The investigation was dropped after Maria assured the case worker that she intended to begin divorce proceedings against József and that she and Judith were going to move into a Panorama City apartment she had recently rented as a daytime haven from him. Maria's friends urged her to follow through on the plan, but she hesitated for fear of losing the family home and belongings. Months before her murder, Barsi had reportedly told friends, "I'm afraid to go home... My daddy is miserable. My daddy is drunk every day and I know he wants to kill my mother." On July 28, 1988, the Los Angeles Times reported that three people had been found dead in an apparent murder–suicide and that the bodies were believed to be those of Barsi, her mother Maria, and her father József. József shot Maria in the hallway of their home and Judith in her bed. The article quoted Police Lt. Warren Knowles as saying that a flammable liquid, presumably gasoline, had been poured on the bodies of Maria and Judith by József. József's body was found in the garage; he had died from what was determined to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Neighbor Eunice Daly said that she had heard a gunshot around 8:30a.m. on July 27, prompting her to call the police. Barsi and her mother were buried in Forest Lawn Memorial Park in adjoining plots. • Illustration — Barsi's gravestone, paid for by fan subscription in 2004; It contains her Land Before Time catchphrase ("Yep! Yep! Yep!") and an allusion to the Martina McBride song "Concrete Angel".
Filmography
Filmography
Film and television work by Judith Barsi • Year — Title — Role — Notes • 1984 — Fatal Vision — Kimberly MacDonald (age three) — Miniseries • Jessie — Katie — Episode: "Valerie's Turn" • 1985 — Kids Don't Tell — Jennifer Ryan — TV movie • Do You Remember Love — Kathleen — TV movie • Knots Landing — Bratty Girl — Episode: "#14 with a Bullet" • The Twilight Zone — Bertie — Segment: "A Little Peace and Quiet" • There Were Times, Dear — Molly Reed — TV movie • The Fall Guy — Little Girl — Episode: "Escape Claus" • 1986 — Remington Steele — Laurie Beth Piper — Episode: "Suburban Steele" • Punky Brewster — Anna — 2 episodes • Trapper John, M.D. — Lindsay Christmas — Episode: "Life, Death and Dr. Christmas" • Cheers — Child #1 — Episode: "Relief Bartender" • Cagney & Lacey — Shauna Bard — Episode: "Disenfranchised" • The New Gidget — Little Girl — Episode: "It's Only Rock & Roll" • Eye of the Tiger — Jennifer Matthews • The Love Boat — Christmas Angel — Episode: "The Christmas Cruise: Part 2" • 1987 — Destination America — Amy — TV movie • Slam Dance — Bean • Jaws: The Revenge — Thea Brody • 1987–1988 — The Tracey Ullman Show — Little Girl / Karen — 2 episodes • 1988 — St. Elsewhere — Debbie Oppenheimer — Episode: "The Abby Singer Show" • Growing Pains — Young Carol — Episodes: "Graduation Day" "The Last Picture Show: Part 2" (archive footage from "Graduation Day") • ABC Afterschool Special — Billie Foster — Episode: "A Family Again"; released posthumously • The Land Before Time — Ducky (voice) — Released posthumously • 1989 — All Dogs Go to Heaven — Anne-Marie (voice) — Released posthumously
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 1 entries
1988
Judith Barsi died in 1988 at Canoga Park.
Places
Named by the record
Places
Only places the record itself states, plotted where the house gazetteer settles their coordinates. Nothing is inferred from a name or a nationality.
San Fernando Valley.
Birth place
Canoga Park.
Death place
Final films
She was featured as a voice actress in two films following her death: The Land Before Time (1988) and All Dogs Go to Heaven (1989). Don Bluth, the director of both films, praised her as being "absolutely astonishing" and said that he and his crew had been "nearly paralyzed" by the news of her death. Bluth had intended to continue to feature her extensively in his future productions and dedicated the song "Love Survives" from the end credits of All Dogs Go To Heaven to her memory.
Primary material
Documents and archives
reference work
- “Judith Barsi”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
authority record
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q235922: Judith Barsi
Unverified · Wikidata
Literature
Scholarly footprint
A count of publications is evidence of attention, not of standing, and is given here only as a measure.
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Johnson, John. A Script of Fear: Repeated Threats by Father of Child Actress Carried to Tragic End. Los Angeles Times. August 7, 1988.
- 2.Local News in Brief: Child-Abuse Files Ordered Opened. Los Angeles Times. August 23, 1988.
- 3.Donnelley, Paul. Fade to Black: A Book of Movie Obituaries. Omnibus Press. 122. 2005. 1-84449-430-6.
- 4.Garfinkle, Maddie. How Did Judith Barsi Die? Inside the Harrowing Murder of the 'All Dogs Go to Heaven' Child Star. People. August 27, 2024.
- 5.Barber, Sherry. A Lesson Learned From Family Tragedy. Los Angeles Times. September 18, 1988.
- 6.American Media, Inc. Girl who appeared on 'Growing Pains' told show's star: My dad says he's going to kill me!. The National Enquirer. September 16, 1988.
- 7.Fuentes, Gabe. Inquiry in Barsi Case Dropped Too Soon, Panel Says. Los Angeles Times. September 7, 1988.
- 8.John, Johnson. Barsi Probe: Judge Asked to Reveal Files on Slain Child. Los Angeles Times. August 17, 1988.
- 9.Local News in Brief: Bodies Identified as Child Actress, Mother. Los Angeles Times. July 29, 1988.
- 10.Child Actress Is Slain, Apparently by Father. The New York Times. Associated Press. July 30, 1988. 0362-4331.
- 11.Phillips, Deidre C. Child actress Barsi, mother buried. Los Angeles Daily News. Southern California News Group. August 10, 1988.
- 12.Retro Junk. www.retrojunk.com.
- 13.Gallagher, Eidhne. The Ending Of This Don Bluth Animated Childhood Classic Is Even More Heartbreaking Than You Realize. Screen Rant. February 7, 2025.
- 14.Kelley, Aidan. The Tragic, True Story Behind The Land Before Time Star's Untimely Death. Collider. March 16, 2024.
References
Citations
References
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reference work
Partially resolvedauthority record
Unverified
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 14 August 2026.
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