Biography

September 25, 1953 · USA

In addition to being an Emmy Award winning television producer, she is a motivational speaker and has 12 years of experience in stand-up comedy - she was a nationally touring headliner who made regular appearances on many of the cable comedy shows, such as Showtime Comedy Club Network, VH1 Stand Up Spotlight, and A&E's Comedy on the Roads.

Has been a close friend of Rosie O'Donnell for 20 years as of 2007.

Was once in a wheelchair due to severe ankle pain, and credits Dr. John E. Sarno, author of Healing Back Pain: The Mind-Body Connection, for enabling her to walk again.

In March 2007, Rosie O'Donnell began creating video blogs for her website. She made the video blogs while getting her hair and makeup done by Helene Macaulay in preparation for going on-air for the television show The View (1997). As readers began submitting questions directed towards or about Macaulay, she became a regular contributor to O'Donnell's video blog. Barber, who acts as O'Donnell's producer, would show up in the video occasionally to speak with O'Donnell. Within a few weeks, people were directing questions and comments towards Barber as well, and she also became a regular contributor to the video blog. The trio are collectively referred to as JaHeRo.

Her next book with Laura Banks (previously her writing partner for Breaking the Rules, Last Ditch Tactics for Landing the Man of your Dreams) is entitled Embracing Your Big Fat Ass and is due out in the spring of 2008 with Atria, a division of Simon and Schuster.