Bryna Kearney Obituary (1982 - 2026)

Bryna Ruth Kearney (née Washer) passed away on October 4th, 2026 in Brooklyn, New York, at the age of 43. A lifelong theatre professional, Bryna was that rare soul known in her circles as someone who intensely respected her colleagues and was respected by them in turn. They saw her not just as a talented actor and thoughtful director, but as a beloved friend and human being. And she brought that same energy and exuberance to all aspects of her personal life. Bryna cared deeply about family, incorporating their presence in her home throughout the various cities she lived in. She loved nature and animals, especially the trees and squirrels in Maria Hernandez Park where she went to write, work out, and play music. And her insatiable curiosity about the human condition kept her thoughtfully engaged with other people, contending with anyone’s point of view without becoming contentious. Born November 16th, 1982 in Spokane, WA, Bryna spent her early years in Cary and Raleigh, NC; and Windsor, CT. She inherited a love of theatre from her parents, who acted in regional theatres across the country. Born into theatre quite literally — she appeared in productions of "The Deadly Game" and "Lady House Blues" while still in the womb — Bryna’s first postnatal role was in "Fiddler on the Roof" as the infant child of Motel and Tzeitel. From age five onwards she grew up actively participating in devised theatre, collaborating with other children and theatre professionals to generate new original musicals every year. As a teenager she developed a serious interest in directing. Her directorial debut at seventeen was a fully-funded and staffed production of "The Fantasticks" at Philips Academy Andover, where she matriculated. She also took lead roles in "Pippin" (Fastrada), "The Nutcracker" (Clara), "One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest" (Nurse Ratched), and "Man of La Mancha" (Aldonza). In her twenties and thirties, after attending the NYU Tisch Experimental Theatre Wing, Bryna directed off-Broadway productions of "Hamlet" and "Twelfth Night" at The Alpha NYC, and the premiere productions of "Owl Girl" at The Center at West Park; "Waste, Fraud and Abuse" at the 13th Street Rep Theatre; "Our Own Odyssey" for Fuerza Festival; and "Under Woodside" in Central Park, among others. Most recently, Bryna became a member of SAG-AFTRA, a major professional milestone in her work in television and film acting. In 2016, Bryna met the love of her life, Jonathan Sharp. Together they started a family in Bushwick, Brooklyn, a neighborhood she adored, with their monster of a rescue puppy, Cosmosis Jones. Bound by their love of art, music and theater, guided by their admiration of human creativity, they aimed ever upwards towards establishing a life of inspiration for themselves, and all others around them. In addition to Jonathan, Bryna is survived by her parents, Barbara and Steven Washer (Mullins, SC); and sister, Naomi Washer, and brother-in-law, Joseph Demes (Brooklyn, NY). Her ashes will be scattered in Maria Hernandez Park, in Brooklyn. Friends and family who wish to visit this spot, where Bryna went daily to inspire her creative practice, can visit the first pine tree on the right side of the entrance to Maria Hernandez nearest the corner of Irving and Starr. Donations can be made in Bryna’s name to Animal Haven (https://animalhaven.org/) — the shelter from which she and Jonathan adopted Cosmo. A celebration of life will be announced at a future date.