LAMAMIMET

Barbara Gordon, born around 1935, built a distinguished career as an Emmy‑winning documentary writer and director for WCBS in New York, producing acclaimed news and feature pieces for over two decades. In the mid‑1970s, after a severe Valium dependency led to multiple hospitalizations and the loss of her broadcasting position, she turned her experience into a powerful memoir.

Her 1979 book, I’m Dancing as Fast as I Can, became a New York Times bestseller and was adapted into a 1982 film starring Jill Clayburgh, bringing national attention to prescription‑drug abuse and the shortcomings of psychiatric care. The candid account earned praise for its honesty and helped destigmatize addiction and mental‑health struggles.

Gordon continued to work in television and documentary filmmaking, earning multiple Emmy awards, while also advocating for better treatment of addiction. She lived on Central Park West in Manhattan with a partner and remained active in the industry until declining health forced her into hospice care. She died on April 7, 2026 at her home, aged 90, leaving a legacy of courageous storytelling and advocacy.