Levinson lahir di [[Baltimore, Maryland]], sebagai putra dari Violet "Vi" ([[née]] Krichinsky) dan Irvin Levinson, yang bekerja dalam bisnis perabotan dan peralatan rumah tangga.<ref>[http://www.filmreference.com/film/82/Barry-Levinson.html Filmreference.com]</ref><ref>[{{Cite web |url=http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/baltsun/access/90838012.html?dids=90838012:90838012%3A90838012&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT%3AFT&type=current&date=Nov+20%2C+2001&author=Frederick+N.+Rasmussen&pub=The+Sun&desc=Violet+K.+Levinson%2C+82%2C+homemaker+who+inspired+son's%27s+Hollywood+films&pqatl=google |title=Pqasb.pqarchiver.com] |access-date=2022-01-12 |archive-date=2012-07-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120725055918/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/baltsun/access/90838012.html?dids=90838012%3A90838012&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS%3AFT&type=current&date=Nov+20%2C+2001&author=Frederick+N.+Rasmussen&pub=The+Sun&desc=Violet+K.+Levinson%2C+82%2C+homemaker+who+inspired+son%27s+Hollywood+films&pqatl=google |dead-url=yes }}</ref> Keluarganya merupakan keturunan [[Sejarah Yahudi di Rusia|Yahudi Rusia]].<ref>[http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/7852984.html?dids=7852984:7852984&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Oct+21%2C+1990&author=Siskel%2C+Gene&pub=Chicago+Tribune&desc=Living+in+America&pqatl=google Pqasb.pqarchiver.com]</ref>
