Donald Barry went from the stage to the screen. After four years of playing villains and henchmen at various studios, Barry got the role that changed his image: Red Ryder in the Republic Pictures serial Adventures of Red Ryder (1940). Although he had appeared in westerns for two years or so, this was the one that kept him there. He acquired the nickname "Red" from his association with the Red Ryder character. After the success of "Red Ryder" Barry starred in a string of westerns for Republic. Studio chief Herbert J. Yates got the idea that Barry could be Republic's version of James Cagney, as he was short and had the same scrappy, feisty nature that Cagney had. Unfortunately, while Barry could in fact be a good actor when he wanted to be -- as he showed in the World War II drama The Purple Heart (1944) -- his "feistiness", combative nature and oversized ego caused him to alienate many of the casts and crews he worked with at Republic (ace serial director William Witney detested him, calling him "the midget", and director John English worked with him once and refused to ever work with him again). Barry made a series of westerns at Republic throughout the 1940s, but by 1950 his career had pretty much come to a halt, and he was reduced to making cheaper and cheaper pictures for bottom-of-the-barrel companies like Lippert and Screen Guild. Barry continued to work and still appeared in westerns up through the 1970s, but they were often in small supporting roles, sometimes unbilled. In 1980 he committed suicide by shooting himself.
Donald Barry went from the stage to the screen. After four years of playing villains and henchmen at various studios, Barry got the role that changed his image: Red Ryder in the Republic Pictures serial Adventures of Red Ryder (1940). Although he had appeared in westerns for two years or so, this was the one that kept him there. He acquired the nickname "Red" from his association with the Red Ryder character. After the success of "Red Ryder" Barry starred in a string of westerns for Republic. Studio chief Herbert J. Yates got the idea that Barry could be Republic's version of James Cagney, as he was short and had the same scrappy, feisty nature that Cagney had. Unfortunately, while Barry could in fact be a good actor when he wanted to be -- as he showed in the World War II drama The Purple Heart (1944) -- his "feistiness", combative nature and oversized ego caused him to alienate many of the casts and crews he worked with at Republic (ace serial director William Witney detested him, calling him "the midget", and director John English worked with him once and refused to ever work with him again). Barry made a series of westerns at Republic throughout the 1940s, but by 1950 his career had pretty much come to a halt, and he was reduced to making cheaper and cheaper pictures for bottom-of-the-barrel companies like Lippert and Screen Guild. Barry continued to work and still appeared in westerns up through the 1970s, but they were often in small supporting roles, sometimes unbilled. In 1980 he committed suicide by shooting himself.
External links
IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/nm0057983
Wikipedia: https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1238919
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Filmography (Movies)
Back Roads
Character:Pete
Release Date:13/03/1981
Goldie and the Boxer
Character:Radio Announcer
Release Date:30/12/1979
Undercover with the KKK
Character:Ben Wright
Release Date:23/10/1979
A Cry For Justice
Character:Virgil Hall
Release Date:23/05/1979
Donovan's Kid
Character:Sheriff at Stagecoach
Release Date:07/01/1979
The Crash of Flight 401
Character:Helicopter Pilot
Release Date:29/10/1978
Hooper
Character:Sheriff
Release Date:28/07/1978
Hot Lead & Cold Feet
Character:Bartender
Release Date:05/07/1978
Buckstone County Prison
Character:Warden Coley
Release Date:01/07/1978
The Swarm
Character:Pete Harris
Release Date:26/06/1978
Kate Bliss and the Ticker Tape Kid
Character:Devery's Foreman
Release Date:26/05/1978
Doctor Dracula
Character:Elliot
Release Date:02/03/1978
Shame, Shame on the Bixby Boys
Character:
Release Date:01/02/1978
Orca
Character:Dock Worker
Release Date:22/07/1977
From Noon Till Three
Character:Red Roxy
Release Date:01/08/1976
The Wackiest Wagon Train in the West
Character:Marshal
Release Date:01/08/1976
Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch
Character:(archive footage)
Release Date:01/05/1976
Hustle
Character:Airport Bartender
Release Date:25/12/1975
Whiffs
Character:Sgt. Post
Release Date:15/10/1975
Boss Nigger
Character:
Release Date:17/08/1975
Blazing Stewardesses
Character:Mike Trask
Release Date:01/06/1975
Starsky & Hutch
Character:Doctor in Morgue
Release Date:30/04/1975
Punch and Jody
Character:Franz Butz / Delbert Clyde Butz
Release Date:26/11/1974
Partners in Crime
Character:Bartender
Release Date:24/03/1973
Incident on a Dark Street
Character:Miles Henderson
Release Date:12/01/1973
Junior Bonner
Character:Homer Rutledge
Release Date:21/07/1972
The Eyes of Charles Sand
Character:Trainer
Release Date:29/02/1972
Johnny Got His Gun
Character:Jody Simmons
Release Date:04/08/1971
One More Train to Rob
Character:Charlie
Release Date:19/02/1971
Rio Lobo
Character:Feeny - Bartender (uncredited)
Release Date:01/04/1970
The Cockeyed Cowboys of Calico County
Character:Rusty
Release Date:01/04/1970
Hunters Are for Killing
Character:Hank Phillips
Release Date:12/03/1970
Shalako
Character:Buffalo
Release Date:26/09/1968
The Shakiest Gun in the West
Character:Rev. Zachary Gant
Release Date:10/07/1968
Bandolero!
Character:Jack Hawkins
Release Date:01/06/1968
Fort Utah
Character:Harris
Release Date:01/09/1967
Hostile Guns
Character:Ed Johnson
Release Date:01/07/1967
Red Tomahawk
Character:Bly
Release Date:01/01/1967
Alvarez Kelly
Character:Lt. Farrow
Release Date:06/10/1966
The Magnificent Stranger
Character:Grist
Release Date:26/08/1966
Apache Uprising
Character:Henry Belden
Release Date:29/12/1965
Town Tamer
Character:Tex
Release Date:07/07/1965
Fort Courageous
Character:Captain Harvey
Release Date:01/05/1965
War Party
Character:Sgt. Chaney
Release Date:01/03/1965
Convict Stage
Character:Marshal Jethro Karnin
Release Date:01/01/1965
Law of the Lawless
Character:Red
Release Date:13/05/1964
Iron Angel
Character:Reb
Release Date:01/02/1964
Twilight of Honor
Character:Judson Elliot
Release Date:13/11/1963
Walk on the Wild Side
Character:Dockery
Release Date:21/02/1962
Buffalo Gun
Character:Murdock
Release Date:01/07/1961
Ocean's Eleven
Character:McCoy (uncredited)
Release Date:10/08/1960
Walk Like a Dragon
Character:Cabot
Release Date:01/06/1960
The Big Operator
Character:Detective Sergeant
Release Date:01/08/1959
Warlock
Character:Edward Calhoun (uncredited)
Release Date:15/05/1959
The Last Mile
Character:Drake
Release Date:18/02/1959
Born Reckless
Character:Bill Okie
Release Date:02/11/1958
Frankenstein 1970
Character:Douglas Row
Release Date:20/07/1958
China Doll
Character:MSgt. Hal Foster
Release Date:06/06/1958
Gun Duel in Durango
Character:Larry
Release Date:01/05/1957
Seven Men from Now
Character:Clete
Release Date:24/07/1956
I'll Cry Tomorrow
Character:Jerry
Release Date:25/12/1955
The Twinkle In God's Eye
Character:Dawson
Release Date:13/10/1955
Jesse James' Women
Character:Jesse James
Release Date:04/09/1954
Untamed Heiress
Character:Mike Lawrence
Release Date:31/03/1954
Border Rangers
Character:Bob Standish
Release Date:05/10/1950
Train To Tombstone
Character:Len Howard
Release Date:16/09/1950
Gunfire
Character:Frank James / Bat Fenton
Release Date:12/08/1950
I Shot Billy the Kid
Character:Billy the Kid
Release Date:27/07/1950
Red Desert
Character:Pecos Jones
Release Date:17/12/1949
Tough Assignment
Character:Dan Reilly
Release Date:15/11/1949
Square Dance Jubilee
Character:Don Blake
Release Date:11/11/1949
The Dalton Gang
Character:Larry West
Release Date:20/10/1949
Ringside
Character:Mike O'Hara, "King Cobra"
Release Date:14/07/1949
Train to Alcatraz
Character:Doug Forbes
Release Date:28/06/1948
Lightnin' in the Forest
Character:Stan Martin
Release Date:25/03/1948
Madonna of the Desert
Character:Tony French
Release Date:23/02/1948
Slippy McGee
Character:Slippy McGee
Release Date:15/01/1948
That's My Gal
Character:Benny Novak
Release Date:15/05/1947
The Plainsman and the Lady
Character:Feisty
Release Date:11/11/1946
The Last Crooked Mile
Character:Tom Dwyer
Release Date:09/08/1946
The Chicago Kid
Character:Joe Ferrill
Release Date:29/06/1945
Bells of Rosarita
Character:Don Barry
Release Date:19/06/1945
My Buddy
Character:Eddie Ballinger
Release Date:12/10/1944
Outlaws of Santa Fe
Character:Bob Conroy
Release Date:04/04/1944
The Purple Heart
Character:Lt. Peter Vincent
Release Date:25/02/1944
California Joe
Character:Joe Weldon
Release Date:29/12/1943
Canyon City
Character:Terry Reynolds posing as the Nevada Kid
Release Date:24/11/1943
The Man from the Rio Grande
Character:Lee Grant
Release Date:18/10/1943
The West Side Kid
Character:Johnny April
Release Date:23/08/1943
Black Hills Express
Character:Lon Walker
Release Date:15/08/1943
Fugitive from Sonora
Character:Dave Winters / Ted Winters
Release Date:30/06/1943
Days of Old Cheyenne
Character:Clint Ross
Release Date:15/03/1943
Carson City Cyclone
Character:Gilbert Phalen
Release Date:03/03/1943
Dead Man's Gulch
Character:Tennessee Colby
Release Date:12/02/1943
The Sundown Kid
Character:Red Tracy
Release Date:28/12/1942
The Traitor Within
Character:Sam Starr
Release Date:16/12/1942
Outlaws of Pine Ridge
Character:Chips Barrett
Release Date:27/10/1942
The Sombrero Kid
Character:Jerry Holden
Release Date:31/07/1942
The Cyclone Kid
Character:Johnny "Cyclone Kid" Dawson
Release Date:31/05/1942
Jesse James, Jr.
Character:Johnny Barrett
Release Date:25/03/1942
Stagecoach Express
Character:Dave Gregory
Release Date:06/03/1942
Arizona Terrors
Character:Jim Bradley
Release Date:13/01/1942
Remember Pearl Harbor
Character:Pvt. Steve 'Lucky' Smith
Release Date:02/01/1942
A Missouri Outlaw
Character:Cliff Dixon
Release Date:25/11/1941
Death Valley Outlaws
Character:Johnny Edwards
Release Date:26/09/1941
Kansas Cyclone
Character:Jim Randall
Release Date:24/06/1941
Desert Bandit
Character:Bob Crandall, Texas Ranger
Release Date:24/05/1941
The Apache Kid
Character:Pete Dawson aka The Apache Kid
Release Date:11/04/1941
Two Gun Sheriff
Character:Jim "Sundown Kid" McKinnon / Sheriff Bruce McKinnon
Release Date:09/04/1941
The Phantom Cowboy
Character:Jim Lawrence
Release Date:14/02/1941
Wyoming Wildcat
Character:Bill Gannon
Release Date:06/01/1941
Texas Terrors
Character:Bob Millbourne aka Robert Mills
Release Date:22/11/1940
Frontier Vengeance
Character:Jim Sanders
Release Date:10/10/1940
The Tulsa Kid
Character:Tom Benton aka Tulsa Kid
Release Date:16/08/1940
Sailor's Lady
Character:Second Paymaster
Release Date:05/07/1940
One Man's Law
Character:Jack Summers
Release Date:29/06/1940
Adventures of Red Ryder
Character:Red Ryder
Release Date:28/06/1940
Ghost Valley Raiders
Character:Tim Brandon
Release Date:23/03/1940
Jack Pot
Character:Bryan (uncredited)
Release Date:09/03/1940
Days of Jesse James
Character:Jesse James
Release Date:20/12/1939
The Secret of Dr. Kildare
Character:Collins - Intern (uncredited)
Release Date:24/11/1939
Saga of Death Valley
Character:Jerry
Release Date:17/11/1939
Calling All Marines
Character:'Blackie' Cross
Release Date:20/09/1939
Wyoming Outlaw
Character:Will Parker
Release Date:27/06/1939
S.O.S Tidal Wave
Character:Curly Parsons
Release Date:02/06/1939
Only Angels Have Wings
Character:Tex
Release Date:15/05/1939
Calling Dr. Kildare
Character:Collins
Release Date:28/04/1939
Panama Patrol
Character:Loring
Release Date:20/03/1939
The Duke of West Point
Character:Grady
Release Date:29/12/1938
Young Dr. Kildare
Character:Dr. Collins (uncredited)
Release Date:14/10/1938
The Crowd Roars
Character:Pete Mariola
Release Date:06/08/1938
Think It Over
Character:Henchman
Release Date:24/07/1938
Sinners in Paradise
Character:Jessup
Release Date:19/05/1938
Saleslady
Character:Babcock
Release Date:27/01/1938
Navy Blue and Gold
Character:Mason (Southern Institute football player) (uncredited)
Release Date:19/11/1937
Dead End
Character:Dr. Flynn, Intern (uncredited)
Release Date:27/08/1937
The Woman I Love
Character:Michel
Release Date:15/04/1937
When's Your Birthday?
Character:Marty - Gunman (uncredited)
Release Date:19/02/1937
Beloved Enemy
Character:Mike, I.R.A. Patriot (Uncredited)
Release Date:25/12/1936
Night Waitress
Character:Mario Rigo
Release Date:18/12/1936
Bridal Bail
Character:Movie Usher
Release Date:09/02/1934
Flying Down to Rio
Character:Dancer (uncredited)
Release Date:22/12/1933
Television Appearances
The Dream Merchants
Character:Capt. Casey
Knots Landing
Character:Jeremiah Clemmons
240-Robert
Character:
CHiPs
Character:Truck Driver
CHiPs
Character:Frank Taylor
CHiPs
Character:Marty Ballard
Quincy, M.E.
Character:Charlie Turner
Charlie's Angels
Character:Harry Silvers
Rich Man, Poor Man - Book II
Character:Robert Barnes
Big John, Little John
Character:Lionel P. Crabtree
The Bionic Woman
Character:
Barbary Coast
Character:
Baretta
Character:
Kolchak: The Night Stalker
Character:Tyrell Security Guard
The Rockford Files
Character:Shorty McCall
Police Woman
Character:Lt. Bocina
Police Woman
Character:Ted
Police Woman
Character:Morris
Police Woman
Character:Captain Simmonds
Police Woman
Character:Captain Barnes
Little House on the Prairie
Character:Larabee
Petrocelli
Character:Vern
The Six Million Dollar Man
Character:Howie
Police Story
Character:
Hawkins
Character:Ben
Ghost Story
Character:First Cowboy
Ghost Story
Character:Charlie Durham
The Waltons
Character:Deputy Sheriff
The Rookies
Character:
Emergency!
Character:Dave Grogan
McMillan & Wife
Character:Sam
Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law
Character:Jenkins
The Immortal
Character:
Dan August
Character:Ed Gurney
Love, American Style
Character:Sam
Love, American Style
Character:Policeman
Marcus Welby, M.D.
Character:Abner Dickens
Marcus Welby, M.D.
Character:Al Karlovic
Land of the Giants
Character:Dr. Zoral
Adam-12
Character:Charlie Bishop
Adam-12
Character:Mr. Hobbs
Adam-12
Character:Wino
Adam-12
Character:Edwin M. Kale
The Outsider
Character:Sheriff Watson
It Takes a Thief
Character:Airline Captain
Mannix
Character:Mr. Barlow
Hondo
Character:
Cimarron Strip
Character:
Ironside
Character:Paul Farrell
Ironside
Character:Capt. Dennis Barnes
Ironside
Character:Walter Prudy
Ironside
Character:Lt. Tom Pierce
Ironside
Character:Warrant Officer Harry Wilke
Dragnet
Character:James Fremont
Pistols 'n' Petticoats
Character:
T.H.E. Cat
Character:Morgan
T.H.E. Cat
Character:Stoddard
Batman
Character:The Grand Vizier
Batman
Character:Tarantula
The F.B.I.
Character:Davy Harrods
The Wild Wild West
Character:Farnsworth
The Wild Wild West
Character:Rainey
Laredo
Character:Sam Dixie
F Troop
Character:Col. Donnely
The Legend of Jesse James
Character:Daniels
The Munsters
Character:Ted
Daniel Boone
Character:Amos Brown
Broadside
Character:Colonel Stark
Mickey
Character:
Mr. Novak
Character:Anthony Gallo
The Fugitive
Character:The Checker
Arrest and Trial
Character:Snyder
McHale's Navy
Character:Capt. Kittridge
The Virginian
Character:Shorty Downs
The Virginian
Character:Dugan
The Virginian
Character:John Slaughter
The Virginian
Character:Man
The Virginian
Character:Charles Coulter
The Virginian
Character:Hutton
The Virginian
Character:Carstairs
The Virginian
Character:Jake
Sam Benedict
Character:
The Roaring 20's
Character:
Surfside 6
Character:Lt. Snedigar
Checkmate
Character:Kyle Horgan
Hawaiian Eye
Character:Harry Cannon
Hawaiian Eye
Character:Roy Briggs
Bourbon Street Beat
Character:
Laramie
Character:
The Deputy
Character:Utah
Bonanza
Character:Temple
Bonanza
Character:Bud Claggett
Rawhide
Character:Grut
77 Sunset Strip
Character:Rock
77 Sunset Strip
Character:Shorty Adams
77 Sunset Strip
Character:Frank Sully
77 Sunset Strip
Character:Barnaby Allson
Bat Masterson
Character:Luke Short
Lawman
Character:Shorty - Assassin
Lawman
Character:Jim Gaylord
Lawman
Character:Dusty McCade
Lawman
Character:Jess Schaeffer
Bronco
Character:
Peter Gunn
Character:
Maverick
Character:Willie Saffron
Maverick
Character:Fred Leslie
Maverick
Character:Dishonest Abe
Maverick
Character:Smith
Maverick
Character:Sheriff
Perry Mason
Character:Red Doyle
Sugarfoot
Character:Tanner
Sugarfoot
Character:Arkansas
Sugarfoot
Character:Arkansas Ferguson
Have Gun, Will Travel
Character:Tom Goodfellow
Screen Director's Playhouse
Character:Soldier
Sergeant Preston of the Yukon
Character:
Cheyenne
Character:Shorty Jones
The Phil Silvers Show
Character:Capt. Carter (uncredited)
Gunsmoke
Character:McIver
Gunsmoke
Character:Dobson
The Wonderful World of Disney
Character:Sheriff (uncredited)
Public Defender
Character:Milo Martin
The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet
Character:Clerk
Dragnet
Character:Mike Armstrong
Dragnet
Character:Parker Cleaver
Lux Video Theatre
Character:Andy
Lux Video Theatre
Character:Martin
Images
