His big break came with the excellent 1972 film "Bad Company" as Drew Dixon, again co-starring with Jeff Bridges ("Jake Rumsey"), as a draft dodger youth during the Civil War. As part of the preparation for his role, Barry was asked to watch Jimmy Stewart pictures and his performance has been compared to the legendary actor. For movie trivia buffs, the passage from "Jane Eyre" read by Drew Dixon to the boys at the camp-fire scene was written in especially for the film for artistic license and effect. Please visit the Articles/Interviews page for a transcript of Barry's on set interview from Bad Company.

Jeff Bridges was quoted from the book "Impressions" (a reference book about film and acting impressions by the people in the business of film-making) that "Barry was the most professional and dedicated actor that I have ever worked with". Jeff Bridges has kindly given his own personal memories of working with Barry to this site in an email message.

The director Peter Bogdanovich opted for Barry to star as the male leading role playing Frederick Forsyth Winterbourne in the 1974 film "Daisy Miller" based on the novella by Henry James. Filmed on location in Switzerland and Rome and co-starring Cybill Shepherd, the film was highly praised by critics in the New York Times, eventually being included in their "1000 Best Movies of all time". This particular piece of filmwork has been quoted by the director Peter Bogdanovich as his personal favourite. It should be noted that Barry read all the works of Henry James and many biographies in preparation for the role. Indeed, Peter Bogdanovich highly praises Barry's acting on the DVD extras and in his opinion considered him "the only American actor you can believe ever read a book".

In 1973, Barry completed an engagement in the mid-west playing the part of "Edmund" in Eugene O'Neill's play "Long Day's Journey into Night", opposite the distinguished actress Geraldine Fitzgerald. This was stated by his brother Jim to have been the highlight of his career and Barry reportedly expressed that he would have preferred to have been remembered after his death, for that kind of role as a serious actor.

He was top-billed for the only time in his career in the film “The Ultimate Thrill” with Britt Ekland and Eric Braeden, starring as the writer Joe Straker on vacation at a skiing resort set in Vail, Colorado. Filming commenced New Year of '74. Barry had never skied before and enrolled in the famous Vail Ski School. He was stated as never having been sports minded and found it was the most physically demanding role in his career. A short interview with Barry, from The Ultimate Thrill press information pack, may be located in the Articles section of this site.

One of Barry's last television performances was the 1977 mini-series "Testimony of Two Men" playing family lawyer, Howard Best. I contacted the actor David Birney, who played the leading role as Dr. Jonathan Ferrier, asking for his memories of working with Barry. He told me "He was a nice man. I didn't really know Barry. Had never met him until we showed up on the set in the days in which we both worked. We chatted a bit between set ups, and I could see that he was focused and prepared and committed as an actor. I think we both carried the same skills and passion into the work, and it was good to have that together".

Troubled by depression and alcoholism throughout his adult life, these problems took their toll and unfortunately affected his career. His final movie appearance was a small role in the 1978 horror/spoof "Piranha" directed by his friend Joe Dante who created the scene with the state trooper especially for him. Barry had always wanted to be in a horror film.

Recommended reading are Jim Brown's "L.A. Diaries" and "Final Performance", also "This River" a short article submitted to a magazine supplement dated March 13, 2005.

Barry’s interests included music such as classical, jazz and The Beatles, his favourite song was Peggy Lee’s “Is That All There Is.” He also enjoyed a love of literature and read as many as 300 books a year . His movie idols were Montgomery Clift, Bela Lugosi and James Dean.

It is also recognised that Barry had a love of horror and sci-fi "B" movies and respected the work of many of the forgotten stars of these now cult classics (such as "Attack of the 50-Foot Woman, "Plan 9 from Outer Space" and "Invasion of the Star Creatures"). During his early career he carried out extensive research and many of his contributions towards magazine and film reference guides have ensured those actors are remembered as part of movie history.

Barry also enjoyed comedy, especially The Three Stooges and the Marx Brothers, when he and Marilyn were kids, and even later in life, plus early Woody Allen movies and Monty Python's "Holy Grail".

I'd like to add my own tribute as a fan to Barry. Having had the opportunity of viewing most of his television and film work - his performances, whether they be classed as bit parts in TV westerns/dramas or as a leading role, have never disappointed. He was a professional who had the ability and the unique gift of making every performance believable and compelling. His writing accomplishments have not only proved his research as a film historian but for someone about whom little was known from a fan's point of view I think he enjoyed writing and took pride in paying tribute to many forgotten stars.

Barry was briefly married to Jennie Vlahos in Los Angeles City on March 4, 1972. The marriage ended in divorce May 1972. Barry died June 27 (est.) 1978 at his home in Silver Lake, California, of a self-inflicted gun shot wound, occupation Self Employed Actor T.V. & Motion Picture Ind. His funeral service was held at Forest Lawn's Little Church of the Flowers July 1st, 1978. He was cremated, according to his wishes and his ashes were scattered over the Chetco River, Oregon.

When I die, I want them to say that I had just done, was doing, or was about to do "Long Day's Journey Into Night" - not an episode of The Six Million Dollar Man!