Rayford Barnes | |
|---|---|
 Barnes (left) with his brother Lou, c. 1983 | |
| Born | October 23, 1920 Dallas, Texas, U.S. |
| Died | November 11, 2000 (aged 80) Santa Monica, California, U.S. |
| Resting place | California |
| Years active | 1952–1997 |
| Spouses |
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| Relatives | Binnie Barnes (aunt)[1] |
Rayford Barnes (October 23, 1920 – November 11, 2000) was an American film and TV character actor from Whitesboro, Texas.[1][2]
Barnes was born in Dallas, Texas, and attended the University of Texas. He acted in plays at the university and at little theaters in Dallas and San Antonio. After he moved to Oakland, California, he performed at the Pasadena Community Playhouse.[3]
He had a younger brother, Lou Dupont, who was also an entertainer.
During World War II, Barnes served 4+1⁄2 years in the Navy, working as a navigator.[3]
Barnes worked as a disc jockey at radio stations KTSA and WOAI.[3]
After his military service, Barnes was a stagehand at three theaters in the San Francisco area, and he developed "a healthy respect for all the items actors depend upon for support ..."[3]
In 1950, Barnes gained membership in Actors Equity and began to act on stage in Repertory Theater productions, including Three's a Family and Hasty Heart. He also worked off-stage there, creating staging and scenes for two other plays.[3]
Barnes appeared in films, mainly westerns, such as Hondo, The Burning Hills, Fort Massacre, The Wild Bunch, The Hunting Party, and Cahill U.S. Marshal. He also appeared in the 1955 comedy Bowery to Bagdad.
Barnes also appeared on dozens of TV series most notably The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp in which he portrayed Ike Clanton.[1] Other series he appeared on include Father Knows Best, Bat Masterson, Highway Patrol, Racket Squad, The Untouchables, Cheyenne, Maverick, Have Gun - Will Travel, Cannon (episode "Call Unicorn), The Twilight Zone (episode "A Quality of Mercy", with Albert Salmi and Ralph Votrian),[4] The Big Valley, Daniel Boone, The High Chaparral, Bonanza, Gunsmoke, Rawhide, Wonder Woman, Little House on the Prairie, Fantasy Island, The Dukes of Hazzard, and Walker, Texas Ranger. His final role was on the NBC medical drama ER in 1996.
In 1950, Barnes married Betty, and the next year they had a son.[3]
Barnes lived in Manhattan Beach, California, with his long-time companion, Debbie. He often spoke about his movie making experiences with John Wayne, for whom he had great admiration.
Barnes died in Santa Monica[5] or Manhattan Beach, California, on November 11, 2000, at age 80.
