Rayford Barnes (October 23, 1920 – November 11, 2000) was an American film and TV character actor from Whitesboro, Texas.

Early years

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. He had a younger brother, Lou Dupont, who was also an entertainer. During World War II, Barnes served years in the Navy, working as a navigator.

Career

Barnes worked as a disc jockey at radio stations KTSA and WOAI. 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 ..." 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. 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 ''Cahill U.S. Marshal'' is a 1973 American Western (genre), Western film in Technicolor starring John Wayne as a driven lawman in a black hat. The film was directed by Andrew V. McLaglen and filmed on location in Durango, Mexico. The supportin ...

''. 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 ''The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp'' is the first Western television series written for adults.Ike Clanton Joseph Isaac Clanton (c. 1847 – June 1, 1887) was a member of a loose association of outlaws known as Cochise County Cowboys, The Cowboys who clashed with lawmen Wyatt Earp, Wyatt, Virgil Earp, Virgil and Morgan Earp as well as Doc Holliday. ...

. Other series he appeared on include ''

Father Knows Best ''Father Knows Best'' is an American sitcom starring Robert Young (actor), Robert Young, Jane Wyatt, Elinor Donahue, Billy Gray (actor), Billy Gray and Lauren Chapin. The series, which began on radio in 1949, aired as a television show for six ...

'', ''

Bat Masterson Bartholemew William Barclay "Bat" Masterson (November 26, 1853 – October 25, 1921) was a U.S. Army scout, lawman, professional gambler, and journalist known for his exploits in the late 19th and early 20th-century American Old West. He was bo ...

'', ''

Highway Patrol A highway patrol is a police unit, detail, or law enforcement agency created primarily for the purpose of overseeing and enforcing traffic safety compliance on roads and highways within a jurisdiction. They are also referred to in many countri ...

'', ''

Racket Squad ''Racket Squad'' is an American TV crime drama series that aired from 1951 to 1953. The format was a narrated anthology drama, as each individual episode featured various ordinary citizens getting ensnared in a different confidence scheme. Ep ...

'', '' The Untouchables'', ''

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'', '' Maverick'', '' Have Gun - Will Travel'', ''

Cannon A cannon is a large-caliber gun classified as a type of artillery, which usually launches a projectile using explosive chemical propellant. Gunpowder ("black powder") was the primary propellant before the invention of smokeless powder during th ...

(episode "Call Unicorn)'', ''

The Twilight Zone ''The Twilight Zone'' is an American media franchise based on the anthology series, anthology television series created by Rod Serling in which characters find themselves dealing with often disturbing or unusual events, an experience described ...

'' (episode " A Quality of Mercy", with Albert Salmi and Ralph Votrian), ''

The Big Valley ''The Big Valley'' is an American Western television series that originally aired from September 15, 1965, to May 19, 1969 on ABC. The series is set on the fictional Barkley Ranch in Stockton, California, from 1884 to 1888. The one-hour epis ...

'', ''

Daniel Boone Daniel Boone (, 1734September 26, 1820) was an American pioneer and frontiersman whose exploits made him one of the first folk heroes of the United States. He became famous for his exploration and settlement of Kentucky, which was then beyo ...

'', '' The High Chaparral'', ''

Bonanza ''Bonanza'' is an American Western television series that ran on NBC from September 12, 1959, to January 16, 1973. Lasting 14 seasons and 431 episodes, ''Bonanza'' is NBC's longest-running Western, the second-longest-running Western series on ...

'', ''

Gunsmoke ''Gunsmoke'' is an American radio and television Western drama series created by director Norman Macdonnell and writer John Meston. It centered on Dodge City, Kansas, in the 1870s, during the settlement of the American West. The central charact ...

'', ''

Rawhide Rawhide may refer to: *Rawhide (material), a hide or animal skin that has not been tanned * Whip made from rawhide Entertainment * ''Rawhide'' (1926 film), a Western directed by Richard Thorpe * ''Rawhide'' (1938 film), a Western starring baseball ...

'', ''

Wonder Woman Wonder Woman is a superheroine who appears in American comic books published by DC Comics. The character first appeared in ''All Star Comics'' Introducing Wonder Woman, #8, published October 21, 1941, with her first feature in ''Sensation Comic ...

'', ''

Little House on the Prairie The ''Little House on the Prairie'' books comprise a series of American children's novels written by Laura Ingalls Wilder (b. Laura Elizabeth Ingalls). The stories are based on her childhood and adulthood in the Midwestern United States, Americ ...

'', ''

Fantasy Island ''Fantasy Island'' is an American fantasy drama television series created by Gene Levitt. It aired on ABC from 1977 to 1984. The series starred Ricardo Montalbán as the mysterious Mr. Roarke and Hervé Villechaize as his assistant, Tattoo. ...

'', ''

The Dukes of Hazzard ''The Dukes of Hazzard'' is an American action comedy television series created by Gy Waldron that aired on CBS from January 26, 1979, to February 8, 1985, with a total of seven seasons consisting of List of The Dukes of Hazzard episodes, 147 ...

'', and ''

Walker, Texas Ranger ''Walker, Texas Ranger'' is an American action fiction, action Crime drama, crime television series created by Leslie Greif and Paul Haggis. It was inspired by the film ''Lone Wolf McQuade'', with both the film and the series starring Chuck Norr ...

''. His final role was on the

NBC The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) is an American commercial broadcast television and radio network serving as the flagship property of the NBC Entertainment division of NBCUniversal, a subsidiary of Comcast. It is one of NBCUniversal's ...

medical drama '' ER'' in 1996.

Personal life

In 1950, Barnes married Betty, and the next year they had a son. 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.

Death

Barnes died in

Santa Monica Santa Monica (; Spanish language, Spanish: ''Santa Mónica'') is a city in Los Angeles County, California, Los Angeles County, situated along Santa Monica Bay on California's South Coast (California), South Coast. Santa Monica's 2020 United Sta ...

Manhattan Beach, California Manhattan Beach is a city in southwestern Los Angeles County, California, United States, on the Coastal California, Pacific coast south of El Segundo, California, El Segundo, west of Hawthorne, California, Hawthorne and Redondo Beach, and north ...

, on November 11, 2000, at age 80.

Selected filmography

*'' Thunderbirds'' (1952) – Sergeant Case (uncredited) *''

The Stranger Wore a Gun ''The Stranger Wore a Gun'' is a 1953 American Western film directed by Andre de Toth and starring Randolph Scott and Claire Trevor. Based on the short story "Yankee Gold" by John W. Cunningham, the film is about a war criminal wanted for the ...

'' (1953) – Raider Todd / Townsman (uncredited) *'' Hondo'' (1953) – Pete – Card Player in Saloon *''

Red River Shore ''Red River Shore'' is a 1953 American Western (genre), Western film directed by Harry Keller and starring Rex Allen, Lyn Thomas and Slim Pickens.England p.140 The film's sets were designed by the art director Frank Hotaling. Plot Cast * Rex ...

'' (1953) – Pete – Henchman (uncredited) *'' The Desperado'' (1954) – Ray Novak *'' Return from the Sea'' (1954) – Radioman (uncredited) *'' Drum Beat'' (1954) – Captain Summer (uncredited) *'' Bowery to Bagdad'' (1955) – Canarsie *''

Battle Cry A battle cry or war cry is a yell or chant taken up in battle, usually by members of the same combatant group. Battle cries are not necessarily articulate (e.g. "Eulaliaaaa!", "Alala"..), although they often aim to invoke patriotic or religio ...

'' (1955) – Marine Aide on Command Ship Off Saipan (uncredited) *'' Seven Angry Men'' (1955) – William Doyle (uncredited) *'' Wichita'' (1955) – Hal Clements (uncredited) *''

The Revolt of Mamie Stover ''The Revolt of Mamie Stover'' is a 1951 novel by William Bradford Huie about a young woman from Mississippi who goes to Hollywood to work as an actress. Driven into prostitution, she moves to Honolulu, works at a brothel and takes it over, challe ...

'' (1956) – Soldier (uncredited) *'' Behind the High Wall'' (1956) – George Miller *'' The Burning Hills'' (1956) – Veach *'' The Young Guns'' (1956) – Kid Cutler *'' Stagecoach to Fury'' (1956) – Zick *'' Beginning of the End'' (1957) – Chuck – National Guard Corporal *'' Gun Glory'' (1957) – Blondie (uncredited) *'' The Invisible Boy'' (1957) – Captain McLaren (uncredited) *'' Fort Massacre'' (1958) – Moss *'' The Man Who Died Twice'' (1958) – Police Technician (uncredited) *'' Ride a Crooked Trail'' (1958) – Teeler Gang Member (uncredited) *''

Tombstone Territory ''Tombstone Territory'' is an American Western television series starring Pat Conway and Richard Eastham. The first two seasons aired on ABC from 1957 to 1959. The first season was sponsored by Bristol-Myers (consumer products) and the seco ...

'' (1958) – Laredo Markham *'' Lone Texan'' (1959) – Finch *'' The Gunfight at Dodge City'' (1959) – Corporal (uncredited) *'' Never So Few'' (1959) – Soldier in Helicopter (uncredited) *'' 13 Fighting Men'' (1960) – Sergeant Yates *'' Bells Are Ringing'' (1960) – Bookie (uncredited) *'' Young Jesse James'' (1960) – Pitts *''

North to Alaska ''North to Alaska'' is a 1960 American comedy Western/ Northern film directed by Henry Hathaway and John Wayne (uncredited). The picture stars Wayne along with Stewart Granger, Ernie Kovacs, Fabian, and Capucine. The script is based on th ...

'' (1960) – Gold Buyer (uncredited) *'' Cimarron'' (1960) – Cavalry Sergeant Who Breaks Up Fight (uncredited) *''

'' (1961) – Ed Twister *'' The Three Stooges in Orbit'' (1962) – Zogg / Airline Co-Pilot *''

'' (1962) – Lee *''

The Alfred Hitchcock Hour ''Alfred Hitchcock Presents'' is an American television anthology series created, hosted and produced by Alfred Hitchcock, airing on CBS and NBC, alternately, between 1955 and 1965. It features dramas, thrillers, and mysteries. Between 1962 a ...

'' (1963) (Season 1 Episode 26: "An Out for Oscar") - Ronald *''

Sunday in New York ''Sunday in New York'' is a 1963 American romantic comedy film directed by Peter Tewksbury from a screenplay by Norman Krasna, based on Krasna's 1961 play of the same name. Filmed in Metrocolor, the film stars Cliff Robertson, Jane Fonda, a ...

'' (1963) – Pilot Morgan (uncredited) *''

'' (1964) (Season 3 Episode 3: "Water's Edge") - Mike Krause *''

'' (1965) (Season 3 Episode 28: "Night Fever") - George Clark *''

Guns of Diablo ''Guns of Diablo'' is a Metrocolor 1965 Western film directed by Boris Sagal, produced by Boris Ingster, and starring Charles Bronson, Susan Oliver and Kurt Russell. It follows a wagon train master, who runs into difficulties when he meets hi ...

'' (1965) – Dan Macklin *'' Shenandoah'' (1965) – Horace – Rebel Deserter (uncredited) *'' Jesse James Meets Frankenstein's Daughter'' (1966) – Lonny Curry *'' The Wild Bunch'' (1969) – Buck *''

Kelly's Heroes ''Kelly's Heroes'' is a 1970 war comedy drama film directed by Brian G. Hutton. Set during World War II, the film tells the story of a motley crew of American GIs who go AWOL to rob a French bank, located behind German lines, of its stored Na ...

'' (1970) - Soldier Hauling Maitland's Yacht (uncredited) *'' The Hunting Party'' (1971) – Crimp *''

Conquest of the Planet of the Apes ''Conquest of the Planet of the Apes'' is a 1972 American science fiction film directed by J. Lee Thompson and written by Paul Dehn. The film is the sequel to '' Escape from the Planet of the Apes'' (1971) and the fourth installment in the ori ...

'' (1972) – Riot Control Commander in Plaza (uncredited) *'' Little Cigars'' (1973) – Gus *''

'' (1973) – Pee Wee Simser *'' Mitchell'' (1975) – Detective Tyzack *'' Breakheart Pass'' (1975) – Sergeant Bellew *'' Invisible Strangler'' (1978) – Sergeant Archer *'' The Magic of Lassie'' (1978) – Reward Seeker *''

'' (1979–1985, TV Series) – U.S. Marshal Ken Collins *'' Death Hunt'' (1981) – Trapper #3

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Barnes, Rayford 1920 births 2000 deaths 20th-century American male actors American male film actors American male television actors Male actors from Texas People from Whitesboro, Texas Western (genre) television actors University of Texas at Austin alumni