The guy who played Barney has finally been revealed
David Joyner went from working in IT to playing the big purple dino
David Joyner went from working in IT to playing the big purple dino
Who doesn't love getting nostalgic about the TV of yesteryear? This includes the stuff we watched as kids, including Sesame Street, any and everything on Nickelodeon and Disney, and of course, the big purple dinosaur who capped off every episode by singing about how much he loved you.
Barney and Friends ran for 13 series from 1991 to 2001, and Business Insider has unmasked (or should we say uncostumed) the man who played Barney.
Please welcome to the stage: David Joyner, aged 53, who 16 years on, has explained what it was like to play Barney, and how he got the job.
"Being inside this costume is pretty cool," he began. "Now Barney is about 70 pounds, and it can get over 120 degrees inside, so inside you're sweating profusely. It's a T-Rex, so you're basically up to your elbows in being able to move, and then also, Barney's feet were huge."
"I did have some sneakers on inside, that were glued to the bottom of the feet. The head doesn't come off, the head doesn't swivel. There's no facial expressions that can be made. I can only see a certain amount — when Barney's mouth is closed, I can't see anything."
After playing Barney, Joyner went on to star in That '70s Show, Hip Hop Harry and The Young and the Restless, as well as become a tantra massage specialist, a spiritual energy healer, and reiki practitioner.