Walter Barnes
Acting • Born 1918-01-26 – Died 1998-01-06
Biography
Walter Lee Barnes was an American football guard and actor who played in National Football League (NFL) for four seasons. He played in the (NFL) for the Philadelphia Eagles and in college at Louisiana State University. Barnes was an actor in both American and European films. He appeared in several films with John Wayne, Lex Barker, and Clint Eastwood. Barnes entered acting after appearing several times on The Eagles Nest, a local Philadelphia television show. WCAU television placed him on several local shows. His contacts with Walt Silver, a producer for Warner Bros. Television, led him into several appearances on television and films. Some of his more notable appearances included Bronco, Gunsmoke, Cheyenne, Bonanza, Have Gun – Will Travel and Death Valley Days. John Wayne got him a small role as Charlie the Bartender in Rio Bravo. Tiring of small roles and seeing opportunities overseas, Barnes was one of the many American actors who moved to Italy in the early 1960s. Kirk Douglas recommended him for a role in his The Vikings television spinoff Tales of the Vikings that was filmed for Douglas's production company in Germany. From 1960 to 1969, he was first active in pirate movies, then Karl May film adaptations and Spaghetti Westerns. Barnes returned to the United States in 1969 and appeared in more films and television series, which included The High Chaparral. His friendship with Clint Eastwood on Rawhide later led him to several roles in Eastwood's films. He retired from acting in 1987 and became increasingly ill due to his diabetes. He was the father of German former actress Lara Wendel, who was born Daniela Barnes.
Filmography
72 credits
Apache Gold
Movie • 1963
Bill Jones
Pete's Dragon
Movie • 1977
Captain
Challenge of the Gladiator
Movie • 1965
Nero
Avenger of the Seven Seas
Movie • 1962
Van Artz
High Plains Drifter
Movie • 1973
Sheriff Sam Shaw
Frontier Hellcat
Movie • 1964
Martin Baumann Sr.
Winnetou and the Crossbreed
Movie • 1966
Mac Haller
Smokey Bites the Dust
Movie • 1981
Sheriff Turner
The Traveling Executioner
Movie • 1970
Sheriff
The Big Gundown
Movie • 1967
Brokston
Day of the Animals
Movie • 1977
Ranger Tucker
Another Man, Another Chance
Movie • 1977
Foster
Revolt in the Big House
Movie • 1958
Guard Capt. Starkey
Rampage at Apache Wells
Movie • 1965
Bill Campbell
The Moment to Kill
Movie • 1968
Bull
Hog Wild
Movie • 1974
Tobias
Garter Colt
Movie • 1968
General Droga
Halleluja for Django
Movie • 1967
Key Jarrett / Clay Thomas
Target Frankie
Movie • 1967
Col. O’Connor
Movin' On
Movie • 1972
Mr. Daniels
The Long Day of Inspector Blomfield
Movie • 1968
Fred Lancaster
Cahill: United States Marshal
Movie • 1973
Sheriff Grady
Drakut the Avenger
Movie • 1961
Nicolas
The Magnificent Tony Carrera
Movie • 1969
Barnes
The Blue Knight
Movie • 1975
Personnel Officer
Every Which Way but Loose
Movie • 1978
Tank Murdock
Revenge of the Musketeers
Movie • 1963
Porthos
The Adventures of Mary Read
Movie • 1961
Captain Poof
The Secret of the Blue Men
Movie • 1961
Matthias
Robin Hood and the Pirates
Movie • 1960
Guercio / Orbo
Rio Bravo
Movie • 1959
Charlie (uncredited)
Daddy's Deadly Darling
Movie • 1973
Doctor
Oregon Passage
Movie • 1957
Sgt. Jed Erschick
Bronco Billy
Movie • 1980
Sheriff Dix
Sign of Zorro
Movie • 1963
Mario
Duel at Sundown
Movie • 1965
Old McGow
Romulus and the Sabines
Movie • 1961
Stilicone
Liebesnächte in der Taiga
Movie • 1967
Jurij
The Secret of the Black Falcon
Movie • 1961
Calico Jack
Westbound
Movie • 1959
Willis - Stage Depot Cook
Clint the Stranger
Movie • 1967
Walter Shannon
Coup D'Etat
Movie • 1969
(uncredited)
The Young Runaways
Movie • 1978
Sgt. Abel
Mackintosh and T.J.
Movie • 1975
Jim Webster
Slave Girls of Sheba
Movie • 1963
Friar Metachini
Escape to Witch Mountain
Movie • 1975
Sheriff Purdy
The Christian Licorice Store
Movie • 1971
P.C. Stayne
The Sky Trap
Movie • 1979
Harry Shaughnessy
Captain Sindbad
Movie • 1963
Rolf
Under Ten Flags
Movie • 1960
Cheyenne
TV • 1955
Kung Fu
TV • 1972
Sheriff
Alias Smith and Jones
TV • 1971
Gunsmoke
TV • 1955
O' Dell
Mission: Impossible
TV • 1966
Stingray
TV • 1985
Action in the Afternoon
TV • 1953
Have Gun, Will Travel
TV • 1957
The High Chaparral
TV • 1967
Bartender
Richard Diamond, Private Detective
TV • 1957
Herbie Sanford
Bronco
TV • 1958
Sugarfoot
TV • 1957
Hefferman
Bat Masterson
TV • 1958
Paulson
Tales of the Vikings
TV • 1959
Letter to Loretta
TV • 1953
Casey
Walking Tall
TV • 1981
North and South
TV • 1985
Benny Haven
Maverick
TV • 1957
First Outlaw
Gunsmoke
TV • 1955
Haney
Gunsmoke
TV • 1955
Burke
Kodiak
TV • 1974
Jack Capp
Bonanza
TV • 1959
Will Griner