Walter Barnes
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.
Known for
Bonanza
Will Griner
Every Which Way but Loose
Tank Murdock
Maverick
First Outlaw
Mission: Impossible
Cheyenne
Have Gun, Will Travel
North and South
Benny Haven
Gunsmoke
O' Dell
Gunsmoke
Haney
Gunsmoke
Burke
The High Chaparral
Bartender
Bat Masterson
Paulson
Sugarfoot
Hefferman
Bronco
Alias Smith and Jones
Apache Gold
Bill Jones
Movin' On
Mr. Daniels
Captain Sindbad
Rolf
Rio Bravo
Charlie (uncredited)
Liebesnächte in der Taiga
Jurij
Smokey Bites the Dust
Sheriff Turner
The Young Runaways
Sgt. Abel
Stingray
Richard Diamond, Private Detective
Herbie Sanford
The Traveling Executioner
Sheriff
The Blue Knight
Personnel Officer
The Christian Licorice Store
P.C. Stayne
Revolt in the Big House
Guard Capt. Starkey
The Sky Trap
Harry Shaughnessy
Garter Colt
General Droga
High Plains Drifter
Sheriff Sam Shaw
Under Ten Flags
Kodiak
Jack Capp
Letter to Loretta
Casey
Pete's Dragon
Captain
Rampage at Apache Wells
Bill Campbell
Escape to Witch Mountain
Sheriff Purdy
Hog Wild
Tobias
Tales of the Vikings
Westbound
Willis - Stage Depot Cook
Cahill: United States Marshal
Sheriff Grady
Mackintosh and T.J.
Jim Webster
Walking Tall
Day of the Animals
Ranger Tucker
Bronco Billy
Sheriff Dix
Winnetou and the Crossbreed
Mac Haller
Avenger of the Seven Seas
Van Artz
Frontier Hellcat
Martin Baumann Sr.
The Big Gundown
Brokston
Action in the Afternoon
Kung Fu
Sheriff
Halleluja for Django
Key Jarrett / Clay Thomas
The Moment to Kill
Bull
Challenge of the Gladiator
Nero
Romulus and the Sabines
Stilicone
Power
Al Grove
Another Man, Another Chance
Foster
The Adventures of Mary Read
Captain Poof
Sign of Zorro
Mario
Robin Hood and the Pirates
Guercio / Orbo
Target Frankie
Col. O’Connor
Daddy's Deadly Darling
Doctor
The Secret of the Blue Men
Matthias
Drakut the Avenger
Nicolas
Duel at Sundown
Old McGow
Slave Girls of Sheba
Friar Metachini
The Secret of the Black Falcon
Calico Jack
Oregon Passage
Sgt. Jed Erschick
The Long Day of Inspector Blomfield
Fred Lancaster
Clint the Stranger
Walter Shannon
The Magnificent Tony Carrera
Barnes
Coup D'Etat
(uncredited)
Revenge of the Musketeers
Porthos