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