- Felt he had been miscast as Red Ryder because the comic strip character was tall and lanky, whereas he was short and stocky.
- Had a reputation among directors, especially at Republic Pictures, of being "difficult". William Witney made no secret of the fact that he couldn't stand Barry, and John English had so much trouble with him that he finally took him to Republic boss Herbert J. Yates to get things straightened out. After their third picture together, Black Hills Express (1943), English flat-out refused to work with Barry again.
- Was spotted by John Wayne and Mickey Rooney in a game in which his Texas All-Stars lost to UCLA. However, Barry's playing ability impressed the actors, who offered to help him break into movies. Rooney got him a part in Boys Town (1938) but Barry kept blowing his lines in a scene with Spencer Tracy, and director Victor Fleming replaced him.
- At times has been mistakenly associated with "Red Barry", the comic strip detective who was played by Buster Crabbe.
- Ex-brother-in-law of Patricia O'Rourke and Wayne Morris.
- Second cousin of producer/director Thomas R. Bond II.
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