David Joyner: The Man Behind Barney Opens Up About His Journey

Most people who grew up watching Barney the Dinosaur never knew that the man inside the iconic purple costume was David Joyner, a Black man who brought the character to life from 1991 to 2001.

In a candid interview, Joyner shared the joys and challenges of embodying one of television’s most beloved children’s characters—and how his own background shaped the role.

Joyner explained that while he performed all the movements, gestures, and dances of Barney, the voice was provided by another actor in a sound booth.

To synchronize Barney’s mouth with the voice, Joyner bit down on a sponge attached to a bar inside the costume, nodding his head for every syllable. This demanding physical work was combined with energetic dancing, jumping, and acting, sometimes for hours at a time in a heavy, hot suit.

Growing up in a small town in Illinois, Joyner loved acting, music, and electronics. He attended ITT Tech for electronic engineering, but always dreamed of performing.

After working at Texas Instruments, he took a leap of faith, left his job, and began pursuing entertainment full-time. His ability to connect with children spiritually and emotionally caught the attention of a casting director, who invited him to audition for Barney.

Initially, Joyner struggled to understand the character, but a vivid dream and a moment of spiritual clarity inspired him to “breathe life” into Barney. He landed the role, and from 1991 he became the physical embodiment of Barney on television and in live shows.

As a Black man playing a character beloved by mostly white children in 1990s Texas, Joyner faced unique challenges. He recounted incidents of racism on set, including being called “boy” by a security guard.

These experiences led to mandatory tolerance classes for the cast and crew. Joyner also learned that, once news leaked in Esquire magazine about Barney’s true identity, some white viewers—including members of the Ku Klux Klan—boycotted the show.

Joyner responded with humor, saying that Barney represented love and would never resonate with those who embraced hate.

Despite his pivotal role, Joyner was contractually required to keep his identity secret to preserve Barney’s magic for children. Although some Black viewers have only recently discovered that Barney was played by a Black man, Joyner points out that he’s been public about it for decades.

He even appeared in People magazine in the 1990s, but social media and changing cultural attitudes have brought new attention to his story.

After leaving Barney in 2001, Joyner faced typecasting and industry bias. Some casting agents discouraged him from listing Barney on his resume, fearing he’d be seen only as a costume performer.

He distinguished his work from mascots, emphasizing that Barney was a live-action character requiring acting skill and emotional connection.

Joyner’s engineering background, athleticism, and spirituality all contributed to his unique portrayal. He trained his body to withstand the heat and weight of the costume, and practiced moving blind to perfect his performance.

His goal was always to connect with children on a deeper level, radiating love and positive energy through the screen.

The show’s end came after a change in ownership and creative direction. Joyner’s legacy, however, lives on—Barney remains an enduring symbol of love and joy, thanks in large part to the man inside the suit.