As a long-time enthusiast of cinema and television, I find myself deeply moved by the story of David Joyner, the man behind the purple dinosaur suit of Barney. His journey, spanning over a decade on “Barney & Friends,” is nothing short of extraordinary.
David Joyner might not be the most recognizable name to television fans, but his work as the actor inside the suit of Barney certainly is. Joyner played the benevolent purple dinosaur on “Barney & Friends” for a decade from 1991 to 2001. On a recent episode of the “Generation Barney” podcast (via Entertainment Weekly), he remembered a time when the Ku Klux Klan banned their children from watching “Barney” because Joyner is Black. The actor laughed at such ludicrousness.
Joyner stated that he received a call while engrossed in ‘Barney’, this time from his local news reporter at the Decatur Herald & Review. The reporter requested a comment regarding an article published in Esquire magazine. Baffled, Joyner was asked to fetch the magazine and offer his thoughts. Upon reading the article, he discovered that the Klan had learned that the person inside the Barney costume was African American, prompting them to forbid their children from watching Barney ever again.
Joyner explained, “I chuckled when I read it,” and he questioned, “What do you mean by that?” Joyner further clarified, “I was referring to the KKK. I can’t alter their perspective. Moreover, our aim is to embody love. Those promoting hate would not want love. If my skin color influences someone’s viewpoint, I have no control over it because that’s just how it is.
For over a decade, Joyner donned the Barney costume, but it was Bob West who provided Barney’s voice during most of Joyner’s time. Moreover, Joyner also lent his acting skills to portray Barney in various “Barney” productions like “Barney’s Great Adventure: The Movie.
Joyner explained that his parents had advised him to say ‘I love you’ before going outside, as a way of carrying love wherever he went. Unbeknownst to him, this daily practice turned out to be preparation for the character he would later play. When he was finally cast, it wasn’t about donning a costume or adopting a persona; instead, he was already embodying the character’s essence of love.
Barney, an iconic Mattel character, is set to captivate a fresh batch of young viewers with “Barney’s World,” his first television series in 14 years. As the plot goes, “Barney embarks on exciting, melodious journeys filled with action, teaching children and audiences about significant preschool emotions. He demonstrates ways to appreciate themselves, others, and their communities.
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2024-11-15 02:16