We were lucky to catch up with Darryl Barnes recently and have shared our conversation below.
Darryl , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.
Fantasy Football was a meaningful project. I was able to meet Omari Hardwick while on set. We both played football players. He actually got me in the scene with him running out the tunnel. Before the scene even happened, he came up and spoke to me asking me my name. Caught me totally off guard. I responded to him and told him , I worked on Army of the dead as well. From there he shared with me insights of the business and his experiences in the industry. I said that was meaningful, because he didn’t have to do that all. Pursuing a dream is hard , only those that have walked that path know what it takes.
Darryl , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
Born and raised in Petersburg, Virginia, on August 6, 1982. With a heart fueled by football, I navigated life’s twists and turns, eventually finding myself walking onto the Benedict College football team in Columbia, South Carolina, where I broke a school record for the longest touchdown pass. When the program’s trajectory shifted, I faced uncertainty about my future, leading me to step away. Returning to Petersburg, I encountered significant challenges that led to personal struggles, resulting in a period of incarceration at Roxbury Correctional Facility in Maryland. However, during my four-year sentence, I discovered a newfound purpose through studying psychology, which ultimately transformed my life’s direction. Upon release, I seized the opportunity to pursue higher education and work with at-risk youth in Baltimore City, teaching the Becoming a Responsible Teen curriculum. This experience sparked a passion for supporting individuals struggling with mental health and substance abuse issues, inspiring me to establish Project Finish, a housing program providing affordable living and counseling services to those in crisis. After successfully running the program for four years, I made the bold decision to relocate to Atlanta, Georgia, to pursue an acting career. With perseverance and hard work, I’ve had the privilege of sharing the screen with esteemed actors like Eddie Murphy, Don Cheadle, Tyler Perry, and Regina Hall. I’ve been featured in several upcoming productions, including Scream Seven, Tyler Perry’s The Oval, DTF St. Louis, and Judgement Day with Will Ferrell. Through this journey, I’ve learned the importance of preparation, networking, and self-care, allowing me to thrive in the industry. Despite the challenges, I’m grateful for the opportunity to turn my life around and make a meaningful impact, and I’m excited to continue growing as an actor and contributing to my community.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road , a lot of up hill battles , curves , and detours while being on my journey. People don’t talk about the things off the camera. Like your mental health , working a part-time job, living out hotels. Can’t complete auditions because you don’t have WiFi. Taking care of your body and health while staying ready for your moment. Then you have to worry about what you’re doing if you’re not getting booked. I’ve been blessed to stay booked busy. I love acting , I just love being in the vicinity of acting , whether I’m doing stand-in or background no role is too small. One thing I’ve learned about this industry is that , if you don’t believe in yourself no one else will. But I have a determine soul that won’t give up , so giving up is not an option for me. I consider myself a project , and I won’t stop until it’s complete.
Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.
People think this movie industry is all glitter and gold. It’s not because once those lights cut off it’s back to the real world. I’ve been through so much chasing and living out this dream. I’ve been to jail occasionally, twice to be to exact. First time two weeks and last time was three months. I’m a rebel for a cause. GOD doesn’t make mistakes , he corrects and protects all of his children. I’m grateful , because after each time I was able to get out and still be booked and busy. I love life it’s definitely a roller coaster ride.
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