Edgar Barrier
A versatile and resonant-voiced character actor who served as a stalwart member of Orson Welles's revolutionary Mercury Theatre company.
1907–1964 (age 57)·Film, radio and television actor (1907–64)·Birthday: March 4·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Edgar Barrier possessed a commanding baritone and a patrician bearing that made him a natural for classical roles and sophisticated villains. His career is inextricably linked to the whirlwind of Orson Welles's Mercury Theatre, where he became a reliable company member during its groundbreaking radio and stage era. He performed in the infamous 'The War of the Worlds' broadcast and appeared in Welles's early, ill-fated film project 'Too Much Johnson.' While he never achieved major stardom, Barrier built a long and varied career as a dependable character man in Hollywood's studio system. He brought authority to parts in films like 'The Phantom of the Opera' (1943) and 'A Game of Death' (1945), and later transitioned seamlessly into the new medium of television, appearing in dozens of series throughout the 1950s and early 60s. His legacy is that of a skilled craftsman who contributed to one of American theatre's most creative moments and then diligently populated the background of countless stories for a generation.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Edgar was born in 1907, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Edgar Was Born
The biggest hits of 1907
Edgar's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1907Born
Financial panic grips Wall Street
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1912Started school
Titanic sinks on its maiden voyage
President: William Howard Taft
1920Became a teenager
Women gain the right to vote in the US
Home: $3,395President: Woodrow Wilson"Swanee" — Al Jolson
1923Could drive
The Great Kanto earthquake devastates Tokyo
President: Calvin Coolidge"Yes! We Have No Bananas" — Billy Jones
1925Could vote
The Scopes Trial debates evolution in schools
Home: $4,366President: Calvin Coolidge"Sweet Georgia Brown" — Ben Bernie
1928Turned 21
Alexander Fleming discovers penicillin; Mickey Mouse debuts
President: Calvin Coolidge"Ol' Man River" — Paul WhitemanBest Picture: Wings
1937Turned 30
Hindenburg disaster; Golden Gate Bridge opens
Gas: $0.20/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"A-Tisket, A-Tasket" — Ella FitzgeraldBest Picture: The Life of Emile Zola
1947Turned 40
India gains independence; the Dead Sea Scrolls found
Gas: $0.23/galHome: $6,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Near You" — Francis CraigBest Picture: Gentleman's Agreement
1957Turned 50
Sputnik launches the Space Age
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $10,550Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"All Shook Up" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: The Bridge on the River Kwai
1964Died at 57
Civil Rights Act signed; Beatles arrive in America
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $13,450Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"I Want to Hold Your Hand" — The BeatlesBest Picture: My Fair Lady
Key Achievements
- Performed as a core member of Orson Welles's Mercury Theatre on its historic radio and stage productions.
- Appeared in the 1938 film 'Too Much Johnson,' directed by Welles, a work considered lost for 75 years until its rediscovery.
- Played supporting roles in two of Welles's feature films: 'Journey into Fear' (1943) and 'Macbeth' (1948).
- Had a prolific television career, appearing in over 50 different series from the 1950s until his death.
Did You Know?
He was considered for the voice of Sherlock Holmes in the classic 1939 radio series but did not get the part.
He played the villainous Count Fosco in a 1950 television adaptation of 'The Woman in White.'
His film debut was in the 1937 drama 'The Great Hospital Mystery.'
“The play's the thing, and I am the man to speak it.”
