SANTA MONICA, CA – OCTOBER 30: Actress Debbie Matenopoulos and Barney attend the 11th annual Children Affected by AIDS Dream Halloween fundraiser on October 30, 2004, in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by Ana Elisa Fuentes/Getty Images)
Ana Elisa Fuentes?Getty ImagesYour first might be to make fun of a guy who would spend 10 years playing the giant purple dinosaur on "Barney and Friends". But you'd be a FOOL, because it was a sweet gig!
DAVID JOYNER was Barney from 1991 to 2001, and he has no regrets. Sure, the suit weighed 70 pounds and got up to 120 degrees inside, and he was basically sweating profusely at all time, but the money was good, and he was able to buy himself a house with the money he made off residuals alone.
David actually got a degree in electronic engineering technology, and worked for Texas Instruments for six years before auditioning for Barney.
He ultimately gave up on Barney to try some non-dinosaur acting. He did guest spots on a bunch of TV shows, but now he's back in a furry animal costume on a YouTube show called "Hip Hop Harry."
