David Joyner told Grunge his beliefs about life can best be summed up as: "One love. [6][7], West also provided voices for TV and radio ads for Pepsi, Bud Light (English and Spanish), Coors Light, Frito-Lay, KFC, Armour Meats, Circuit City, Texas Monthly Magazine, and Texas Lottery. The basic concept Barney the purple dinosaur interacting with a group of kids was first brought to life in a series of made-for-video projects under the umbrella title Barney and the Backyard Gang, which were marketed directly to the public, the first three starring actress Sandy Duncan and all of which were gaining fans due in part to the young performers involved and their interactions with Barney. BARNEY THE DINOSAUR ACTOR IS NOW A TANTRIC SEX THERAPIST, David Joyner, the actor in the Barney suit, began studying tantra at age 20. Barney the Purple Dinosaur attends the NBC Universal VIP party during the Cable Show 2011 at Privet Nightclub and Lounge on June 15, 2011 in Chicago, Illinois. Daniel Arkin is a national reporter at NBC News. In 2018, Joyner told Vice that he began working as a tantra massage specialist and spiritual healer. To kids watching the show, Barney was Barney, a real dinosaur. I would love to take a meeting with Daniel, and I would love to talk to him about doing the voice. Essentially, with so many lawsuits and public scorn, its no wonder the show was pulled off the air for good. Barney, the purple dinosaur, is getting a new look. [1][3][4], West became the voice of Barney in 1988, his first voice work as Barney was for the direct-to-video pilot series Barney and the Backyard Gang. Joyner decided to think about it. It quickly became a hit on public television. Its different for each person. All logos, images, video and audio clips pertaining to actors, characters and related indicia belong to their . with Regis & Kathie Lee, Oprah, The Phil Donahue Show, John & Leeza From Hollywood, Marilu, and appearances around the world.[3]. And ruthless rumors spread quicker than the dinosaurs cheer. The title was "The actor who played Barney is now a tantric sex specialist who charges $350 a session and advises against condoms and he only accepts female clients." The actor has spoken out in appreciation of Tantra and says it actually inspiredhis portrayal of Barney. Basically, theres a lot of content out there promoting the killing off of such a wonderful childrens influence. Some also suspected that David Joyner, who played Barney, struggled with substance abuse on set. But the set wasnt always harmonious. For radio host and ethnomusicologist, see, 20002022: Retirement and reunion with Barney, 2022present: Graphic designing and later career, Last edited on 15 February 2023, at 06:21, Learn how and when to remove this template message, "Barney Unmasked! As well as Barney, David has featured in House, That 70s Show, Hip Hop . There, he worked as a live mannequin, standing in store windows and moving like a mechanical robot. Just like Stan Lee manages to pop up in every Marvel Comics movie, David Joyner possesses the mesmerizing superpower of appearing in seemingly every major TV show of the last few decades in various cameo roles. Joyner was so passionate about the role that he played Barney for over a decade, securing his place in history as the one true happy, singing dinosaur. In between there were video specials like Barney in ConcertandBarney Live in New York City, a national stage show titled Barneys Big Surprise that played in 60 cities and the feature film Barneys Great Adventure,with a new movie currently in development and the Peacock streaming service announcing a three-part documentary for 2022. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Joyner decided that "if I could breathe life into this character, I was going on vacation. When we talked to the creator of the I Hate Barney Secret Society he [spoke] about his daughter loving Barney so much. In a regular day, he works at the production company that puts together "Hip Hop Harry," but in addition to being the man in the furry yellow bear costume, he also works behind the scenes and spends long nights in the office. Those velociraptors in "Jurassic World" might be smart, but this bouncy purple T. rex could probably teach them a thing or two about finding spiritual happiness. He has been offering Tantric massage since 2004 and promises on his website: "When you leave my session, you will feel more alive, more awake, and more whole as to whom you are as a spiritual being. Joyner said the cashier was cracking jokes with everyone who came to the register, and when Joyner walked up, the cashier inquired whether Joyner was old enough to buy his items. Joyner said he wasn't too surprised to get the call, though. The docuseries "I Love You, You Hate Me" explores the strange backlash to "Barney & Friends." Bob West, who once voiced the character, found himself at the center of the storm. Barney and Friends premiered on PBS on April 6, 1992, and came to an end on November 2, 2010, although new videos were still released on various dates after the last episode aired. A three-part documentary about Barney the Dinosaur has started production at Peacock, the streamer announced Monday. He inquired about changing his flight from Monday, September 10, to Tuesday, September 11, and was told that they had open seating on United Airlines Flight 175. Theres been a lot of bloggers and folks who love to say, Oh, this project is going to be so dark. But as far as I know, Daniel has never said anything about the project being dark. Its been reported that Oscar-winning actor Daniel Kaluuya is developing a live-action Barney film. Good thing Barney doesn't have sharp teeth. It was a top-ranking program for children under age 6. What is it about American culture or the American psyche that fosters what youre describing? Apart from his work on Barney and Friends, Dever is also known for You Can Be Anything, Barney: Let's Go to the Beach! In 2018, Business Insider would publish an interview with the actor to play Barney, David Joyner. But Hip Hop Harry is no Barney Lite because Joyner's approach to playing the character is completely different. While no new episodes of the series were produced, the viewers never forgot about the impact that Barney the Dinosaur had on their childhood. ", Then, on September 11, Joyner had the shock of a lifetime. Bob West: I started doing commercial work and narration in 1979 or so. Barney & Friends is not still on TV. Just as Barney gave hope to kids all over the world, it looks like Joyner gives hope to adults. Related: The 10 Richest Nickolodeon Stars, Ranked By Net Worth. I have been online since way before most people accessed the internet. Then, soon as I turn on my television, I see that second plane going into the Trade Center. Joyner was inspired by this and took that passion into his audition, successfully scoring the role of a lifetime and helping create one of the biggest cultural icons of the '90s. Something went wrong, please try again later. In 2000, West retired from voicing Barney and was replaced by voice actor Duncan Brannan. (Photo by Lyle A. Waisman/FilmMagic via Getty Images), I love you, you love me? Plush toys were decapitated with scissors while others were set on fire. He is happily married to his wife Kathy with whom he shares three kids. History shows that tantra is actually a complex spiritual system dating back thousands of years, and tantric traditions have deep roots within Buddhism, Hinduism, and other prominent faiths. In an interview withTrainwreck'd Society, Joyner revealed that in his youth, he scored an ITT Tech degree in Electronic Engineering, and then worked for Texas Instruments as a software analyst. Children are more connected spiritually than [adults]. "I Love You, You Hate Me" director Tommy Avallone describes how "Barney & Friends" became a target of conspiracy theories and shocking rumors over the years. [1] He is best known as the original voice of Barney in the PBS children's television series Barney & Friends. According to Business Insider, the earnings from the residual checks were big enough to make Joyner's jaw drop to the floor his real jaw, not the funny purple one and he managed to put that money to good use. ", BARNEY DOCUSERIES DETAILS DARK SIDE OF BELOVED KIDS SHOW, INCLUDES DEATH THREATS, DRUG RUMORS, Barney, the purple dinosaur, was the star of the PBS TV series "Barney and Friends." Barney was loved by far more people than he was ever hated. Joyner added that this important milestone would not have been possible if the fans hadn't kept the spirit of Barney alive by sharing the show with other kids and their own children. The actor has spoken out in appreciation of Tantra and says it actually inspired his portrayal of Barney. NBC News: I've read that you started working as a voice performer in the late 1970s. Barney, the big purple dinosaur with a preschool following, will be returning to TV in 2024 with a new animated series, according to Mattel. "This man played Barney the dinosaur for 10 years here's what it was like." So yeah, he keeps busy! He specializes in popular culture and the entertainment industry, particularly film and television. But one thing is for sure: Joyner's face has secretly been playing peekaboo everywhere. June 2, 2017. Every once in a while Id go out in a Barney jacket and Id hear, Oh, I hate that show! It was kind of sad, but you just have to laugh it off. Barney & Friends was a mainstay of daytime television in the early 1990s, making a star out of the title character: a purple anthropomorphic T. rex who extolled the virtues of love, kindness and cleaning up your toys. Barney the Dinosaur is deeply entrenched in popular culture. (Clint Spaulding/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images). As it turns out, playing Barney was actually a really smart financial decision on Joyner's part. Barney disproved that., So, what happened? I dont recall that kind of backlash happening in other countries. Maybe he works for the Watchers, or maybe he's a time hopping do-gooder like Dr. Sam Beckett in that '90s sci-fi series "Quantum Leap." Avallone stressed that while many people associate Joyners tantra principles with sex, "that was never happening with Barney." Robert Matthew West (born June 25, 1956) is an American voice actor and graphic designer. And I respected that. The first look at Mattel's new take on Barney the dinosaur. In his mind, the backlash was driven in part by kids trying hard to flex their machismo.. The foundation of Joyner's tantric practice centers on love, and he explains that tantra is "all about pulling in God's Divine Sacred love from the universe through Spirit, Mind, and Body, and sharing it." I have a vested interest in seeing that the tradition of the character is honored. At that time, he was replaced with Carey Stinson who also performed the character during birthday parties in 1991 and then for public appearances starting in 1992. "You know, there were some people [who] were very nervous about speaking at all. (Business Wire/AP) Article. Barney is a gentle teacher who talks to the children. February 15, 2023 at 9:17 a.m. EST. Barney, the purple dinosaur, was the star of the PBS TV series "Barney and Friends.". Barney the Dinosaur with David Voss, the original body actor. But once you put space in between and really talk about all the things that isn't (sic) happening, it's not as weird as you would think in that he's never doing any of this tantric stuff in the Barney suit. I have to say it didnt really take much of a toll on me at the time. He played the role of a voice actor for Barney between 1997 and 2000 following Bob Wests departure. Some other archival recordings of his voice are still heard in some of HIT Entertainment's The Little Big Club live stage shows until October 12, 2022. Deep down on the inside, Barney was basically a devoted dinosaur monk, living mindfully, always smiling, and spreading happiness to others whether they be human, canine, or terrible lizard. The idea of a spiritual purple dinosaur is already amazing enough, but it gets better, because Joyner is also smart as a whip. "Sheryl was always someone who ignored the Barney bashing," said Avallone. But on the other hand, I totally understand the impulse to expand the character and bring in new subject matter. And when he would come home from work, and he expected this big hug from his daughter she was just watching Barney. The big purple dinosaur quickly became a public phenomenon, joining Mister Rogers and Jim Henson's Muppets as PBS stars. Barney the Dinosaur actor reveals his saucy side job as a tantric sex expert, Fans of Barney the dinosaur will blush at the new route actor David Joyner has taken, David Joyner is now a Tantric sex therapist, David Joyner has taken a different path since his Barney days, Barney was a Dinosaur from the imagination, Danielle Lloyd proudly shows off baby bump in lingerie with birth just days away, Our Yorkshire Farm's Amanda and Clive Owen break silence on marriage troubles. Before he hopped into the costume, he always dedicated a half-hour block to meditation and prayer. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. The internet gave rise to new genres of anti-Barney humor that freely mixed winking irony with seemingly real rage. Beyond live comedy sketches and books, there are also YouTube videos and other websites. Anyone who follows Joyner's Twitter feed or YouTube videos will quickly find themselves with a new favorite celebrity. Based on their net worth, here's a look at all the stars who have voiced Barney over the years. The Great Gazoo was voiced by actor Harvey Korma And when he talks about his meditation and the energy he would pull from his body, he tried to push it through as weird as it sounds push it through the television. They were doing the thing where theyre trying to throw off childhood and trying to be cool. "[7], Joyner originally auditioned for the role in 1991, replacing Barney's original costume actor, David Voss. They were really good at it. David B. (That's why everyone loved that goofy-looking Tyrannosaurus so much!). Well, David Joyner is big on tantra. Majors was a loving, artistic, brilliant, and kind human being, his family said in a statement. [2], After graduating from college with a degree, West began his voice acting career in 1979. Legal Statement. When the Twin Towers came down on September 11, 2001, everything just stopped. He was inescapable. Joyner then proceeded to blow the cashier's mind, and almost certainly made the guy's day. NBA great Charles Barkley beat up Barney in a Saturday Night Live sketch. Peacock's three-part documentary series titled "I Love You, You Hate Me" takes a look at the controversial history of Barney, including the character's rapid rise in popularity and the subsequent fall from grace, as per The A.V. It's a sure bet that when our 24th-century descendants someday analyze our society and try to figure us out, they'll probably start by looking at fossilized Barney toys. 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