By Chris Snyder, businessinsider.com
Everyone recognizes the large purple dinosaur, but not many people know the man inside the costume. David Joyner played Barney for 10 years on TV and in live performances, and dancing around in that huge costume was not very easy. We spoke with Joyner about what it was like being one of the most famous children’s characters of all time, and what he is up to now.
Being Barney was never an accident. I was supposed to do this character.
Hi I’m David Joyner. I played Barney from 1991 until 2001.
After I got my degree in electronic engineering technology, I worked for Texas Instruments for six years as a software analyst. Before I was Barney, I was a live mannequin. I would move mechanically. And people would literally bring their children, set them on the mall floor, and go shop.
