TLDR: The Barney & Friends cast includes mega-stars like Selena Gomez and Demi Lovato, plus surprising success stories like the man inside the Barney suit who became a tantra therapist, a cast member who became a lawyer, and another who’s now a doctor. The 2024 reboot features an entirely new cast with modern CGI animation replacing the iconic purple suit.
Before Selena Gomez was filling arenas and building a billion-dollar beauty empire, she was singing “I Love You” alongside a giant purple dinosaur in a Dallas suburb. The same goes for Demi Lovato, Debby Ryan, and a surprising number of other household names.
But the story of where the Barney & Friends cast ended up is far more interesting than just “some became famous.” The show, which aired on PBS from 1992 to 2010, launched careers in completely unexpected directions.
From the sweaty actors who brought the dinosaurs to life to the kids who used their Barney paychecks to fund law school, here’s what happened to the people behind one of the most beloved (and most mocked) shows in children’s television history.
The Man Inside the Barney Suit Became a Tantra Therapist
David Joyner was the definitive Barney from 1991 to 2001, spending a decade inside a 70-pound purple suit that could reach 120 degrees Fahrenheit under studio lights. Before landing the role, he worked as a software engineer at Texas Instruments.
Today, Joyner runs a business called Tantra Harmony, where he works as a tantra massage therapist and spiritual healer. Sessions cost around $350 for three to four hours.
While the career shift might seem bizarre, Joyner sees a direct connection. He’s said that before filming, he would pray to channel “loving energy” through the costume to children watching at home. He used deep meditation and breathing techniques to endure the brutal heat inside the suit.
His tantric work is simply the unmasked version of the same energy healing he practiced as Barney. Joyner hasn’t abandoned his past either. He appeared in the 2022 Peacock documentary “I Love You, You Hate Me” and has been critical of the 2024 CGI reboot, saying it lacks the “soul” of the original suit performance.
The Voice of Barney Became a Graphic Designer for Hit TV Shows
Bob West provided Barney’s iconic voice from 1988 to 2000. His giggle, singing voice, and delivery of “Super-dee-duper!” are what an entire generation remembers.
West largely retired from voicing the dinosaur and pivoted to graphic design. Based in Los Angeles, he’s worked on art direction for major television shows including 34 episodes of “Community,” 62 episodes of “Speechless,” and projects for “The Muppets” and “9-1-1: Lone Star.”
He’s also worked on films including “Jurassic Park III,” “Be Cool,” and “Chef.”
In April 2023, West confirmed during a livestream that he would not return as Barney’s voice for the Mattel relaunch, despite initial interest. This marked a clean break between the classic Barney era and the corporate reboot.
West was also a primary target of the intense backlash against Barney in the 1990s. In the documentary, he recalled receiving death threats via email, a jarring experience for someone voicing a character that preached unconditional love.
Carey Stinson Runs the Barney History Podcast
Carey Stinson took over the Barney suit from David Joyner in 2002 and performed the character through 2010. He’d actually been performing as Barney at live shows and hospital visits since 1991.
Today, Stinson works as a professional photographer in the Dallas area, shooting everything from weddings to commercial work for brands like Lexus and Toyota.
But he’s also become the unofficial historian of the franchise. In 2019, he launched the “Purple Tales Podcast,” which features interviews with cast and crew members. The podcast serves as an oral history of the production, with Stinson discussing everything from the technical challenges of the suit to the emotional weight of visiting terminally ill children as Barney.
He’s frequently shared stories about the brutal reality inside the costume, noting that it often reached 120 degrees and required fans and ice vests just to keep performers from passing out.
Selena Gomez and Demi Lovato: The Disney Pipeline Begins
Selena Gomez is Barney’s most famous export. She played Gianna from 2002 to 2004 during Seasons 7 and 8, cast alongside Demi Lovato who played Angela.
Gomez went directly from Barney to Disney Channel’s “Wizards of Waverly Place,” then became a global pop star and founded Rare Beauty, a cosmetics company valued in the billions as of 2025. She currently stars in Hulu’s “Only Murders in the Building” alongside Steve Martin and Martin Short.
Demi Lovato followed a similar path, starring in Disney’s “Camp Rock” and “Sonny with a Chance” before launching a massive music career. In 2024, Lovato directed the documentary “Child Star,” which critically examines the youth entertainment industry and implicitly recontextualizes their time on Barney as the beginning of a high-pressure life.
Both stars have acknowledged that Barney was essentially boot camp for young actors, teaching them how to hit marks, memorize lines, and work professionally on set. The official Barney Instagram even congratulated Gomez on her recent engagement to Benny Blanco.
Other Child Stars Who Made It Big
Debby Ryan appeared in Season 10 and the film “Barney: Let’s Go to the Firehouse.” She successfully transitioned to adult roles with Netflix’s “Insatiable” and films like “Horse Girl.” She’s married to Josh Dun, drummer for Twenty One Pilots.
Jaren Lewison played Joshua in Seasons 12 and 13 before landing his breakout role as Ben Gross in Netflix’s “Never Have I Ever” from 2020 to 2023. He’s shared vivid memories of the production, specifically the “sweaty” reality of the dinosaur suits.
Madison Pettis appeared in Season 10 before breaking out in “The Game Plan” with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. She’s maintained a steady career in voice acting and film, and is now a prominent model and influencer with a massive social media following.
Michaela Dietz voiced Riff, the orange dinosaur introduced in Season 10. She’s arguably the most successful Barney voice actor in modern animation, having voiced Amethyst in Cartoon Network’s critically acclaimed “Steven Universe” and Vee in Disney’s “The Owl House.”
The Kids Who Became Lawyers, Doctors, and Chefs
Not everyone from Barney went to Hollywood. The early Dallas-era cast members (Seasons 1 through 3) mostly used their Barney earnings to fund education and entered completely different fields.
Brian Eppes played Michael, the de facto leader of the original “Backyard Gang.” Today, he’s an attorney at Gebhardt and Eppes, PLLC in Fort Worth, Texas, specializing in civil litigation. He left acting after the show to focus on sports and academics, attending Texas A&M and South Texas College of Law.
Kurt Dykhuizen played Jason in Season 3. He’s now an anesthesiologist at Oregon Anesthesiology Group in Portland, Oregon. Dykhuizen has Goldenhar’s Syndrome and performed on the show with hearing aids, making his successful medical career a particularly inspiring story.
Lauren King, who played Kathy, works as an account executive for Vanderbilt IMG Sports Marketing in Nashville. John David Bennett II, who played Shawn, became a chef working for Salt and Pepper Catering in Richardson, Texas.
Pia Hamilton played Min and integrated her own Filipino heritage into the character. She now owns and teaches at Intrigue Dance & Performing Arts Center in Chicago and joined the cast of “The Lion King” on Broadway.
Rickey Carter’s Story of Resilience
Rickey Carter played Derek, Michael’s best friend, in Seasons 1 through 3. His post-Barney life has been marked by both tragedy and remarkable resilience.
In 2004, Carter was shot and paralyzed from the waist down. He has since regained the ability to walk, a journey he documents on social media and through his music.
Today, Carter performs as a hip-hop artist under the name Gifted Tha Go-Gitta. He released the album “Miracle Work” in November 2024 and runs a clothing line called “Go-Gitta Gear.” He remains active in the Barney alumni community and has appeared in documentaries discussing his life and recovery.
The Supporting Dinosaur Voices Had Theater Careers
Julie Johnson voiced Baby Bop, the green Triceratops, for nearly the entire run of the series from 1991 to 2010. She’s now a highly respected stage actress who starred in the Broadway production of “Candide” and the national tour of “Memphis.”
She played Beulah in “Come From Away” and has starred in regional productions like “A Closer Walk with Patsy Cline.” She also appeared in films including “Pure Country” and “The Apostle” alongside Robert Duvall.
Patty Wirtz voiced BJ, the yellow Protoceratops, from 1993 to 2010. She operates as a professional voice actress based in Dallas/Fort Worth, doing commercial voiceovers, e-learning, and character voices for toys and apps.
The 2024 Reboot Has an Entirely New Cast
In October 2024, Mattel relaunched the franchise as “Barney’s World,” a CGI-animated series on Max and Cartoon Network. The reboot represents a complete overhaul, discarding the suit-actor methodology for modern animation.
Jonathan Langdon voices the new Barney, bringing a different energy than Bob West or Dean Wendt. Bryn McAuley voices Baby Bop, while the character BJ has been reimagined as “Billy,” still a yellow Protoceratops but with updated characterization.
The human cast includes new characters like David, Mel (a Korean-Mexican-American character), and Vivie (Italian-American), reflecting modern diversity standards.
The aesthetic shift to CGI was controversial among older fans but strategic for Mattel to appeal to the “iPad generation” accustomed to shows like Cocomelon. The complete absence of original actors underscores Mattel’s desire to reboot the IP without the baggage of the “Barney Bashing” era of the 1990s.
Episodes still focus on emotional regulation and basic lessons like helping others and telling the truth, maintaining the core educational DNA of the original while updating the pacing and visuals for 2024.
The Creator’s Complicated Legacy
Sheryl Leach, the former teacher who created Barney to entertain her son Patrick, has largely withdrawn from the entertainment industry.
She and her partner Howard Rosenfeld now focus on philanthropy, supporting the Global White Lion Protection Trust and owning a farm in South Africa. In Connecticut, they founded the Shei’rah Foundation to support community development.
Leach’s life became part of the so-called “Barney Curse” narrative when her son Patrick, the inspiration for the show, was arrested in 2013 for shooting a neighbor. This event was a focal point of the “I Love You, You Hate Me” documentary, though Leach declined to participate.
Despite all the “Barney curse” talk, most of the cast turned out just fine. Sure, there’s been some tragedy along the way, but look at the big picture. You’ve got mega-stars like Selena Gomez, professionals like lawyers and doctors, and people running successful businesses.
For a show that got relentlessly mocked in the ’90s, Barney actually did right by most of the kids who appeared on it.
