List of Barney characters#Barney

{{Short description|none}}

{{italic title|string=Barney}}

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Barney is a children's educational musical adventure media franchise that originated with the 1988 direct-to-video series Barney & the Backyard Gang by Sheryl Stamps-Leach and Kathy O'Rourke-Parker. Barney consists of three series—Barney & the Backyard Gang (1988–1991), which consists of only eight episodes, Barney & Friends (1992–2010), a television series that ran on PBS Kids, and Barney's World (2024), a fully animated series set to air on Cartoon Network's Cartoonito, and which is currently streaming on Max{{cite web |last=Porter |first=Rick |date=February 13, 2023 |title=Barney the Dinosaur Gets Relaunch from Mattel |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/barney-the-dinosaur-reboot-1235322332/ |website=The Hollywood Reporter |access-date=December 16, 2024}}—and is currently distributed by 9 Story Media Group, under license from Mattel Television.

The Barney franchise follows the titular character Barney, a purple anthropomorphic Tyrannosaurus rex who conveys educational messages through songs and small dance routines with a friendly, huggable and optimistic attitude.{{cite news|title=TELEVISION VIEW; Of Dinosaurs Why Must This One Thrive?|work=The New York Times|date=April 11, 1993|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/04/11/arts/television-view-of-dinosaurs-why-must-this-one-thrive.html|access-date=December 16, 2024|first=James|last=Gorman}}{{cite magazine|title=Stuuuupendous!|magazine=Time|date=December 21, 1992|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,977303,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100812192203/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,977303,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 12, 2010|access-date=December 16, 2024}}{{cite news|title=Dinosaur Is a Star, Spreading Love With Hugs, Kisses, Songs|work=Los Angeles Times|date=April 3, 1993|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-04-03-ca-18599-story.html|access-date=December 6, 2024|first=Daniel|last=Cerone}}{{cite news|title=Barney the launching pad |work= Los Angeles Times|date=January 30, 2009|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2009-jan-30-et-barney30-story.html|access-date=December 6, 2024}}

Overview

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; width:100%;"
rowspan="4" width="10%" | Characters

! colspan="15" | Main television series

! Animated television series

! Film

align="center" rowspan="3" width="10%" | Barney & the Backyard Gang

! align="center" colspan="14" | Barney & Friends

! align="center" rowspan="3" | Barney's World

! align="center" rowspan="3" width="10%" | Barney's Great Adventure

align="center" colspan="14" | Season
align="center" width="10%" | 1

! align="center" width="10%" | 2

! align="center" width="10%" | 3

! align="center" width="10%" | 4

! align="center" width="10%" | 5

! align="center" width="10%" | 6

! align="center" width="10%" | 7

! align="center" width="10%" | 8

! align="center" width="10%" | 9

! align="center" width="10%" | 10

! align="center" width="10%" | 11

! align="center" width="10%" | 12

! align="center" width="10%" | 13

! align="center" width="10%" | 14

Barney {{small|(costume)}}

| David Voss {{small|(Episodes 1–6)}}


David Joyner {{small|(Episodes 7, 8)}}{{cite news |last1=Petit |first1=Stephanie |title=Barney Unmasked! Meet the Man Who 'Loved' Playing the Iconic Purple Dinosaur for a Decade |url=https://people.com/human-interest/david-joyner-man-behind-barney-dinosaur-10-years/amp/ |access-date=December 16, 2024 |work=People |date=June 8, 2017}}

| colspan="3" | David Joyner{{cite web|last1=Ramirez|first1=Marc|url=https://www.dallasnews.com/arts-entertainment/pop-culture/2018/01/25/where-s-barney-now-actor-who-played-purple-dinosaur-a-tantric-sex-therapist/|title=Where's Barney now? Actor who played purple dinosaur a tantric sex therapist |newspaper=The Dallas Morning News|date=January 25, 2018|access-date=December 16, 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://www.vice.com/en_ca/article/zmzgbw/the-guy-who-played-barney-the-dinosaur-now-runs-a-tantric-sex-business|last1=Sager|first1=Rebekah|title=The Guy Who Played Barney the Dinosaur Now Runs a Tantric Sex Business|work=Vice|date=January 23, 2018|access-date=February 3, 2024}}

| David Joyner


Josh Martin {{small|(Episodes 14–16, 18–20)}}
Maurice Scott {{small|(Episode 17)}}

| colspan="2" | David Joyner

| Carey Stinson{{cite web|author=Giggy, Sean|url=https://www.wfaa.com/article/features/purple-tales-the-stories-and-secrets-behind-barney/287-8efc1aea-7574-4d31-87b5-36cc3f1829a5|title=Purple Tales: The stories and secrets behind Barney|work=WFAA|date=March 14, 2019|access-date=February 3, 2024}}


Maurice Scott {{small|(Episode 4 (one scene))}}

| Carey Stinson

| Carey Stinson


Maurice Scott {{small|(Episodes 3–4 (white screen scenes))}}

| colspan="5" | Carey Stinson

| {{cEmpty}}

| David Joyner

Barney {{small|(voice)}}

| colspan="7" | Bob West

| colspan="8" | Dean Wendt

| Jonathan Langdon

| Bob West

Baby Bop {{small|(costume)}}

| Dao Knight

| Jenny Dempsey

| colspan="4" | Jeff Ayers

| Jeff Ayers


Jennifer Romano {{small|(Episode 1)}}
Jeff Brooks {{small|(Episode 9)}}

| Jeff Ayers


Jennifer Romano {{small|(Episode 20)}}

| colspan="4" | Jeff Ayers

| Jennifer Barlean


Jeff Ayers {{small|(Episode 2)}}

| Lauren Mayeux

| Lauren Mayeux {{small|(New material)}}


Jeff Ayers

| {{cEmpty}}

| Jeff Ayers

Baby Bop {{small|(voice)}}

| colspan="15" | Julie Johnson

| Bryn McAuley

| Julie Johnson

BJ {{small|(costume)}}

| colspan="2" {{cEmpty}}

| Jenny Dempsey

| Jeff Brooks

| Jeff Brooks


Adam Brown {{small|(Episode 20 (some scenes))}}

| colspan="2" | Jeff Brooks

| colspan="8" | Kyle Nelson

| {{cEmpty}}

| Jeff Brooks

BJ / Billy {{small|(voice)}}

| colspan="2" {{cEmpty}}

| colspan="13" | Patty Wirtz

| Jonathan Tan

| Patty Wirtz

Riff {{small|(costume)}}

| colspan="10" {{cEmpty}}

| colspan="2" | Adam Brown

| Jerad Harris


Jeff Ayers {{small|(Episodes 6, 7, 10)}}

| Jerad Harris

| Jerad Harris {{small|(New material)}}


Adam Brown

| colspan="2" {{cEmpty}}

Riff {{small|(voice)}}

| colspan="10" {{cEmpty}}

| colspan="5" | Michaela Dietz

| colspan="2" {{cEmpty}}

Booker T. Bookworm / Bartholomew Bookworm

| colspan="5" {{cEmpty}}

| Earl Fisher {{small|(puppet and voice)}}

| colspan="9" {{cEmpty}}

| Anthony Sardinha {{small|(voice)}}

| {{cEmpty}}

Tina

| colspan="4" | Jessica Zucha

| colspan="16" {{cEmpty}}

Luci

| colspan="3" | Leah Gloria

| colspan="16" {{cEmpty}}

Jason

| Salim Grant

| colspan="16" {{cEmpty}}

Michael

| colspan="3" | Brian Eppes

| colspan="14" {{cEmpty}}

Kim

| colspan="4" {{cEmpty}}

| colspan="3" | Danielle Vega

| colspan="10" {{cEmpty}}

Angela

| colspan="7" {{cEmpty}}

| colspan="2" | Demi Lovato

| colspan="8" {{cEmpty}}

Gianna

| colspan="7" {{cEmpty}}

| colspan="2" | Selena Gomez

| colspan="8" {{cEmpty}}

Jamal

| colspan="7" {{cEmpty}}

| Peyton Alex Smith

| colspan="2" {{cEmpty}}

| Peyton Alex Smith

| colspan="6" {{cEmpty}}

Debby

| colspan="10" {{cEmpty}}

| Debby Ryan

| colspan="6" {{cEmpty}}

Bridget

| colspan="10" {{cEmpty}}

| Madison Pettis

| colspan="6" {{cEmpty}}

Joshua

| colspan="12" {{cEmpty}}

| colspan="2" | Jaren Lewison

| colspan="3" {{cEmpty}}

Jill

| colspan="12" {{cEmpty}}

| Mikayla Abdalla

| colspan="4" {{cEmpty}}

Main

=Dinosaurs=

==Barney==

{{Infobox character

| name = Barney

| franchise = Barney

| image =

| alt =

| caption =

| first_major = Barney & the Backyard Gang

| first_minor = The Backyard Show

| first_date = 1988

| creator =

| adapted_by =

| designer =

| voice = {{plainlist|

}}

| motion_actor = {{plainlist|

  • David Voss (1998–1990)
  • David Joyner (1991–2001)
  • Josh Martin (1997)
  • Maurice Scott (1997–2004)
  • Carey Stinson (2002–2010)

}}

| species = Tyrannosaurus rex

| gender = Male

}}

Barney is the main character of the Barney franchise. He is a purple Tyrannosaurus with a green stomach in stuffed animal likeness, who comes to life through a child's imagination. His theme song is "Barney is a Dinosaur", whose tune is based on "Yankee Doodle". Barney often quotes things as being "Super dee-duper". Episodes frequently end with the song "I Love You", sung to the tune of "This Old Man". Despite being a carnivorous type dinosaur, Barney does not have a carnivore's fearsome teeth. He likes many different foods such as fruits and vegetables, but his main favorite is a peanut butter and jelly sandwich with a glass of milk.

{{clear}}

==Baby Bop==

{{Infobox character

| name = Baby Bop

| franchise = Barney

| image =

| alt =

| caption =

| first_major = Barney & the Backyard Gang

| first_minor = Barney in Concert

| first_date = 1991

| creator = {{plainlist|

}}

| designer =

| voice = {{plainlist|

}}

| motion_actor = {{plainlist|

  • Dao Knight (1991)
  • Jenny Dempsey (1992)
  • Jeff Ayers (1993–2008; 2010)
  • Jennifer Romano (1999; 2002)
  • Jeff Brooks (1999)
  • Lauren Mayeux (2009–2010)

}}

| alias = Sissy

| species = Triceratops

| gender = Female

}}

Baby Bop is a green Triceratops wearing a pink bow and pink ballet slippers and carrying a yellow security blanket. First appearing in the Barney & the Backyard Gang video Barney in Concert, she was originally two years old; however, in the Barney & Friends episode "Look at Me, I'm 3!", she turned three. She sings the song "My Yellow Blankey" to show how much her security blanket means to her. She likes to eat macaroni and cheese and pizza.{{Cite web|url=https://www.universalkids.com/shows/barney-and-friends|title=Barney & Friends|website=Universal Kids|access-date=December 16, 2024}} She is the younger sister of Billy.

{{clear}}

=={{anchor|BJ}}Billy==

{{Infobox character

| name = Billy

| series = Barney

| image =

| alt =

| caption =

| first_major = Barney & Friends

| first_minor = Look at Me, I'm 3!

| first_date = 1993

| voice = {{plainlist|

  • Patty Wirtz (1993–2010)
  • Jonathan Tan (2024–present)

}}

| motion_actor = {{plainlist|

  • Jenny Dempsey (1993)
  • Jeff Brooks (1995–2000)
  • Adam Brown (2000)
  • Kyle Nelson (2002–2010)

}}

| nickname = BJ

| species = Protoceratops

| gender = Male

}}

Billy, originally known as BJ, is a 7-year-old yellow Protoceratops{{Cite web|url=https://buffalonews.com/news/third-dinosaur-joins-cast-of-barney/article_dd210080-1f8b-5157-8018-d7667e22122f.html|title=THIRD DINOSAUR JOINS CAST OF 'BARNEY'|website=Buffalo News|date=September 14, 1993|access-date=December 16, 2024}} who wears a red baseball cap and red sneakers. First appearing in the Barney & Friends episode "Look at Me, I'm 3!", he is the older brother of Baby Bop, whom he frequently calls "Sissy" and occasionally calls by her name. He sings "BJ's Song", a song about himself. He lost his hat in the Barney & Friends episode "Hats Off to BJ!" Pickles are his favorite food, and he has tried them in various ways, such as on pizza.

{{clear}}

==Riff==

{{Infobox character

| name = Riff

| series = Barney

| image =

| alt =

| caption =

| first_major = Barney & Friends

| first_minor = Welcome, Cousin Riff

| first_date = 2006

| last_major = A-Counting We Will Go

| last_minor =

| last_date = 2010

| voice = Michaela Dietz

| motion_actor = {{plainlist|

  • Adam Brown (2006–2007; 2010)
  • Jerad Harris (2008–2010)
  • Jeff Ayers (2008)

}}

| species = Hadrosaur

| gender = Male

}}

Riff is a character who has only appeared in Barney & Friends from Seasons 10 through 14 and in some Barney home videos. First appearing in "Welcome, Cousin Riff", he is an orange 6-year-old{{Citation needed|date=December 2024}} Hadrosaur who wears green sneakers, and he is Baby Bop and BJ's cousin. His theme music is "I Hear Music Everywhere". Riff loves music and it is in almost everything he does. In the video Barney: Let's Go to the Firehouse, it was revealed that Riff also likes to invent things; he created a four-sound smoke detector (the first three were different alarm sounds and the final one his voice). He is shown to have an interest in marching bands and parades.{{Citation needed|date=December 2024}} His most recent appearance is in A-Counting We Will Go, a Barney home video.{{Citation needed|date=January 2025}}

{{clear}}

=Children=

==Tina==

{{Infobox character

| name = Tina

| series = Barney

| image =

| alt =

| caption =

| first_major = Barney & the Backyard Gang

| first_minor = The Backyard Show

| first_date = 1988

| last = "On the Move" (1995)

| portrayer = Jessica Zucha

| gender = Female

| family = {{plainlist|

  • Tina's Mom (mother)
  • Luci (sister)

}}

}}

Tina is a character from the Barney franchise. First appearing in the Barney & the Backyard Gang video The Backyard Show, she also appeared in Barney & Friends, with her first appearance being "The Queen of Make-Believe". Tina lives with her sister Luci, her mother, her cat Whiskers, and her frog Bouncer. She loves animals, bugs, sing songs in the car, square dance to country music, and climb trees. Her favorite food is macaroni and cheese.

{{clear}}

==Luci==

{{Infobox character

| name = Luci

| series = Barney

| image =

| alt =

| caption =

| first_major = Barney & the Backyard Gang

| first_minor = The Backyard Show

| first_date = 1988

| last = "The Exercise Circus!" (1993)

| portrayer = Leah Gloria

| gender = Female

| family = {{plainlist|

  • Tina (sister)

}}

}}

Luci is a character from the Barney franchise. First appearing in the Barney & the Backyard Gang video The Backyard Show, she also appeared in Barney & Friends, with her first appearance being "My Family's Just Right For Me". Luci lives with her sister Tina, and her cat Whiskers. She loves winter, playing the guitar, cartwheels and tap dancing. Her favorite food is salad.

{{clear}}

==Jason==

{{Infobox character

| name = Jason

| series = Barney & the Backyard Gang

| image =

| alt =

| caption =

| first_major = Barney & the Backyard Gang

| first_minor = The Backyard Show

| first_date = 1988

| last_major = Barney & the Backyard Gang

| last_minor = A Day at the Beach

| last_date = 1989

| portrayer = Salim Grant

| gender = Male

}}

Jason is a character who appeared in the first three videos of Barney & the Backyard Gang. He is able to tap dance and likes animals. However, he can also make waves with his arms, which he likes to do as well.

{{clear}}

==Michael==

{{Infobox character

| name = Michael

| series = Barney

| image =

| alt =

| caption =

| first_major = Barney & the Backyard Gang

| first_minor = The Backyard Show

| first_date = 1988

| last = Sing & Dance with Barney (1999)

| portrayer = Brian Eppes

| gender = Male

| family = {{plainlist|

  • Unnamed mother
  • Unnamed father
  • Amy (sister)

}}

}}

Michael is a character from the Barney franchise. First appearing in the Barney & the Backyard Gang video The Backyard Show, he also appeared in Barney & Friends, with his first appearance being "The Queen of Make-Believe". Michael lives with his sister named Amy, his parents, and their dogs, Buster and Sparky. He likes to search for rocks when camping, meaning that he has a rock collection at home in a box. Michael is also a school crossing guard. In addition to his favorite food being cold watermelons, Michael is able to play the cello because he likes music; he is also known for playing soccer, however.

{{clear}}

==Kim==

{{Infobox character

| name = Kim

| series = Barney

| image =

| alt =

| caption =

| first = Barney's Sense-Sational Day (1997)

| last = Barney's Beach Party (2002)

| portrayer = Danielle Vega

| gender = Female

}}

Kim is a character who appeared in various Barney episodes like with Barney & Friends episodes from Seasons 4 through 6. She lives with her parents, an older sister, and an adopted baby brother, and she has a friend named Kristen. Kim perfers to dance and sing. However, she also knows how to play the flute. Her favorite bear is the giant panda. In "A Picture of Health" it was revealed that Kim once damaged her foot and needed to head to the hospital for an X-ray.

{{clear}}

Recurring

=Mother Goose=

{{Infobox character

| name = Mother Goose

| series = Barney

| image =

| alt =

| caption =

| first_major = Barney & Friends

| first_minor = Let's Help Mother Goose!

| first_date = 1992

| last_major = Barney & Friends

| last_minor = Mother Goose

| last_date = 2010

| portrayer = {{plainlist|

  • Sandy Walper {{small|(1992–1993)}}
  • Michelle McCarel {{small|(1998)}}
  • Barbara Lowin {{small|(2000)}}
  • Julie Johnson {{small|(2006–2010)}}

}}

| gender = Female

}}

Mother Goose is a character from Barney & Friends. Based on the fictional storyteller of the same name, she is an imaginary author who lives in the "Land of Mother Goose" (a land featuring her house, her garden, other characters from nursery rhymes, etc.) and perfers to speak in "rhyme". Mother Goose has been around for a large number of years for a quite long time and has a pet goose named Clarence (who appeared in "Honk! Honk! A Goose on the Loose!" and Barney's Big Surprise). Frequently, she already knows Barney's friends, as she knows the name of everyone who has ever read her rhymes.

{{clear}}

References