Wissenswertes

Bud Abbott and Lou Costello frequently used him as a form of "court jester" on the set of their films. It was his job to keep the energy level up through a series of pranks and practical jokes. He would even suddenly appear on camera during a take to break up the cast and crew. In Abbott und Costello treffen Frankenstein (1948), Lou answers a knock at the door expecting to see large actor Lon Chaney Jr. Instead, the very short Barber walks in wearing a funny hat with a feather. In another outtake from that film, Bela Lugosi, in full Dracula regalia, is solemnly descending a staircase to meet Bud and Lou when all of a sudden the actors and crew burst out laughing. Lugosi, annoyed, turns around to see Barber following right behind him, mimicking his steps. Barber also appeared in bit parts, such as a delivery boy, waiter or bellhop, in many of Abbott and Costello's films, and played many different characters--often just walk-ons, sometimes just a picture of him on a wall or a "wanted" poster of him in a Post Office--in their TV series. His final film appearance was in Lou Costello's last picture. Die 9-Meter-Braut (1959). His film career included bit parts in over 100 (known) feature films.