Barry Corbin

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Barry Corbin
Corbin in 1993
Born
Leonard Barrie Corbin

(1940-10-16) October 16, 1940 (age 83)
EducationTexas Tech University
OccupationActor
Years active1964–present
Spouses
Marie Elyse Soape
(m. 1965; div. 1974)
Susan Berger
(m. 1976; div. 1992)
Jo Corbin
(m. 2015)
Children4
Parent
Websitebarrycorbin.com

Leonard Barrie Corbin (born October 16, 1940) is an American actor.[1] He is best known for his starring role as Maurice Minnifield on the television series Northern Exposure (1990–1995), which earned him two consecutive Primetime Emmy Award nominations.

His other notable credits include the films Urban Cowboy (1980), Stir Crazy (1980), WarGames (1983), and No Country for Old Men (2007) as well as the television series Dallas (1979–1984), Lonesome Dove (1989), One Tree Hill (2003–2009), The Closer (2007–2012), The Ranch (2016–2020), and Yellowstone (2021).

Early life[edit]

Corbin's mother gave him his middle name in honor of author J.M. Barrie.[2] He played football briefly in eighth grade, but soon moved to the arts, including acting and ballet classes.[2] He graduated from Monterey High School in Lubbock, Texas. Corbin studied theatre arts at Texas Tech University in Lubbock.[3]

At 21, he joined the U.S. Marine Corps, served two years, and then returned to Texas Tech.[4]

Career[edit]

Corbin began his career in the 1960s as a Shakespearean actor, but today is more likely to be seen in the role of the local sheriff, military leader, or some other authority figure, though on occasion, he has portrayed murderous villains. To moviegoers, he is well remembered as General Beringer in WarGames, John Travolta's uncle Bob Davis in Urban Cowboy, Clint Eastwood's costar in Any Which Way You Can, and Roscoe Brown, July Johnson's bumbling deputy in the acclaimed Western Lonesome Dove.

From 1979 until 1984, Corbin appeared in several episodes of Dallas as Sheriff Fenton Washburn. In 1983, he co-starred in the television miniseries The Thorn Birds. Corbin played Mary Carson's stockman Pete, who teaches the Clearys' sons how to shear sheep on their aunt's gigantic sheep station Drogheda, Australia. Also in 1983, Corbin played Merit Sawyer in the television series Boone, cancelled after 10 episodes. Corbin's role was as a stern father to the young actor Tom Byrd, who played Boone Sawyer, an aspiring singer.

From 1990 to 1995, Corbin portrayed former astronaut and local business leader Maurice Minnifield on Northern Exposure, for which he received an Emmy Award nomination.[5]

In 1994, Corbin narrated the acclaimed TV documentary MoonShot, telling the story of the 1960s space race from the first-person viewpoint of Mercury Seven astronaut Deke Slayton. From 2007 to 2012, Corbin appeared in the recurring role of Clay Johnson, father of Deputy Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson on The Closer.

Corbin played the role of General Carville in consecutive video games developed by Westwood Studios: in 1998, Red Alert: Retaliation; in 2000, Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2; and in 2001, Command & Conquer: Yuri's Revenge.

In 2003, Corbin co-starred with Northern Exposure castmate John Cullum in Blackwater Elegy, a short film written by Matthew Porter and co-directed by Porter and Joe O'Brien.

From 2003 to 2009, Corbin played Whitey Durham, the basketball coach for the Tree Hill Ravens on the drama series One Tree Hill.[citation needed] He also had a role in 2007's No Country for Old Men.

Corbin lost most of his hair in the 1990s due to alopecia areata. Since then, he has played various roles with a shaved head, wearing a cowboy hat, or occasionally wearing a full toupee.

Corbin is the signature voice of radio station KPLX in Fort Worth, Texas, and has also voiced trailers and promotions for CMT and various other country radio stations.[6] In 2014, he became the spokesman for the Texas Veterans Land Board. He also played a role in the Netflix series The Ranch.

In 2020, Corbin had a recurring guest role as Everett Acker in Better Call Saul.

Personal life[edit]

Corbin has won many cutting-horse competitions.[2] Much of his spare time is spent riding horses and tending to cattle on his small ranch near Fort Worth. He has volunteered his time to charity for many years, including rodeos and being spokesman for the National Alopecia Areata Foundation.[2] In 2006, he participated in the Lubbock centennial.[7]

In September 2011, Corbin was given a lifetime achievement award by the Estes Park Film Festival in Estes Park, Colorado.[8] The Texas Film Hall of Fame inducted Corbin into its membership on March 8, 2012.[2] In 2014, he was inducted into the National Multicultural Western Heritage Museum.[9]

Filmography[edit]

Film[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
1980 Urban Cowboy Bob Davis
Stir Crazy Warden Walter Beatty
Any Which Way You Can Fat Zack Tupper
1981 Dead & Buried Phil
The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia Wimbish
1982 The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez B.R. Abernathy
Six Pack Sheriff "Big John" Stone
The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas C.J.
Honkytonk Man Derwood Arnspriger
1983 WarGames General Jack Beringer
The Man Who Loved Women Roy Carr
1985 What Comes Around Leon Redden
My Science Project Lew Harlan
1986 Nothing in Common Andrew Woolridge
Hard Traveling Frank Burton
1987 Under Cover Sergeant Irwin Lee
Off the Mark Walt Warner
1988 Permanent Record Jim Sinclair
Critters 2: The Main Course Harv
It Takes Two George Lawrence
1989 Who's Harry Crumb? P.J. Downing
1990 Short Time Captain
Ghost Dad Mr. Emery Collins
The Hot Spot Sheriff
1991 Conagher Charlie McCloud
Career Opportunities Officer Don
1996 Solo General Clyde Haynes
Curdled Lodger
1997 The Fanatics Robert Blister
1999 Judgment Day: The Ellie Nesler Story Tony Serra
Held Up Pembry
2000 Timequest Lyndon B. Johnson
2001 The Journeyman Charlie Ledbetter
No One Can Hear You Sheriff Joe Webster
Race to Space Earl Vestal
The Gristle Senator Dorm
2002 Clover Bend Cotton
2003 Dunsmore Sheriff Breen
Tin Can Shinny Daddy Jack
2005 Yesterday's Dreams Pastor
River's End Sheriff 'Buster' Watkins
The Dukes of Hazzard Mr. Pullman Uncredited
2006 Waitin' to Live Buford Pike
Beautiful Dreamer Grandpa
2007 No Country for Old Men Ellis
The Grand Jimminy 'Lucky' Faro
Trail End Hank Short
In the Valley of Elah Arnold Bickman
2008 Lake City George
Beer for My Horses Buck Baker
2009 That Evening Sun Thurl Chessor
Not Since You Uncle Dennis
2010 Bloodworth Itchy
Rising Stars Farmer
Nonames Ed
Feed the Fish Axel Andersen
The Next Door Neighbor Judge Rodgers
2011 Sedona Les
Valley of the Sun Gene Taggert
Universal Squadrons Deakin
Redemption: For Robbing the Dead Judge Smith
3 Blind Saints Rusty Pickens
2012 Cinema Six Roger
The Man Who Shook the Hand of Vicente Fernandez Walker
Born Wild Ray Jennings
2013 This Is Where We Live Bode
2014 Dawn of the Crescent Moon Cyrus
The Homesman Buster Shaver
Planes: Fire & Rescue Ol' Jammer Voice
Finding Harmony Grady Pickett
2015 Windsor Gil Denton
Beyond the Farthest Star Chief Burns
Christmas in the Smokies Wade Haygood
2016 Last Man Club Pete Williams
New Life Oscar
2017 Mountain Top Sam Miller
The Valley Gary
All Saints Forrest
An American in Texas Larry Korchinsky
2018 Farmer of the Year Hap Anderson
2019 Trading Paint Deputy
Eminence Hill Noah
2020 Star Trek: First Frontier John April
2023 Killers of the Flower Moon Undertaker Turton
Funny Thing About Love Grandpa Joe

Television[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
1976 Movin' On Waldo Episode: "The Old South Will Rise Again" (uncredited)
NBC Special Treat Stokey Andrews Episode: "Big Henry and the Polka Dot Kid"
1979–1984 Dallas Sheriff Fenton Washburn 9 episodes
1981 M*A*S*H Sgt. Joe Vickers Episode: "Your Retention, Please"
This House Possessed Lieutenant Fletcher TV movie
The Killing of Randy Webster Nick Hanson TV movie
Murder in Texas Dist. Atty. McMasters TV movie
Bitter Harvest Dr. Agajanian TV movie
1982 Hart to Hart Sheriff Bud Williams episode: "Hart, Line, and Sinker"
1983 The Thorn Birds Pete 4 parts (TV miniseries)
Travis McGee Sheriff Hack Ames TV movie
1984 Flight 90: Disaster on the Potomac Burt Hamilton TV movie
The Duck Factory Hubbell Browning episode: "The Way We Weren't"
1986 The A-Team J.J. Kincaid episode: "Waiting for Insane Wayne"
The Twilight Zone Pete Siekovich episode: "Dead Run"
Firefighter Captain Johnson TV movie
1987 Spies Thomas "C of B" Brady Main role
LBJ: The Early Years Judge Alvin J. Wirtz TV movie
Murder, She Wrote Lt. Lou Flannigan episode: "The Bottom Line Is Murder"
Matlock Army Col. Steven McRea episode: "The Court Martial"
1988 Man Against the Mob Big Mac McCleary TV movie
1989 Lonesome Dove Roscoe Brown 4 episodes
1990–1995 Northern Exposure Maurice J. Minnifield/Mace Mobrey 110 episodes (Main role)
1991 The Chase Wallis TV movie
Conagher Charlie McCloud, Stage Driver TV movie
1994 Moon Shot • The Inside Story of America's Race to the Moon Narrator/Deke Slayton (voice) TV movie documentary
1995 Life with Louie Uncle Sammy (voice) episode: "The Fourth Thursday in November"
1996 Ellen Jack Penney episode: "A Penney Saved..."
1996–1997 The Big Easy C.D. LeBlanc 35 episodes
1997 Columbo Clifford Calvert episode: "A Trace of Murder"
1998 The Magnificent Seven Wickes episode: "Working Girls"
The Closer Angus Clayton episode: "Pilot"
Spin City Peter Noland episode: "The Deer Hunter"
JAG Percival Bertram episode: "Act of Terror"
The Drew Carey Show Chuck Fifer 2 episodes
1999 King of the Hill Fire Chief (voice) episode: "A Fire-fighting We Will Go"
Chicken Soup for the Soul Doctor episode: "The Real Father"
Walker, Texas Ranger Ben Crowder episode: "Widow Maker"
2001 Crossfire Trail Sheriff Walter Moncrief TV movie
2002 Reba J. V. McKinney episode: "Meet the Parents"
Hope Ranch Shorty TV movie
2003 Monte Walsh Bob the Storekeeper TV movie
2003–2009 One Tree Hill Coach Whitey Durham 90 episodes (Main role)
2005 Celebrity Poker Showdown Himself game show
2006 Hidden Places Sheriff John Doggins TV movie
2007–2012 The Closer Clay Johnson 13 episodes
2008 Psych Billy Joe episode: "There Might Be Blood"
2008–2009 The Unit Carson 2 episodes
2009 Wyvern Hass TV movie
Ben 10: Alien Swarm Grandpa Max Tennyson TV movie
2012 Ghoul Grandfather TV movie
The Looney Tunes Show Santa Claus (voice) episode: "A Christmas Carol"
2012–2013 Suit Up Dick Devereaux 16 episodes
2012–2014 Modern Family Merle Tucker 3 episodes
Anger Management Ed 100 episodes (Main role)
2013 Dallas J.R. Ewing's lawyer/executor episode: "Ewings Unite!"
2014 Parenthood Ernie episode: "Fraud Alert"
2015 Blood & Oil Clifton Lundegren 6 episodes
2016–2020 The Ranch Dale the Veterinarian 32 episodes
2019 Young Sheldon Mr. Gilford Episode: "A Math Emergency and Perky Palms"
2020 Better Call Saul Everett Acker 3 episodes
2020–2022 9-1-1: Lone Star Stuart Ryder 3 episodes
2021 Yellowstone Ross Episode: "Under a Blanket of Red"
2022 Tulsa King Babe Recurring role, 6 episodes

Video games[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
1996 The Pandora Directive Jackson Cross Played an NSA operative who kidnaps and threatens to kill the main character in his pursuit of an alien artifact.
Steven Spielberg's Director's Chair Warden
1998 Red Alert: Retaliation General Ben Carville
2000 Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2 Gen. Ben Carville (General Thorn) / American Taunts Reprised his role as General Carville from Red Alert with a much larger role in the story. The game also featured a number of cinematics spoofing his role in WarGames.
2001 Command & Conquer: Yuri's Revenge Gen. Ben Carville He played General Carville once more in this 2001 expansion pack to Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2.
2017 Madden NFL 18: Longshot Hank Jamison
2018 Madden NFL 19: Longshot Homecoming

References[edit]

  1. ^ Hall, Michael (January 2021). "The Seven Ages of Barry Corbin". Texas Monthly. Retrieved August 14, 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d e Sumner, Jane (4 March 2012). "Texas' Corbin returns to his roots". Austin American-Statesman.
  3. ^ "Tech Players". Life '62. Texas Tech University. 1962. p. 42. Every role was major in 'Five Fingers.' Bob Adams, Pat Eakins, Barry Corbin and Durward Jacobs were cast. reprinted in La Ventana. Vol. 37. Texas Tech University. 1962. hdl:2346/48702.
  4. ^ "Northern Exposure: Barry Corbin biography". Archived from the original on 2006-10-01.
  5. ^ "Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series". emmys.com. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
  6. ^ "The Official Barry Corbin Site – Articles". barrycorbin.com. Archived from the original on 2011-07-28. Retrieved 2010-11-20.
  7. ^ "The Official Barry Corbin Site – Achievement". barrycorbin.com.[permanent dead link]
  8. ^ Cangialosi, Jason. "Estes Park Film Festival: Barry Corbin’s Lifetime Achievement Award." www.milehighcinema.com, [1] Archived April 24, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  9. ^ "Hall of Fame Inductees". National Multicultural Western Heritage Museum. Retrieved June 5, 2023.

External links[edit]

Archival Materials[edit]