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David Barry was born on April 30, 1943, in Bangor, North Wales.
As a child, he attended Hillgrove School in Bangor and also studied across the Menai Straits in nearby Anglesey.
He later relocated to London and, after finishing Mortlake Secondary Modern School, enrolled at The Corona Academy stage school in Chiswick. Notable alumni of the Academy include Jeremy Bulloch, Richard O'Sullivan, Dennis Waterman, and Frazer Hines.
His acting debut was at the Theatre Royal, Windsor, portraying 'Harlen,' one of the seven boys in the play 'Life With Father,' based on the 1936 humorous autobiographical stories by American author Clarence Day, Jr.
He is best known for his role as Frankie Abbott, the timid 'mummy's boy' among the children of class 5C, in the popular London Weekend Television series 'Please Sir!'
This series made him a household name, starring alongside Deryck Guyler, Joan Sanderson, John Alderton, and fellow pupils Peter Cleall (Eric Duffy), Peter Denyer (Dennis Dunstable), and the late actors Malcolm McPhee (Peter Craven) and Liz Gebhardt (Maureen Bullock).
Set in the fictional South London comprehensive Fenn Street School, the series premiered on November 11, 1968, and ran for four seasons totaling 53 episodes. 'Please Sir!' concluded in 1972 but was followed by the spin-off 'The Fenn Street Gang,' which followed the 5C students as they left school and sought employment. Running for two seasons, it never matched the original’s popularity and was canceled in 1973. 'The Fenn Street Gang' was also adapted into a comic strip for the 1970s children's magazine 'Look In.'
David continued working across television, film, theatre, and radio. In 1980, he appeared in the feature film adaptation of the Thames television comedy 'George and Mildred' alongside Yootha Joyce, Brian Murphy, and Stratford Johns.
Gradually, he transitioned into writing, having previously contributed episodes to 'Fenn Street.' He is also credited as a writer for the 1980s sitcom 'Keep It In The Family.'
David has written scripts for both public and private sector organizations, crafting theatre scripts for training that address workplace bullying, race, sexual orientation, and disability.
In 2002, he published his first novel, a police comedy thriller titled 'Each Man Kills,' through Gomer Press (ISBN-10: 1843230828).
In 2005, he created and wrote the UK's first weekly internet soap, 'Careless Talk' (www.carelesstalksoap.btinternet.co.uk), set in Tunbridge Wells. Though fictional, the show features appearances by real characters and includes many authentic locations in and around Tunbridge Wells.
He completed his autobiography, 'Flashback - An Actor's Life,' in 2006, candidly recounting his experiences as a child actor, including working with Sir Laurence Olivier and Vivien Leigh on a prestigious post-war theatre tour. The memoir spans nearly five decades, covering everything from the challenges of live television to working alongside hard-drinking actors.
David is divorced and has two adult children.
