Barbier was educated for the ministry before going to work on the
stage. He appeared on Broadway in such successes as "The Hunchback of
Notre Dame" and "The Man Who Came Back," among others. He signed a
contract with Paramount Pictures in 1929 and later worked as an actor
for most of the major studios.
Portly American character player, often seen as blustery and cantankerous, though basically benevolent, businessmen or patriarchs. He had initially trained for the ministry but changed his plans and became an actor instead.