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
Às Voltas com Fantasmas (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.
Minha Noiva é um Colosso (1959). His film career included bit parts in
over 100 (known) feature films.