Biography
With his distinct appearance, the bald and imposing African-American player Thom Barry made a seemingly perfect character actor, and thus found himself frequently cast as guards, police detectives, and heavies in mainstream Hollywood features, from the early '90s on. He landed a bit part as a guard in
Rob Reiner's
The American President (1995), appeared as Samahani in
Congo (1995), and played Sgt. Marcus in the
Shaquille O'Neal-headlined superhero picture
Steel (1997). Barry maintained a higher profile as Agent Bilkins in two
Jerry Bruckheimer-produced action pictures,
The Fast and the Furious (2001) and its sequel
2 Fast 2 Furious (2003). Additionally, after years of guest-acting work on the small screen, he signed for his first regular role -- that of homicide investigator Will Jeffries -- on the popular detective series
Cold Case (2006). ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide