After being introduced to Hollywood make-up through his parents, Burman spent the first part of his life attempted to pursue a career in acting.
At the age of 30, he decided to pursue make-up full-time, and gained union accreditation after working on the 1995 film Powder.
"[3] It was the third time he had worked with director J. J. Abrams following Mission: Impossible III and the television movie Anatomy of Hope.
[1] He has subsequently led the make-up team that works on NBC's television series Grimm.
[4] Barney's father, Thomas R. Burman and his wife Bari Dreiband-Burman, were nominated for best make-up for the film Scrooged.