[7] Barney's personality was based on that of Ed Norton on the 1950s television series The Honeymooners, played by Art Carney.

This distinction can be attributed to Fred's fondness for food, though Barney is shown to be almost as capable of excessive appetite on a number of occasions.

The majority of subsequent spinoffs suggest at some point after the original series, Barney went to work at the Slate Rock and Gravel Company quarry alongside Fred as a fellow dino-crane operator.

In one episode, Barney's boss tells him to "put down his broom", which implies some sort of janitorial work is involved.

Daws Butler briefly assumed the role for the first, second, 5th, 6th and the 9th episodes of season 2 while Blanc recovered from the accident, continuing to deliver a Norton-inspired performance.

During the fourth season of the original series, Betty and Barney found an abandoned infant on their doorstep, by the name of "Bamm-Bamm".

When Bamm-Bamm grew into a teenager, Barney joined the Bedrock police force with Fred for a period of time as part-time officers.

": after losing his patience with Fred for ruining Pebbles's and Bamm-Bamm's wedding, Barney decides to leave Bedrock.

In the series' original episodes until the end of season 5, Barney's eyes are drawn as ovals or (occasionally) dark circular outlines (similar to Little Orphan Annie in her comics).

Mel Blanc was the principal voice of Barney Rubble, although Daws Butler (who previously voiced Ned Morton, a mouse version of Ed Norton — the inspiration for Barney Rubble — in the Looney Tunes short The Honey-Mousers) briefly assumed the role while Blanc recovered from a car wreck.

[20][21] Since Blanc's death, Frank Welker, Jeff Bergman, Joe Alaskey, Matthew Senreich, Keith Scott, Stephen Stanton, Kevin Michael Richardson, Scott Innes, Dave Coulier, Marc Silk,[22] Brad Abrell, Wally Wingert,[23] Paul F. Tompkins, and Jim Conroy have all performed the role.

[24][25] In the 1994 live-action Flintstones movie, Barney was portrayed by Rick Moranis, who also provided his voice for the film's pinball adaptation.