[1][2] He was most prominently seen in light comedic roles in the British cinema of the 1930s and is perhaps best known as Jessie Matthews' leading man in Evergreen (1934), Gangway (1937) and Sailing Along (1938).

[3] On Stage he performed at the Comedy Theatre, London, in the Green Room Rags of 2 December 1934; opposite Ann Todd in the sketch Every Twenty Thousand Years.

Other notable roles include Lieutenant Somerville in Brown on Resolution (1935) and as Fred, Scrooge's nephew, in MGM's film A Christmas Carol (1938), the latter being one of two films he made in the US; the other was the lead role in a B-picture, Smuggled Cargo (1939).

[3][4] Barry also appeared in the 1954 Sheldon Reynolds produced Sherlock Holmes television series.

[5] He portrayed Reggie "Sardines" Taunton in episode 17; "The Case of the Laughing Mummy".