Chris Barrie

Chris Barrie, born Christopher Jonathan Brown on March 28, 1960, began his life in Hanover, Lower Saxony, West Germany. His father served in the British Army, which influenced his early years. He later attended Methodist College in Belfast, Northern Ireland. After dropping out of a Combined Studies course at Brighton Polytechnic and briefly working as a grave filler, he embarked on a career in entertainment. To avoid confusion with an existing Chris Brown on Equity lists, he adopted the surname 'Barrie'.

Barrie’s television journey began in 1982 with impersonations of sports personalities on The David Essex Showcase. He quickly gained recognition as a regular performer on Saturday Live and appeared on Carrott's Lib between 1983 and 1984. His comedic talents extended to voice acting, providing the voice of Ronald Reagan for Frankie Goes to Hollywood’s 'Two Tribes' in 1984. From 1984 to 1985, he had a starring role in his own sketch program, initially titled *Pushing Up Daisies* and subsequently *Coming Next*. However, he is perhaps best known for his role as Arnold Rimmer in Red Dwarf, a part he played from 1988 to 2020, appearing in almost every episode. Additionally, he provided narration for the initial two installments of the *Red Dwarf* book series: *Infinity Welcomes Careful Drivers* (1992) and *Better Than Life* (1995).

Beyond Red Dwarf, Barrie’s career encompassed diverse roles, including the character of Gordon Brittas in The Brittas Empire from 1991 to 1997. In 2014, he returned to that character in the music video accompanying Little Mix’s song 'Word Up!' Television programs such as *Britain's Greatest Machines* (2009-2010), *Chris Barrie’s Massive Engines*, and *Chris Barrie’s Massive Machines* on the Discovery Channel demonstrate his enthusiasm for mechanical devices. He documented his passion for vintage vehicles in Chris Barrie's Motoring Wheel Nuts (1995) and maintains a collection including a Triumph TR2, MGB-GT, Wolseley 1500, and Jaguar XJ6 as of 2022. Currently, he participates in a 'Comic-Con tour', with appearances scheduled at Exeter Comic-Con, XCON Dudley, Milton Keynes Comic-Con, Southampton Comic-Con, Southend Comic-Con, and MEGACON Live Birmingham in 2026.

Barrie’s commitment extends beyond entertainment. He was married to Monica De Meo from 1987, and he recently participated in the recording of 'Red Dwarf Titan' (book and audiobook) in June 2026, finding the project humorous and expressing pride in being a part of Rob Grant’s final work. He is also an Ambassador for Nature’s Haven since 2022, supporting their aim to provide community access to therapeutic gardening and nature. Furthermore, he actively supports small local charities, particularly those assisting veterans, believing the state's treatment of veterans has been shocking.