Barry Tubb

Barry Tubb, born Barry York Tubb on February 13, 1963 in Snyder, Texas, grew up in a ranching environment that shaped his rugged persona. At fifteen he captured the state bull‑riding championship in the junior division, a testament to his fearless nature. After graduating from Snyder High School in 1981 he pursued stage training in San Francisco before relocating to Hollywood in the mid‑1980s to chase a screen career. His early television break came with a regular role on the short‑lived baseball ensemble Bay City Blues, followed by a recurring appearance as a rookie cop on the acclaimed series Hill Street Blues. Throughout the 1980s and early 1990s he built a reputation as a versatile actor, portraying a shy homosexual youth in Consenting Adult and a wealthy corporate upstart in Billionaire Boys Club. His most celebrated television work arrived with the epic Western Lonesome Dove and its sequel Return to Lonesome Dove, where he embodied Jasper Fant, a role that resonated with his Texan roots. In film he contributed memorable supporting turns as Wolfman in Top Gun, and in Mask and The Legend of Billie Jean. He also appeared nude on Broadway in the 1988 production Sweet Sue, sharing the stage with Mary Tyler Moore and Lynn Redgrave. After moving to France in 1991 and participating in a Wild West show, Tubb shifted toward independent filmmaking, directing, producing, and co‑writing the low‑budget thriller Blood Trail. In 2002 he directed the family‑oriented feature Grand Champion, filmed in his hometown, and he remains active in cowboy cultural events. Most recently, in 2024 he sued Paramount Pictures for the unauthorized use of his likeness in Top Gun: Maverick, underscoring his enduring connection to the franchise and his commitment to protecting his artistic image.