
Walter Lee Barnes was an American football guard and actor who played in National Football League (NFL) for four seasons. He played in the (NFL) for the Philadelphia Eagles and in college at Louisiana State University. Barnes was an actor in both American and European films. He appeared in several films with John Wayne, Lex Barker, and Clint Eastwood.
Barnes entered acting after appearing several times on The Eagles Nest, a local Philadelphia television show. WCAU television placed him on several local shows. His contacts with Walt Silver, a producer for Warner Bros. Television, led him into several appearances on television and films. Some of his more notable appearances included Bronco, Gunsmoke, Cheyenne, Bonanza, Have Gun – Will Travel and Death Valley Days. John Wayne got him a small role as Charlie the Bartender in Rio Bravo.
Tiring of small roles and seeing opportunities overseas, Barnes was one of the many American actors who moved to Italy in the early 1960s. Kirk Douglas recommended him for a role in his The Vikings television spinoff Tales of the Vikings that was filmed for Douglas's production company in Germany. From 1960 to 1969, he was first active in pirate movies, then Karl May film adaptations and Spaghetti Westerns.
Barnes returned to the United States in 1969 and appeared in more films and television series, which included The High Chaparral. His friendship with Clint Eastwood on Rawhide later led him to several roles in Eastwood's films. He retired from acting in 1987 and became increasingly ill due to his diabetes. He was the father of German former actress Lara Wendel, who was born Daniela Barnes.

High Plains Drifter
1973 · as Sheriff Sam Shaw

Rio Bravo
1959 · as Charlie (uncredited)

Every Which Way but Loose
1978 · as Tank Murdock

Pete's Dragon
1977 · as Captain

Apache Gold
1963 · as Bill Jones

Bronco Billy
1980 · as Sheriff Dix

Escape to Witch Mountain
1975 · as Sheriff Purdy

Cahill: United States Marshal
1973 · as Sheriff Grady

The Blue Knight
1975 · as Personnel Officer

Captain Sindbad
1963 · as Rolf

Rampage at Apache Wells
1965 · as Bill Campbell

Winnetou and the Crossbreed
1966 · as Mac Haller

The Big Gundown
1967 · as Brokston

Day of the Animals
1977 · as Ranger Tucker

Avenger of the Seven Seas
1962 · as Van Artz

Frontier Hellcat
1964 · as Martin Baumann Sr.

Hog Wild
1974 · as Tobias

The Young Runaways
1978 · as Sgt. Abel