From Grave Filler to Sci-Fi Icon: The Unlikely Career of Chris Barrie

Countries & Cities · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Before he became the neurotic Arnold Rimmer in Red Dwarf or the incompetent manager in The Brittas Empire, Chris Barrie worked as a grave filler. A master of vocal impressions, he built a career spanning sketch comedy, blockbuster film roles, and a genuine passion for engineering and vintage machinery.

Born Christopher Jonathan Brown in 1960 in West Germany, the actor adopted the surname Barrie to avoid confusion with another performer on the Equity UK lists. His early career was defined by his vocal versatility, appearing on the sketch show Spitting Image and providing the voice of Ronald Reagan for the Frankie Goes to Hollywood track 'Two Tribes'. By the mid-1980s, he was a regular on Saturday Live and had launched his own sketch series, Pushing Up Daisies.

Barrie is perhaps best known for his long-running role as Arnold Rimmer in the sci-fi comedy Red Dwarf. He appeared in almost every episode across twelve series, even turning down an offer to reprise the role for an American pilot due to restrictive contract terms. Simultaneously, he starred as Gordon Brittas in the BBC sitcom The Brittas Empire, a character he played for 52 episodes between 1991 and 1997. His ability to inhabit these distinct, often difficult characters cemented his status as a staple of British television.

Beyond acting, Barrie has cultivated a deep interest in engineering and technology. This passion led him to host several documentary series, including Britain's Greatest Machines and various 'Massive' engine programs for the Discovery Channel. His dedication to the field was formally recognized in 2010 when Loughborough University awarded him an honorary Doctor of Technology. Today, he lives in Cookham, Berkshire, where he maintains a personal collection of classic cars and model railways.

General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.

Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?

Related

• From West End stages to sci-fi stardom: the multifaceted career of John Barrowman
• From a vocal Doctor Who critic to the show's third modern era showrunner
• The accidental comedy icon who became a staple of British television history
• The rising star who conquered British sitcoms before his sudden death
• How a former New Zealand milkman became Hollywood's go-to authority figure
• A village built into a crack in a tremendous cliff
• This tiny Caspian island served as a vital shield for the city of Baku.
• The oldest continuously inhabited neighborhood in Miami was built by Bahamian laborers
• The remote island chain that served as the final stronghold of the Spanish Empire
• How two remote islands named Cocos became distinct territories in different oceans
• Chichijima: The Remote Pacific Island That Once Served as a Secret Nuclear Depot
• How a remote pirate hideout became the southern anchor of Macau's modern landscape

More in Islands · More in Countries & Cities · Latest · A–Z · All topics