Barry Robert Pepper was born on April 4, 1970, in Campbell River, British Columbia, Canada, to a family of three brothers. The Peppers were known for their adventurous spirit, as they had been building a ship in their backyard for years, and when Barry was just five years old, the family set sail on their 50-foot craft, "The Moonlighter." The ship would be their home for the next five years, during which they navigated through the South Pacific islands, using only a sextant and the stars as guides. Barry's early years were spent in exotic locales such as Fiji and Tahiti, where he was educated through correspondence courses and sometimes enrolled in public schools.
Growing up surrounded by Polynesian children, Barry credits them for his love of dance, music, and other expressive arts. Without television as entertainment on the ship, the family relied on games and sketch acting for fun. Barry had plenty of time to practice his newfound loves, too, and he developed a strong passion for the arts. When the five-year cruise was over, the Peppers returned to their native Canada, where they set up shop on a small island off the West Coast near Vancouver.
They built a farm on the outskirts of a small artists' town, which was populated mainly by hippies, poets, musicians, and other craftsmen. Barry's high school days were filled with art and sports, as he excelled in volleyball and rugby. He graduated in 1988 from George P. Vanier High School in Courtenay and then enrolled in college, where he majored in marketing and graphic design. However, after getting involved with the Vancouver Actors Studio, Barry changed his course and pursued a career in acting.
Barry landed his first role on the Canadian television series Madison in 1993 and went on to appear in other prominent television series. He then moved on to more prestigious roles in the US, including television movies. His breakthrough role came in 1998, when he played a Bible-quoting sniper in Steven Spielberg's WW II drama Saving Private Ryan. The film's success brought sudden stardom for its cast, and Barry went on to appear in a string of successful films, including Enemy of the State and The Green Mile.
In 2001, Barry received critical acclaim for his portrayal of Roger Maris in the made-for-cable drama 61*, and his career has continued to thrive since then.
