Chris Coy
Barry the Bellboy, played by Chris Coy, made his debut in episode 4 of season 2. I have read the books and I think he did a remarkable job in bringing the Barry character to life.
Chris Coy had a passion for acting at a young age. He grew up in Sarasota City Florida in a small town called North Port. He made the leap to Hollywood, California, and at 23 has landed a role in Alan Ball’s True Blood. We had a chance to talk with Chris about his acting and his awesome martial art skills.
TB-N: You graduated from North Port HS in Florida; did you spend your entire childhood there?
I was born in Louisville, Kentucky and moved to Florida when I was 4. So yea, i guess you could say I grew up in North Port.
TB-N: Can you describe the casting process you went through for the role as Barry the Bellboy?
Initially it was pretty typical, I auditioned and got the callback later that day. However, when I walked into the room for the second time and realized I was performing for Alan Ball, I have to admit a very unfamiliar chill crept up my spine. I’ve been a huge fan of his for years and to say the very least, it was an incredible moment for me. Unforgettable.
Chris Coy as Barry
TB-N: Is there any part of you that is portrayed in your character Barry?
Only my telepathic abilities.
TB-N: If you don’t mind us asking, why do you taste different?
Ha! No comment.
TB-N: Have you read the Charlaine Harris books that True Blood is based on? If so, what did you think of them?
I read enough of them to know that I like them and that the show and the books can be very different at times. Once I realized that, I kind of put the books down because I didn’t want them affecting my interpretation of the script. In a way, I wanted to build Barry from the ground up with only the information I was given by HBO.
TB-N: How did you like working with the True Blood cast? Which actors did you spend the most time with? Can you recall an anecdote to share with us?
Every member of the cast is really nice and immensely talented. I guess if there was one person I was around more often than others it was Anna. Unfortunately, no funny anecdotes though. Barry’s kind of a quiet guy and so was I on set.
TB-N: What made Chris Coy want to pursue acting as a profession?
Tom Hanks’ performance in Forrest Gump. I was eight years old and awestruck.
Chris Coy
TB-N: If you hadn’t chosen acting, what other profession would you have pursued?
Either a lowly painter or an Olympic gold medalist.
TB-N: You spent some time with the Groundlings. Can you tell us how long you were there? Did you enjoy doing improv comedy?
I still love improv and even though I was only with the Groundlings for a short time it was a great place to study and it definitely left its mark on my technique.
TB-N: How did you learn how to dance Capoeira?
I started studying martial arts when I was in kindergarten. Capoeira was just one of the styles that intrigued me. It’s an amazingly indigenous martial art with a beautiful history. I highly recommend it.
TB-N: You played a Beastie Boy in the TV show, Numb3rs. Can you tell us a little about how you prepared for that role?
I put my hat on backwards and to the side a little bit.
TB-N: Will we see you back on True Blood?
You’re just going to have to stay tuned and find out but thank you so much for all the support.
True Blood News at the Nest would like to thank Chris for his time. We found him to be incredibly down to earth and he is a VERY funny guy. If you have read the books then we know something Chris doesn’t, Barry is in later books so we hope to see you again Chris. Your fans adore you and we cannot wait to see why you taste different. :)
