Quick Facts
Biography
David Joel Barrera (born December 28, 1968) is an American actor. He is best known for his latest role as Gunnery Sgt. Ray 'Casey Kasem' Griego in Generation Kill. He has appeared in television series including Grimm, Heroes, CSI: Miami, Boston Legal, Medium, Nip/Tuck, NYPD Blue, Murder One, Without a Trace, The West Wing, The Big Bang Theory and 24 for which he got nominated for an ALMA Award.
Barrera is a graduate of Pharr-San Juan-Alamo High School in his hometown, San Juan, Texas, where he was part of the Theater Club. This high school is part of the Pharr-San Juan-Alamo Independent School District. David Barrera is a graduate of Southern Methodist University, and went on to study in the graduate acting program at the University of California, San Diego.
Barrera appeared in Universal's family comedy Evan Almighty, further he worked on films like Infinity, No Way Back and The United States of Leland (First Officer).
Barrera guest starred in the episode, "Alex Gives Up", as Carlos Cucuy in a Disney Channel Original Series live-action sitcom, Wizards of Waverly Place in which his wife, Maria, was one of the main cast members. In 2015, Barrera guest starred in the episode, "Flicker", as Dr. Kaplan in the fifth season of American Horror Story.
Personal life
Barrera has been married to actress Maria Canals-Barrera since 1999, with whom he has two daughters.
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Now Way Back | FBI Agent Brodie | |
| 1996 | Eye for an Eye | Precinct Officer | |
| 1996 | Infinity | Chepa | |
| 1998 | Almost Heroes | Ferdinand | |
| 1999 | My Little Assassin | Figueroa | TV Movie |
| 2000 | Ballad of a Soldier | Johnny | |
| 2001 | The Barrio Murders | Richards | |
| 2003 | The United States of Leland | First Officer | |
| 2003 | Perfect Girl | Sonny | Short film |
| 2005 | How the Garcia Girls Spent Their Summer | Sal's Uncle | |
| 2005 | Girls Never Call | Luis | |
| 2007 | Evan Almighty | Ark Reporter | |
| 2009 | Cruzando | The Matador | also Associate Producer |
| 2010 | Boyle Heights | Frank | |
| 2011 | Bright | Nunez | Short film |
| 2011 | Carbone: Breaking Point | Juarez | Short film |
| 2012 | The Asset | Roberto Serrano | TV Movie |
| 2013 | Night of the Hipsters | Dick | Short film |
| 2014 | Death Clique | Mr. Ramirez | TV Movie |
| 2014 | 10.0 Earthquake | Hector | |
| 2014 | The Curious Story of Spurious Falls | Man on the Hill | |
| 2015 | I Am Gangster | Carlos | |
| 2015 | Schmoolie the Deathwatcher | Burro | Short film |
| 2016 | 2 Lava 2 Lantula! | Colombian Thug #2 | TV Movie |
| 2016 | Run the Tide | T.J. | |
| 2017 | Perception | Hector Jimenez | Short film |
| 2018 | Crave: The Fast Life | Antonio | |
| 2018 | Ready Player One | Guy on Bus (uncredited) |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | First Time Out | David | 2 episodes |
| 1996 | Space: Above and Beyond | 2nd Lieutenant James Herrick | Episode: "Toy Soldiers" |
| 1996 | Moloney | Paul | Episode: "Pilot" |
| 1996–97 | L.A. Firefighters | Captain Aleman | 2 episodes |
| 1997 | Renegade | Carlos | Episode: "Top Ten with a Bullet" |
| 1997 | Diagnosis Murder | Eddie Moreno | Episode: "Blood Brothers Murder" |
| 1997 | Murder One | Richard Higueras | 4 episodes |
| 1997 | Pensacola: Wings of Gold | Miguel Toledo | Episode: "Yesterday, Upon the Stair...: Part 2" |
| 1997 | The Pretender | Fernando Ramos | Episode: "Back from the Dead Again" |
| 1997 | Murder One: Diary of a Serial Killer | Richard Higueras | Miniseries (6 episodes) |
| 1998 | Four Corners | George | Episode: "Betrayals" |
| 1998 | NYPD Blue | Dr. Sampson | Episode: "I Don’t Wanna Dye" |
| 1998–2001 | NYPD Blue | Dr. Victor Carreras | recurring role (6 episodes) |
| 1999 | Millenium | Sheriff Tommy Briggs | Episode: "Nostalgia" |
| 1999 | JAG | Lieutenant Achuleta | Episode: "True Callings" |
| 2000 | Pacific Blue | unknown role | Episode: "A Thousand Words" |
| 2000 | City of Angels | Father Carillo | 2 episodes |
| 2001 | Strong Medicine | Charlie Perez | Episode: "Maternity" |
| 2001 | Family Law | unknown role | Episode: "LIar's Club: Part 1" |
| 2001 | That's Life | Sanchez | 3 episodes |
| 2001 | 24 | Philips | Episode: "4:00 a.m.–5:00 a.m." |
| 2002 | American Family | David | Episode: "The Star" |
| 2002 | The Division | Daniel Torres | Episode: "Full Moon" |
| 2002 | ER | Felix Hernandez | Episode: "Walk Like a Man" |
| 2003 | Nip/Tuck | Policeman | Episode: "Megan O'Hara" |
| 2003 | Without a Trace | Gorge Rodriguez | Episode: "A Tree Falls" |
| 2004 | CSI: NY | Jose Figueroa | Episode: "Outside Man" |
| 2005 | Boston Legal | Office Joe Garrett | Episode: "Tortured Souls" |
| 2005 | Justice League Unlimited | Thanagarian #2 (voice role) | Episode: "Hunter's Moon" |
| 2005 | Medium | Fr. Santiago | Episode: "The Song Remains the Same" |
| 2005 | Veronica Mars | Carlos Oliveres | Episode: "Ahoy Mateys" |
| 2006 | The West Wing | Jorge Santos | Episode: "Running Mates" |
| 2006 | CSI: Miami | Lorenzo Argenta | Episode: "Death Eminent" |
| 2006–08 | Shark | Medical Examiner Mickey Cuz-Alvarez | 3 episodes |
| 2007 | NCIS | Charlie Mills | Episode: "Sharif Returns" |
| 2007 | Heroes | Federal Agent Quesda | Episode: "Chapter Eighteen 'Parasite' " |
| 2007 | Smith | David Owens | 2 episodes |
| 2008 | Ylse | Rick | unknown episode |
| 2008 | Generation Kill | Gunnery Sergeant Ray "Casey Kasem" Griego | recurring role (7 episodes) |
| 2008 | The Closer | Commandante Martin Vasquez | Episode: "Tijuana Brass" |
| 2009 | Raising the Bar | Alberto Capulet | Episode: "Beating a Dead Horse" |
| 2009 | Three Rivers | unknown role | Episode: "Ryan's First Day" |
| 2010 | The Mentalist | Frank Rodriguez | Episode: "Blood in, BLood Out" |
| 2010 | In Plain Sight | Jack Suarez | Episode: "Her Days Are Numbered" |
| 2010 | Wizards of Waverly Place | Carlos Cucuy | Episode: "Alex Gives Up" |
| 2011 | Human Target | Julio Escalante | Episode: "A Problem Like Maria" |
| 2011 | The Defenders | Detective Fierro | Episode: "Nevada v. Dough the Mule" |
| 2011 | Generator Rex | Esteban (voice role) | 2 episodes |
| 2011 | The Trainee | Shadow Knight | 3 episodes |
| 2012 | Southland | Officer Jim Lopez | 2 episodes |
| 2012 | Fairly Legal | Eddie Salinas | Episode: "Gimme Shelter" |
| 2012 | Grimm | Luis | Episode: "La Llorona" |
| 2014 | The Night Shift | Detective Gonzalez | Episode: "Save Me" |
| 2014 | The Big Bang Theory | Officer Hernandez | Episode: "The Locomotion Interruption" |
| 2014 | The Bridge | Domingo | recurring role (6 episodes) |
| 2014 | Castle | Principle Joe Silva | Episode: "Child's Play" |
| 2014 | I Didn't Do It | Officer Rivera | Episode: "Bicycle Thief" |
| 2015 | Mom | Gary | Episode: "Benito Poppins and a Warm Pumpkin" |
| 2015 | American Horror Story | Doctor Kaplan | Episode: "Flicker" |
| 2016 | NCIS: Los Angeles | Captain Vargas | Episode: "Where There's Smoke..." |
| 2016 | Gamer's Guide to Pretty Much Evyerhting | Sheriff | Episode: "The Luchador" |
| 2016 | Shut Eye | Mike Diaz | 2 episodes |
| 2017 | Criminal Minds | Mario Casteneda | Episode: "Spencer" |
| 2017 | The Orville | Vasquez | Episode: "About a Girl" |
| 2017 | Chance | Detective Sid Velerio | 3 episodes |
| 2018 | Bosch | Detective Stan Pipes | recurring role (4 episodes) |
| 2018 | Animal Kingdom | Jeff Stewart | Episode: "Prey" |
| 2018 | Dirty John | Palmer | Episode: "Approachable Dreams" |
| 2019 | SEAL Team | Jeff Walker | Episode: "Things Not Seen" |
| TBA | What/If | Javi Ruiz | recurring role (4 episodes) |
Video Games
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Need for Speed: Underground | unknown role (voice role) | |
| 2005 | Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition | Oscar "San Diego" (voice role) | |
| 2005 | Ridge Racer 6 | Actor (voice role) | |
| 2006 | Saints Row | Stilwater's Resident (voice role) |
Awards
While at the University of California, San Diego graduate acting program he was awarded the Princess Grace Award in acting.