# Barry Sloane
**Barry Sloane** (birth name Barry Paul Sloane) is an English actor and musician from Liverpool, England, born in 1981, known for roles in British soap operas, American prime-time drama, stage productions in London and New York, and as the voice of Captain John Price in the *Call of Duty: Modern Warfare* video games.
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | Liverpool, England, 1981; birth name Barry Paul Sloane[1](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/barry-sloane/) |
| First acting role | Ivan Vaughan, John Lennon's childhood friend, in *In His Life: The John Lennon Story* (2000)[1](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/barry-sloane/) |
| Breakthrough UK role | Serial killer Niall Rafferty in *Hollyoaks* (Channel 4), from 2007; twice nominated for Villain of the Year (2008, 2009)[1](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/barry-sloane/) • [3](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/1186/barry-sloane) |
| Stage breakthrough | Troy Whitworth in Jez Butterworth's *Jerusalem* at the Royal Court, in the West End, and on Broadway at the Music Box Theatre in 2011[3](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/1186/barry-sloane) |
| US television | Aiden Mathis in *Revenge* (ABC, 45 episodes, 2012–2015); series lead Joe "Bear" Graves in *SIX* (History, 2017–2018)[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1289351/) |
| Video games | Captain John Price (voice and motion capture) in *Call of Duty: Modern Warfare* (2019) and *Modern Warfare III* (2023); BAFTA Games Award nomination for Performer in a Leading Role[4](https://www.conwayvangeldergrant.com/actors/barry-sloane/) • [2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1289351/) |
| Recent work | Destruction in Netflix's *The Sandman*; Gary Packer in the BBC's Liverpool-set crime drama *The Cage*; Ser Adrian Redfort in *House of the Dragon*[4](https://www.conwayvangeldergrant.com/actors/barry-sloane/) • [2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1289351/) |
## Early life and music
Sloane was born and raised in Liverpool, in a working-class family; he has said no one else in his family had acted, and that he was the first to do so[5](https://ymliverpool.com/barry-sloane-on-chasing-his-dreams-and-returning-home-for-new-bbc-crime-drama/54460). He first pursued music, attending his local music college and performing in bands[1](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/barry-sloane/). In the early to mid 1990s he formed a band, later called Smiling Jackals, with a friend, and has cited both [The Beatles](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-beatles) and Oasis as examples that showed him someone from Liverpool could succeed[5](https://ymliverpool.com/barry-sloane-on-chasing-his-dreams-and-returning-home-for-new-bbc-crime-drama/54460).
The band's manager also ran an extras agency, which put the members up for paid work to fund rehearsals. In 1999 an American production company casting a Beatles film in Liverpool was looking for real musicians; Sloane auditioned for the role of [John Lennon](https://www.edgepedia.org/john-lennon), did not get it, but was cast as Ivan Vaughan, the man who introduced Lennon to [Paul McCartney](https://www.edgepedia.org/paul-mccartney), in *In His Life: The John Lennon Story* (2000)[1](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/barry-sloane/) • [5](https://ymliverpool.com/barry-sloane-on-chasing-his-dreams-and-returning-home-for-new-bbc-crime-drama/54460). He has described that role as the point where music and acting came together for him[5](https://ymliverpool.com/barry-sloane-on-chasing-his-dreams-and-returning-home-for-new-bbc-crime-drama/54460).
## British television
In 2002 Sloane joined the cast of the long-running [Channel 4](https://www.edgepedia.org/channel-4) soap *Brookside* as it entered its final year, playing Sean Smith, Ruth's abusive ex-husband[1](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/barry-sloane/). He followed this with Darren in *Pleasureland* (Channel 4, 2003), a controversial drama about a young girl's quest to lose her virginity, and Private Glynn in the BAFTA-winning war drama *The Mark of Cain* ([BBC Three](https://www.edgepedia.org/bbc-three), 2007)[1](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/barry-sloane/). Both *Pleasureland* and *The Mark of Cain* are described as BAFTA award-winning television films in profiles of him[6](https://www.sidewalkstv.com/interview-barry-sloane/).
**Hollyoaks.** In 2007 Sloane began playing Niall Rafferty in Channel 4's teen soap *Hollyoaks*, a murderous hairdresser who takes revenge on his long-lost family[1](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/barry-sloane/) • [3](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/1186/barry-sloane). The role brought him two nominations for Villain of the Year, in 2008 and 2009, and a Best Newcomer nomination at the National Television Awards[3](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/1186/barry-sloane). Guest and recurring parts followed in *Doctors*, *The Bill*, *Casualty*, *Holby City* (as Territorial Army medic Kieran Callaghan), and *DCI Banks* (as Jackie Wray)[1](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/barry-sloane/).
## Stage career
Sloane made his West End debut in [Willy Russell](https://www.edgepedia.org/willy-russell)'s *Blood Brothers* in 2005[3](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/1186/barry-sloane). His stage breakthrough came as Troy Whitworth in [Jez Butterworth](https://www.edgepedia.org/jez-butterworth)'s *Jerusalem*, which he played at the [Royal Court Theatre](https://www.edgepedia.org/royal-court-theatre) in London, in the West End, and on Broadway, making his Broadway debut at the Music Box Theatre in New York in 2011[3](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/1186/barry-sloane). His agent's CV lists multiple productions of *Jerusalem* directed by Ian Rickson, including a West End revival[4](https://www.conwayvangeldergrant.com/actors/barry-sloane/).
In 2023 he returned to the role of Yosser Hughes in James Graham's stage adaptation of [Alan Bleasdale](https://www.edgepedia.org/alan-bleasdale)'s 1980s television drama *Boys from the Blackstuff*, which opened at Liverpool's Royal Court in September 2023, directed by Kate Wasserberg, before transferring to the National Theatre and then to the Garrick Theatre in the West End[7](https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/breaking-baz-boys-blackstuff-barry-080025439.html). The late [Bernard Hill](https://www.edgepedia.org/bernard-hill) originated the part on television, and his "Gizza job" howl had become a rallying cry of the 1980s[7](https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/breaking-baz-boys-blackstuff-barry-080025439.html). Sloane has also written for the stage: his debut play *Two of Us*, imagining a late-life reunion between John Lennon and Paul McCartney, cast him as Lennon[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1289351/).
## American television and film
Sloane's move to American prime-time television came with the role of Aiden Mathis, Emily's ex-boyfriend, in the ABC soap *Revenge* (2011–2015); IMDb lists 45 episodes between 2012 and 2015[1](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/barry-sloane/) • [2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1289351/). He made his film debut as diamond thief Chad in the thriller *Penthouse North* (2013), played a Poacher Leader in [Darren Aronofsky](https://www.edgepedia.org/darren-aronofsky)'s *Noah* (2014), and appeared as defense department operative Wes Lawrence in *The Whispers* (ABC, 2015)[1](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/barry-sloane/). He also played [Edward Winslow](https://www.edgepedia.org/edward-winslow) in the miniseries *Saints & Strangers* (2015) and produced and starred in the short film *Shooting an Elephant*, based on [George Orwell](https://www.edgepedia.org/george-orwell)'s story[1](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/barry-sloane/).
**SIX.** From 2017 to 2018 Sloane starred as Senior Chief Special Warfare Operator Joe "Bear" Graves, leader of [SEAL Team Six](https://www.edgepedia.org/seal-team-six), in History's military drama *SIX*, a series chronicling operators of the U.S. Naval Special Warfare Development Group[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1289351/) • [6](https://www.sidewalkstv.com/interview-barry-sloane/). To get ready, Sloane and the rest of the cast put themselves through a demanding training program modeled on the SEALs; he remembered that, following two sleepless days, they were roused at 1 a.m., led outside in cold weather wearing shorts, and doused with frigid water while holding a plank and fielding questions[8](https://www.backstage.com/uk/magazine/article/barry-sloanes-six-made-divided-america-5898/). He told *Men's Journal* that real SEALs advised the cast to slow everything down, describing them as able to make decisions calmly, like surgeons[9](https://www.mensjournal.com/entertainment/barry-sloane-interview-what-it-takes-to-play-a-navy-seal).
Further American credits include series regular roles as Jake Reilly in NBC's *Bluff City Law* (2019) and Zach Heflin in *Longmire*, plus appearances in *Shameless* (as Ryan), *L.A.'s Finest*, and *The Bay*[4](https://www.conwayvangeldergrant.com/actors/barry-sloane/).
## Video games: Captain Price
Sloane portrays Captain John Price in the *Call of Duty: Modern Warfare* series, performing both voice and motion capture, and received a BAFTA Games Award nomination for Performer in a Leading Role for the work[4](https://www.conwayvangeldergrant.com/actors/barry-sloane/). IMDb credits him as Price (voice, motion capture) in *[Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III](https://www.edgepedia.org/call-of-duty-modern-warfare-iii-2023-video-game)* (2023) and in *Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4* (2026)[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1289351/). He has described the motion-capture process as wearing a full black suit with dots on, with cameras on the face, and compared the performance style to theater because the actor's eyes carry everything[7](https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/breaking-baz-boys-blackstuff-barry-080025439.html).
## Recent work
Sloane's recent screen roles include DS Jim Dawson in the ITV drama *Litvinenko* (2022), Eddie Wells in *Passenger* (ITVX, 2024), and Destruction, a series regular role, in Netflix's *The Sandman*[4](https://www.conwayvangeldergrant.com/actors/barry-sloane/). He plays Gary Packer, a local criminal, in Tony Schumacher's Liverpool-set BBC crime drama *The Cage*, returning to the city where he was born[4](https://www.conwayvangeldergrant.com/actors/barry-sloane/) • [5](https://ymliverpool.com/barry-sloane-on-chasing-his-dreams-and-returning-home-for-new-bbc-crime-drama/54460). He is also cast as Ser Adrian Redfort in *House of the Dragon*[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1289351/).
## References
1. [Barry Sloane – Actor, TV Insider](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/barry-sloane/)
2. [Barry Sloane (I) – IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1289351/)
3. [Barry Sloane – TVmaze](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/1186/barry-sloane)
4. [Barry Sloane – CV (Conway van Gelder Grant)](https://www.conwayvangeldergrant.com/actors/barry-sloane/)
5. [Barry Sloane on chasing his dreams and returning home for new BBC crime drama – YM Liverpool](https://ymliverpool.com/barry-sloane-on-chasing-his-dreams-and-returning-home-for-new-bbc-crime-drama/54460)
6. [Interview: actor Barry Sloane – Sidewalks Entertainment](https://www.sidewalkstv.com/interview-barry-sloane/)
7. [Breaking Baz: Boys From The Blackstuff's Barry Sloane – Yahoo Entertainment](https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/breaking-baz-boys-blackstuff-barry-080025439.html)
8. [Barry Sloane's 'Six' Is Made for a Divided America – Backstage](https://www.backstage.com/uk/magazine/article/barry-sloanes-six-made-divided-america-5898/)
9. [Barry Sloane Interview: What It Takes to Play a Navy SEAL – Men's Journal](https://www.mensjournal.com/entertainment/barry-sloane-interview-what-it-takes-to-play-a-navy-seal)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of the Anglosphere and Europe › English actors: 2000s onward › Surnames Sh to S*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license