Barry Corbin as
Whitey Durham Leonard Barrie "Barry" Corbin was born in Lamesa, Texas on October 16, 1940. At a young age, he was very interested in performing, and even told his parents that he wanted to become an actor. He enjoyed drawing cartoons and playing music with his guitar and piano. At the age of 10, he was mesmerized by the magic of film, as he liked watching "B" movie Westerns. He also saw Walter Brennan and Ben Johnson as his heroes, and aspired to be like them when he grew up. His favorite series to watch was Sunset Carson, which further inspired him to become an actor.
While at Monterey High School in Lubbock, Corbin actively participated in school plays. He later moved on to Texas Tech University, where his friend dared him to join the Marine Corps. The two went in together and Corbin was discharged in 1963. Breaking free from his national duties, he rediscovered his dream of becoming an actor. After a couple of stints in low-profile theaters, Corbin began working as a writer for National Public Radio and two years later began acting again. In 1979, he landed his breakout role in Urban Cowboy. This was followed by a role in the series Dallas, and films The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, The Man Who Loved Women and Honkytonk Man.
American Western Magazine talked to Corbin about his passion for Westerns, and he said, "It’s probably because of my childhood. When I was a kid that’s what we went to see. We went to see Bill Elliott and all those guys. We didn’t care anything about Buck Rogers. I’m still that same person. I still ride horses. But I know from talking to people, not only in here in Texas but when I go anywhere, they say: 'When are you going to make another western?'"
During the 1990s, Corbin appeared in a number of television shows including Ink, The Closer, The Magnificent Seven, Spin City, JAG and The Outer Limits. He continued to act in films as well, appearing in Timequest, Blackwater Elegy, River's End, The Dukes of Hazzard, Beautiful Dreamer and Trail End. In 2003, he landed the role of Coach Whitey Durham in the teen drama series, One Tree Hill.