Charlie Barnett doesn’t need to play the lead to keep winning over audiences
Orange is the New Black to navigating a time loop alongside Natasha Lyonne in Russian Doll (taking the spotlight in the season finale) and embodying a successful acupuncturist with a penchant for psychedelics in You, Barnett has showcased a versatility applauded by audiences.Of course, we’d be remiss not to mention the gay gem that is Tales of the City and the series that made him famous, Chicago Fire, where he played the beloved firefighter Peter Mills.
Subscribe to our newsletter for a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.A post shared by Charlie Barnett (@_charliebarnett)“[The show] was a behemoth that I never really saw coming,” he told People. “I was thankful to be a part of it.
I really was sad to be let go. It broke me for quite a long time.” But as life typically happens for those who work for it, Barnett’s dismissal from the show in 2015 turned out to be a blessing in disguise, opening the doors of opportunity.
Yet, instead of concerning himself with climbing the ladder of stardom, Barnett has made sure to keep his feet firmly grounded. “The idea of losing myself in my career is something I often contemplate,” he shared with Imagista. “Anything that brings me back to a place of realization helps me maintain balance.”Adoptive parents raised Barnett in Sarasota, Florida, whom he described as a “gift” and expressed looking up to them in an “eclectic way.” His zest for life and acting comes from not taking anything for granted, which is palpable in every role he personifies, no matter how big or small.
