Barry Hilton Biography
Barry Hilton (David Barry Hilton) a South African stand-up comedian, actor, television personality, and motivational speaker. After 6 years of initially working as an electrician, he tried his hand at comedy-turning Professional in 1983 at the age of 26.
Having been inspired by comedians Richard Pryor and Billy Connolly, Hilton’s personal style can best be described as a combination of observational, satirical, and physical comedy.
Barry Hilton Age
Barry was born on January 29, 1956, in Salisbury, Rhodesia (now Harare, Zimbabwe).
Barry Hilton Career
Barry worked as an electrician for six years and later went to work as the maintenance manager of a hotel frequented by the cast of the comedy television show ‘Biltong and Potroast’. He met Johny Noble who managed to get him into his first gig at The Holiday Inn, Port Elizabeth in May 1983.
This was followed by a six-month stint as compere at cabaret spot, the Millionaires Club in Cape Town after which he relocated to Johannesburg to perform at the local pub, The Jolly Roger.
While he was performing at The Jolly Roger he was discovered by agent Josie Broude of the “Don Hughes Organisation” run by Maurice Fresco who represented her for 10 years until her death in 1994.
He was the first South African to perform at Wild Coast Sun and Sun City Extravaganza. He continued to perform as a relatively unknown comic at the Sun City Super Bowl in ‘Laugh Aid’ 1989. Due to his mother’s illness with cancer, Hilton returned to South Africa from a four-night gig called ‘In on the park’ at St Helier on the Channel Islands Jersey where he opened for Billy Connolly.
In 1990 he moved back to South Africa permanently, returning to the Runway Bar for four years to continue his work in a new Connolly inspired direction. Here Joe Parker advised him to book sets and take money from the door rather than working for guaranteed money gigs.
Basil O’Hagen gave Hilton the opportunity to do so at Dan Keld West, and after having performed for only six people on the first night, gigs picked up steadily and Hilton’s career in comedy started to look promising.
Barry Hilton Career in Television
Barry Hilton has hosted talk shows Catch A Wake-Up and Funny You Should Say That and TV game show The Generation Game in 2008. In 2005 he performed a comedy special, titled The Live Series – Barry Hilton. Developed especially for DStv’s Box Office by Mannequin Pictures and launched on Box Office and released later in 2015 on DVD. DStv says sales from show “exceeded expectations, it was one of the best-selling shows on Box Office when it was released in February 2015.
Barry Hilton Net Worth
Barry has an estimated Net Worth ranging between $1 million and $5 million.
Barry Hilton Movies
- Finding Lenny
- Outrageous
Barry Hilton Awards
- In 2015 The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International named Hilton a Paul Harris Fellow in appreciation for assisting in a better understanding and friendly relations among peoples of the world.
- 2014: Personality of the year during the Zim Awards.
- 2013: Comics Choice Lifetime Achiever Award.
Barry Hilton Height and Weight
Hilton stands at an average height and moderate weight.
Barry Hilton Education
Barry joined St Joseph’s Roman Catholic Junior School from the age of 5 (1961) to the age of 10 (1966). At the age of 11 – 12, he joined Blessed Edward Jones RC High School in Rhyl until the family relocated to Newlands in Cape Town, South Africa.
From March 1969 to December 1971 Hilton was a pupil at Observatory Boys (now Rhodes High School) but left at age 15 to start an apprenticeship at Joffe Electrical, which he completed in 1974.
Barry Hilton Family
Barry was born to Irene Natalie Lieveaux, a French Mauritian descendant and Lancashire-born father Jack Hilton. In 1961 Hilton’s family moved from Southern Rhodesia to North Wales.
Barry Hilton Wife
Hilton is married to his third wife Sandy Hilton since 2007. He previously was married to Janet McKirdy (1976–1980) and Jane Tweedie (1980–2004). He presently resides in Hermanus, South Africa with his beautiful, spouse and children.
Barry Hilton Children
Hilton has six children, he is a zealous supporter of the ”Little Fighter’s Cancer Trust” and continually takes part in charity events to raise money and awareness for the West Rand Heart and Organ Transplant Foundation. However, we are keeping tabs and will update you once we get the identity of Barry’s children.