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Barry McCarthy
Barry McCarthy (born 8 February 1949) is an English stage, film and television actor, best known as a member of the original West End cast of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child at the Palace Theatre, London. He played the roles of Professor Albus Dumbledore and Amos Diggory from early previews in June 2016 until the suspension of the show in March 2020 due to the coronavirus. McCarthy has also worked as a writer for theatre and televsion.

Theatre
His extensive stage work has encompassed West End, Royal Shakespeare Company and National Theatre productions, as well as work at many other major theatres throughout the UK and as far afield as Istanbul, Cairo, Barcelona, Munich and Washington DC.

He has had a long association with the works of Alan Ayckbourn, including appearances in five World Premieres directed by the author.

Television
McCarthy began his career in television in 1968 with appearances in British dramas including Z Cars and Softly Softly Taskforce before assuming the recurring role of Terry Stringer in the fourth season of the comedy Please Sir! In the subsequent five decades he has appeared in numerous television series including Casualty, The Bill,  Doctors, Judge John Deed, Minder, and Topsy and Tim, based on the children's books series of the same name.

Film
McCarthy's film appearances include A Bridge Too Far, Erik the Viking, Kinky Boots, Notes on a Scandal and London Road.

Writing
McCarthy's play, ''Who’s Left? '' premiered at the Tron, Glasgow and Traverse, Edinburgh in 1987. It received a second production in 1989 at the Old Red Lion in London, with Kathy Burke, Tilly Vosburgh and Emma Wray in the cast. Ms Burke’s performance won her a Time Out Award.

From 1993 to 2002 he was a regular script writer for BBC’s Eastenders.

From 2002 to 2013 he acted as scripts advisor to the Almeida Theatre, London.