Tell it to the judge: Waynesboro actor to appear on 'Night Court'

Shawn Hardy, The Record Herald
·4 min read
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.

A lot of people calling Barry Ratcliffe’s Edward Jones office in Waynesboro recently haven’t been checking on their investments.

They want to know when their financial adviser is going to be on “Night Court.”

The answer is Tuesday, Jan. 16, at 8 p.m. on NBC, according to Ratcliffe, who said office manager Amy Stine has been sharing the news of his latest role.

Barry Ratcliffe is shown on the set of the comedy ‘Night Court.’ He’s Mr. Eh in an episode entitled ‘Just the Fax, Dan’ airing on NBC Tuesday, Jan. 16.
Barry Ratcliffe is shown on the set of the comedy ‘Night Court.’ He’s Mr. Eh in an episode entitled ‘Just the Fax, Dan’ airing on NBC Tuesday, Jan. 16.

“My clients are so excited about this … we had about 25 calls yesterday,” Ratcliffe said Wednesday morning.

The “Night Court” appearance is the latest in his four-decade career in TV and film.

It complements his Edward Jones career, where he represents both local residents and clients in the entertainment industry.

“I have the great fortune to do both full time,” said Ratcliffe, whose office has Hollywood posters on the walls. “I’m crazy, I like to work as much as possible.”

What's new in town? Robotic surgery arrives at Waynesboro Hospital, making major procedures less invasive

‘Just the Fax’ on his ‘Night Court’ appearance

Barry Ratcliffe, a Waynesboro financial adviser, also is an actor and his latest role is on the Jan. 16 episode of ‘Night Court.’
Barry Ratcliffe, a Waynesboro financial adviser, also is an actor and his latest role is on the Jan. 16 episode of ‘Night Court.’

“Night Court” is the No. 1 new comedy on network television and is a remake of the sitcom that aired from 1984 to 1992.

It’s “old school and new school,” according to Ratcliffe, who remembers the original.

The new version features Judge Abby Stone (Melissa Rauch of “Big Bang Theory”), with John Larroquette reprising his role as attorney Dan Fielding.

In the original “Night Court,” Fielding was a prosecutor in the courtroom of Judge Harry Stone, Abby Stone’s father. In the reboot, he is a public defender.

In the first case of the night on an episode entitled “Just the Fax, Dan,” Ratcliffe co-stars as Mr. Eh, who is represented by Fielding.

“I can’t tell you,” Ratcliffe said when asked about his TV offense, but said, “You’ll find it funny.”

Ratcliffe, who has played many comedic roles, said, “I had the experience of a lifetime since I was an incredible fan of the original series. So, to work with such a talented and amazing cast, was a dream come true.”

After Ratcliffe tells his clients they are going to be OK financially, they want to know more about Larroquette and what it’s like to work with him.

“He’s so professional and kind,” Ratcliffe said. “He’s 76 and cranks it all out.”

Historic company on the cutting edge: Heat pumps up, gas and oil down: Waynesboro site gets millions from Department of Energy

What is the back story of this TV story?

It takes five days to prepare each episode, with meetings, rehearsals, run-throughs and details like blocking, costumes and hair and makeup before filming before a live audience.

The production of “Just the Fax, Dan” ran from Dec. 4 to 8, but Ratcliffe auditioned months earlier in the spring.

He was disappointed when the actors’ strike put everything on hold, and almost forgot about it before he got the call “literally a week before.”

This is the script for the episode of ‘Night Court’ featuring Barry Ratcliffe as Mr. Eh, who is represented by John Larroquette’s Dan Fielding.
This is the script for the episode of ‘Night Court’ featuring Barry Ratcliffe as Mr. Eh, who is represented by John Larroquette’s Dan Fielding.

Ratcliffe takes his laptop and tries to do some of his financial planning work on the set, but he also “tries to let it sink in and have a wonderful time.”

He likened his dual lives in Waynesboro and Hollywood to being on an old wooden roller coaster in the 1980s, but it is something he’s accustomed to.

His acting range spans from comedy to drama, and another recent appearance included the Netflix teen series “Outer Banks.”

According to his biography on the entertainment website imdb.com, he’s best known as “Hollywood's Auctioneer,” most recently on Marvel's "Hawkeye.”

Hollywood posters are displayed in Barry Ratcliffe’s Edward Jones office in Waynesboro, reflecting his other career as an actor.
Hollywood posters are displayed in Barry Ratcliffe’s Edward Jones office in Waynesboro, reflecting his other career as an actor.

“His notable characters include CEO Don Foushee on the hit TV series ‘Outsiders,’ Lenox Bidlow on M. Night Shyamalan's ‘Servant,’ city councilman Jason Tyler on the Lifetime drama ‘Army Wives,’ as well as recreating the cowardly lion for the feature film ‘Dorothy and the Witches of Oz’ and the Starz miniseries ‘The Witches of Oz,’” the online profile says.

Maryland International Film Festival: Film festival opens Friday with Mendez, Roberts award winners

He also has an extensive film resume and in 2021 received the Mendez Award at the Maryland International Film Festival in Hagerstown.

“The Mendez Award is awarded to someone who has succeeded in the Television and Film Industry; or has supported film and television and has given back to the community,” Film Festival Board of Directors President Nicole Houser said at the time. “Barry Ratcliffe is an internationally renowned actor and has been a fixture in film and television for decades. He gives back to the community in a variety of ways, and is also being recognized for his kindness, humor, and support of the arts.”

This article originally appeared on Waynesboro Record Herald: 'Night Court' features John Larroquette, Waynesboro's Barry Ratcliffe