Avis-Marie Barnes
Born: 1958-11-02 in Montclair, New Jersey, USA
Known For: Acting
Biography
Avis-Marie Barnes was born in NJ and raised in Montclair. She did not realize her love for the theater until her Freshman year in high school when a classmate, set to direct a one-act play, asked her to play a role in it. She went from not knowing what she wanted to do, to seeing the rest of her life. After attending Howard University’s Fine Arts Department and receiving her BFA, she moved back to New Jersey and worked in New York theater for 13 years, as well as working in films as an extra, and in soaps, and commercials. In 1992 an opportunity came to attend a seminar to meet casting directors and talent agencies in Orlando, Florida, at a time when Florida was being tapped as “Hollywood East”. After the seminar, she made the leap to leave New Jersey and move to Florida in the hopes of obtaining an agent and a SAG card and taking that back to New Jersey. But after a time of steadily increasing work in Industrials, television, voiceover, films, and theater; as well as trying her hand at directing theatrical productions – she has made Florida home. But, in her heart, she is still from New Jersey! Along the way, she has put together a business building and maintaining websites, filming actors’ auditions and sending them to the proper casting offices, and holding classes teaching others how to audition in front of the camera – and how to film auditions as well.
Filmography
2025
- F1 as Diner Waitress
- The Waterfront as Daphne
2023
- Will Trent as Theresa Rothwell
- Pain Hustlers as Principal
2022
- The Summer I Turned Pretty as Mrs. Evans
- Girlfriendship as Mrs. Williams
- Honk for Jesus. Save Your Soul. as Sabina
2021
- Looking in the Mirror as Beatrice
2020
2019
- Doom Patrol as Beekeeper
- Waves as Doctor
- The Dirt as Officer
2018
2017
- The Quad as Aunt Vida
2016
- Stranger Things as Elderly Woman
- Greenleaf as Misty Williams
2014
- Resurrection as Sharon
- The Breaking Point as Jackie
2013
- Sleepy Hollow as Night Shift Nurse
2011
- Cassadaga as Susan
2010
- The Glades as Minnie
2007
- Burn Notice as Judy
- Army Wives as Nurse Karen
2003
- One Tree Hill as Marion
2001
- Jeepers Creepers as Officer Natasha Weston
2000
- Sheena as Doctor
1999
- Chapter Zero as Doctor
1998
- Dawson's Creek as Counselor
1997
- Catherine's Grove as Malatasia
1996
- Kenan & Kel as Nurse Manly
- Sudden Terror: The Hijacking of School Bus #17 as Detective Grantham
1995
- Saved By The Light as Attending Nurse
1993
- seaQuest DSV as Female Hauler