Barrier was the son of a cabinetmaker and had his first job working in his father's workshop. While living in
Rennes at age 28, he met several resident actors at the
Théâtre National de Bretagne and made his stage debut in
Caligula, written by
Albert Camus. His first major role on television was in the film
The Taking of Power by Louis XIV. His other major films included
The Tall Blond Man with One Black Shoe,
Two Men in Town,
Black and White in Color,
Coup de tête, and
Flic Story. He played alongside several actors, such as
Jean-Paul Belmondo,
Jean Gabin,
Alain Delon,
Pierre Richard,
Gérard Depardieu, and
Gérard Jugnot. In 1980 he originated the role of
Jean Valjean in ‘Les Miserables: The Original French Concept Album’ by
Alain Boublil and
Claude-Michel Schönberg. Barrier was married to the actress Hélène Manesse. The pair resided in
Montréal, France from 1962 until Maurice's death on 12 April 2020 in
Montbard at the age of 87 due to
COVID-19. ==References==