Barry worked his way through college as a canoe guide and country
singer.
Director Ulli Lommel and Barry attempted to adapt Nicholas Pileggi's 'Casino' and John O'Brien's 'Leaving Las Vegas' to the screen, both projects fell through.
Ulli Lommel hired him to write the screen adaptation of Mario Puzo's novel 'Fools Die'. Six drafts were written before they were both satisfied with the script. But the project fell apart when they discovered another producer had been given the same rights by Puzo.
Besides a long career in film, theater and music, Barry James Hickey is a popular American novelist.