David Alan Barclay worked a summer job during 1978 at Hamleys, a famous toy store in London. By chance, he met Mark Hamill one day, who commissioned him to make an 18-inch Darth Vader marionette. Delighted with the product, Hamill invited Barclay to tour Elstree Studios and present the marionette. Stuart Freeborn met with Barclay and hired him for Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back a week later to work alongside Frank Oz as a puppeteer for Yoda. When production for Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi began, Barclay recruited Toby Philpott, the son of a friend of his, to assist puppeteering Jabba the Hutt. Barclay controlled Jabba’s right arm and jaw.

Barclay has worked on many other movies including Team America: World Police and Looney Tunes: Back in Action.