Gary Barker is one angry man-sort of.

Barker, a professor in the theater department at Saint Louis University, is currently starring as Juror 2 in the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis’ production of “Twelve Angry Men.”

“My character is probably the least angry of the angry men,” Barker said. “I’m probably just mildly annoyed. I’ve just had to make sure that the character has a rich inner life. It just hasn’t manifested itself into a lot of yelling. He is kind of the White Rabbit of the gang.”

The easygoing nature of the character does not subtract from the difficulties of the acting process, however. Barker had to draw on his own personal experiences to adequately portray his role as Juror 2.

“I served on a jury in February last year, and that jury experience [helped],” Barker said. “The dynamic of what goes on in a jury room was very heartening and interactive. I have drawn from that experience.”

Barker’s experience for this part, as well as others, is influenced by his other role: that of a professor. His time at SLU and his interaction with his students have also helped him to develop his acting chops.

“I learn something about acting in every experience that I have with students,” Barker said. “I am becoming a better actor while watching them deal with the problems of acting. Watching them get better makes me want to get better, and I am constantly borrowing from them.”

In the classroom, Barker describes himself as a realist-based professor who focuses on Stanislavski techniques: a system of acting where actors develop artistic truths onstage by experiences and studying subjective emotions. He also incorporates Laban Movement Analysis, a systematic approach to movement, which helps transform the body and enables people to move in ways in which they wouldn’t normally move.

This complex integration of theory is not lost on Barker’s students.

“It’s all about how knowledgeable he is,” freshman James Canfield said of Barker. “I think that is his major strength. He has a history in the field. It is very clear that it is his passion, and you can’t work in the field without that passion. That’s what makes Professor Barker such a great teacher.”

Yet, for all that Barker learns from his students, it is clear that he gives back to them.

“This past semester, I took Acting Fundamentals with him,” Canfield said. “It was good rehearsing with him for scenes because he was very involved. He wasn’t afraid to tell you what was wrong and . help you make it better.”

Barker said that his time as a professor at SLU has helped to nurture his professional career.

“The University has been nothing but supportive,” he said. “This is exactly the kind of thing they should want me to be doing. This is my scholarship. I am not unique. All professors are active theater professionals as well.”