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If anyone knows Curry Barker‘s success wasn’t built overnight, it’s Anthony Pavone.
Years before Obsession became one of 2026’s biggest success stories, the 29-year-old actor was collaborating with writer-director Barker and his creative partner, Cooper Tomlinson. While Barker and Tomlinson were best known as the duo behind the sketch comedy YouTube channel That’s a Bad Idea, there’s another creative living in their Los Angeles townhouse: Pavone, Barker’s longtime collaborator, roommate and friend.
Pavone starred in Barker’s 2023 horror short The Chair, playing Reese, a man whose decision to bring home an abandoned antique chair sends him spiraling into paranoia and a terrifying unraveling of reality. The short earned recognition on the festival circuit before amassing more than 10 million views on YouTube, helping introduce producers Mark Lane and James Harris to Barker’s work and ultimately paving the way for his feature directorial debut.
That debut came with Obsession, Barker’s breakout horror film, following Bear (Michael Johnston), a young man who wishes for his crush, Nikki (Inde Navarrette) to love him. It premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival before becoming a box office phenomenon. Barker wrote and directed the film, Tomlinson starred as Ian, and Pavone made an appearance as Reggie during the film’s unforgettable party scene.
