In the novel Death in the Clouds, Raymond Barraclough is an actor, and a friend of Lady Horbury. According to Jane Grey, he is "frightfully attractive". Jane had seen him in a play called Down Under, in which he played a character named Harry. She thinks that he is a good actor.
About eighteen months before the events of the novel, Lady Horbury was in need of money due to her gambling, and Raymond sent her to Madame Giselle. He had heard that she lent money to Society women.
Raymond was in Paris the day before the murder, and he and Lady Horbury dined together. However, he felt that it was best for her to call on Madame Giselle alone.
Portrayals[]
In the film adaptation of Death in the Clouds in Series 4 of ITV's Agatha Christie's Poirot drama series, the part of Raymond Barraclough was played by Harry Audley. Here there is an additional scene involving him where he and Lady Horbury emerge from a French casino. A reporter (Norman Gale in disguise) confronts them and wants to take their photo. Barraclough pushes him away roughly. This scene replaces the attempted blackmail scene in the original book which is intended to make Lady Horbury more receptive to Poirot offering to help her with her problems.
In the NHK's anime adaptation of Death in the Clouds, the character of Raymond Barraclough is not mentioned explicitly. However there is a newspaper picture of Lady Horbury with someone. Poirot comments that Lady Horbury has been seen in public with someone who is an up and coming young actor.