Barış Falay was born on April 9, 1972, in Edremit, Balıkesir Province, Turkey. His family is of Bosnian descent.

He developed an interest in acting at an early age and pursued his passion by studying theatre at Ankara University. After completing his education, he embarked on a professional acting career, beginning with stage performances.

Falay initially worked at the Ankara State Theatre for two years, where he honed his craft and gained valuable stage experience. He later joined the İzmir City Theatre, appearing in numerous plays such as Hamlet, Üç Kuruşluk Opera, Misafir, Kamyon, Roberto Zucco, Kırmızı Yorgunları, Azizname, Barış, Bahar Noktası, Yaşar Ne Yaşar Ne Yaşamaz, and Karar Kimin. In addition to acting, he directed plays like Deniz Kızı Masalı and Bir Yaz Gecesi Rüyası, while also teaching at the theatre's school. Falay continued his stage career at the Kocaeli Metropolitan Theatre, further solidifying his reputation as a versatile and accomplished actor. Falay transitioned to television with roles in popular sitcoms such as Tatlı Hayat, Yarım Elma, and Dadı. His breakthrough came with the TV series Aliye, which introduced him to a wider audience. Between 2009 and 2011, he gained widespread recognition for his role as Kerpeten Ali Kırgız in the critically acclaimed series Ezel, earning several acting awards for his performance. In addition to his television success, Falay starred in the film Ya Sonra, further showcasing his talent on the big screen. He returned to television in 2011 with the series Al Yazmalım and later played a lead role as Selim Serez in the hit series Medcezir from 2013 to 2015. His portrayal of complex and charismatic characters has established him as one of Turkey’s most respected actors.