Name
Barry Norton
Known For
Acting
Birthday
1905-06-16
Deathday
1956-08-24 (51 years old)
Place of Birth
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Biography
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Barry Norton (born Alfredo Carlos Birabén; June 16, 1905 – August 24, 1956) was an Argentinian-American actor. He appeared in over 90 films, starting in silent films from 1925 until his death in 1956. He is perhaps best known for his role as Juan Harker in Universal Pictures' Spanish-language version of Drácula in 1931, the English language role of Jonathan Harker originated by David Manners. Arriving in Hollywood in the 1920s, Norton first appeared as an extra in The Black Pirate (1926) but was soon cast in Fox Films' The Lily that same year. His big break came when he was given the role of Pvt. "Mother's Boy" Lewisohn in What Price Glory?, which turned out to be a huge commercial success. He landed substantial roles in Legion of the Condemned and 4 Devils (both 1928), which were also very successful. His acting was well received by audiences and critics at the time, and during the silent era he avoided being typecast as a Latin lover. One theater owner in Golden City, Montana said, "[Norton] has as yet to show me a bad performance. There's a boy that is a 'natural'."
In the early 1930s, Norton could still get leading roles in major films. Major Hollywood studios started producing alternate-language versions of their prestige productions, and he became one of dozens of Latino actors needed. Drácula was one of these films, but Norton also appeared in Spanish-language versions of Paramount on Parade (1930), The Benson Murder Case (1930), and The Criminal Code (1931). In a few cases, he appeared in both versions of a film. Examples include Storm Over the Andes (Spanish version: Alas sobre El Chaco), The Sea Fiend (El diablo del Mar), and Captain Calamity (El capitan Tormenta), the latter film reuniting him with Lupita Tovar, his romantic interest from Dracula.
In addition to roles in Spanish-territory films, he had roles in numerous major films, usually playing sophisticated Europeans. With the decline in Spanish-language film production in Los Angeles, Norton's opportunities for leading roles became less and less frequent. Though he had a pleasing voice, his Argentine accent seemed incongruous with his appearance. According to some sources, he never mastered English very well. In 1933, he secured what would be his last important role, playing Jean Parker's Spanish fiancé in Frank Capra's Lady for a Day (1933). Although he would continue to work for another 15 years, Norton's last credited screen role would be Should Husbands Work? (1939). For the rest of his career, Norton continued to reside in Los Angeles and obtain small roles in films. Many films he appeared in are now considered to be classics.
Known For
8.137
In Casablanca, Morocco in December 1941, a cynical American expatriate meets a former love...
6.8
The Austrian Secret Service sends its most seductive agent to spy on the Russians....
7.267
When a string of jewel robberies hits the French Riviera, suspicion falls on retired thief...
7.658
A charming psychopath tries to coerce a tennis star into his theory that two strangers can...
7.182
Two talented song-and-dance men team up after the war to become one of the hottest acts in...
6.836
Three women set out to find eligible millionaires to marry, but find true love in the proc...
6.956
Mitch Wayne is a geologist working for the Hadleys, an oil-rich Texas family. While the pa...
7.232
When a US Naval captain shows signs of mental instability that jeopardize his ship, the fi...
6.7
A nobleman vows to avenge the death of his father by the hands of pirates. To this end, he...
- 1930 Curmudgeon
- 1935 Storm Over the Andes as Diaz
- 1926 The Canyon of Light as Ricardo Deane
- 1933 Lady for a Day as Carlos
- 1946 Without Reservations as Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
- 1951 The Strange Door
- 1926 What Price Glory as Pvt. Kenneth 'Mother's Boy' Lewisohn
- 1931 Dishonored as Young Lieutenant - Firing Squad
- 1933 Cocktail Hour as Philippe
- 1950 No Man of Her Own as Country Club Patron (uncredited)
- 1928 Fleetwing as Jaafor
- 1936 The Great Ziegfeld as Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
- 1954 White Christmas as Carousel Club Diner (uncredited)
- 1946 Devil Monster as Robert Jackson
- 1950 Young Man with a Horn as Man at Train Station / Café Guest (uncredited)
- 1933 Luxury Liner as Prince Vladimir Gleboff
- 1934 The World Moves On as Jacques Girard (1924)
- 1956 Written on the Wind as Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
- 1928 4 Devils as Adolf
- 1953 How to Marry a Millionaire as Plane Passenger (uncredited)
- 1936 Murder at Glen Athol as Tom Randel
- 1936 Captain Calamity as Carr
- 1955 To Catch a Thief as Frenchman (uncredited)
- 1954 Lucky Me as Diner / Party Guest (uncredited)
- 1940 Christmas in July as Co-Worker in Office (uncredited)
- 1948 The Big Clock as Man at Van Barth's (uncredited)
- 1941 Hellzapoppin' as Party Guest (uncredited)
- 1949 East Side, West Side as Del Rio Club Patron (uncredited)
- 1947 Variety Girl as Plane Passenger (uncredited)
- 1945 Christmas in Connecticut as Restaurant Patron (uncredited)
- 1928 The Legion of the Condemned as Byron Dashwood
- 1943 Keeper of the Flame
- 1937 Rich Relations as Don Blair
- 1943 Casablanca as Gambler at Rick's (uncredited)
- 1935 The Devil of the Sea as Roberto
- 1927 Ankles Preferred as Jimmy
- 1935 Woman Wanted as Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
- 1937 I'll Take Romance as Juan
- 1950 Mister 880 as Restaurant Diner (uncredited)
- 1927 The Wizard as Reginald Van Lear
- 1954 A Star Is Born as Benefit Attendee (uncredited)
- 1934 Caravan as Young Officer at Beer Garden (Uncredited)
- 1939 Second Fiddle as Nightclub Patron
- 1948 An Innocent Affair as Rocket Roof Patron (uncredited)
- 1951 Pier 23 as Waiter (uncredited)
- 1939 Should Husbands Work? as Ronald McDonald
- 1936 The Sea Fiend as Robert Jackson
- 1927 Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans as Ballroom Dancer / Kissing Couple (uncredited)
- 1941 Niagara Falls as Hotel Guest (uncredited)
- 1930 Bold Love
- 1947 Monsieur Verdoux as Garden Party Guest (uncredited)
- 1941 The Lady Eve as Passenger on Ship (uncredited)
- 1942 Blue, White and Perfect as Man at Ship Dock (uncredited)
- 1956 Slightly Scarlet
- 1952 Pat and Mike as Golf Spectator (uncredited)
- 1926 The Black Pirate as Youth (uncredited)
- 1954 The Caine Mutiny as Ship's Officer (uncredited)
- 1955 It's Always Fair Weather as Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
- 1928 Mother Knows Best as Boy
- 1951 On the Riviera as Party Guest (uncredited)
- 1950 Rocketship X-M as Reporter (uncredited)
- 1952 Room for One More as Boy Scout Ceremony Attendee (uncredited)
- 1955 The Square Jungle as Boxing Match Spectator (uncredited)
- 1940 Dance, Girl, Dance as Dissaproving Theatre Patron (uncredited)
- 1940 Down Argentine Way as Racetrack Spectator (uncredited)
- 1939 Angel of Mercy as President Garfield's Secretary (uncredited)
- 1928 The Red Dance as Rasputin's Assassin (uncredited)
- 1934 Let’s Be Ritzy as Rogers
- 1934 Unknown Blonde as Bob Parker
- 1934 Grand Canary as Robert Tranter
- 1956 Around the World in 80 Days as Extra (uncredited)
- 1947 Twilight on the Rio Grande as Rurale
- 1942 You Were Never Lovelier as One of Maria's Suitors (uncredited)
- 1950 Born to Be Bad as Charity Ball Guest (uncredited)
- 1953 The Jazz Singer as Nightclub Patron
- 1953 Trouble Along the Way as Party Guest
- 1940 Mexican Spitfire Out West as Hotel Guest
- 1941 The Mexican Spitfire's Baby as Nightclub Patron
- 1938 The Buccaneer as Villere
- 1943 Above Suspicion as German Cafe Patron (Uncredited)
- 1941 Tom, Dick and Harry as Bowler (uncredited)
- 1943 Mission to Moscow as Ball Guest (uncredited)
- 1927 A Man About Town as Amos, a Centerville Clerk
- 1926 The Lily as Max de Maigny
- 1930 East is West as Billy Benson
- 1931 Drácula as Juan Harker
- 1933 Only Yesterday as Jerry (Uncredited)
- 1949 Johnny Allegro
- 1952 Young Man with Ideas as Lawyer at Seminar (uncredited)
- 1951 Hollywood Story as Christmas Parade Spectator (uncredited)
- 1934 Imitation of Life as Young Man Proposing Toast (uncredited)
- 1941 Hold That Ghost as Club Patron (uncredited)
- 1927 The Heart of Salome as Henri Bezanne
- 1952 Something to Live For as Man in Tweeds (uncredited)
- 1953 Small Town Girl as Party Guest
- 1956 Serenade as Party Guest (uncredited)
- 1936 Camille as Emile (uncredited)
- 1941 Ziegfeld Girl as Palm Beach Casino Patron (uncredited)
- 1942 The Falcon Takes Over as Nightclub Patron (Uncredited)
- 1928 Sins of the Fathers as Tom Spengler
- 1944 Maisie Goes to Reno as Nightclub Patron (Uncredited)
- 1942 The Big Street as Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
- 1952 The Merry Widow as Club Patron (uncredited)
- 1948 Easter Parade as Diner (uncredited)
- 1929 The Exalted Flapper as Prince Boris of Dacia
- 1951 Strangers on a Train as Tennis Match Spectator (uncredited)
- 2002 The Bronze Screen: 100 Years of the Latino Image in American Cinema
- 1950 The Toast of New Orleans as Restaurant Patron (uncredited)
- 1947 The Gangster as Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
- 1936 Marihuana (El monstruo verde) as Carlos
- 1930 El Cuerpo del Delito as Adolph Mahler
- 1952 Four Star Playhouse ( 1 episode ) as Man in Audience / Backstage Guest (uncredited)
