Barry Norton
Born
June 16, 1905
Died
August 24, 1956 (51 years old)
Known For
Acting
Place of Birth
Buenos Aires, Argentina
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
The Bronze Screen: 100 Years of the Latino Image in American Cinema
2002
Around the World in Eighty Days
Extra (uncredited)
1956
Written on the Wind
Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
1956
Serenade
Party Guest (uncredited)
1956
Slightly Scarlet
1956
The Square Jungle
1955
It's Always Fair Weather
Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
1955
To Catch a Thief
Frenchman (uncredited)
1955
White Christmas
Carousel Club Diner (uncredited)
1954
A Star Is Born
Benefit Attendee (uncredited)
1954
The Caine Mutiny
Ship's Officer (uncredited)
1954
Lucky Me
Diner / Party Guest (uncredited)
1954
How to Marry a Millionaire
Plane Passenger (uncredited)
1953
Small Town Girl
Party Guest
1953
Trouble Along the Way
Party Guest
1953
The Jazz Singer
Nightclub Patron
1953
Four Star Playhouse
Man in Audience / Backstage Guest (uncredited) · (1 episode)
1952
The Merry Widow
Club Patron (uncredited)
1952
Pat and Mike
Golf Spectator (uncredited)
1952
Young Man with Ideas
Lawyer at Seminar (uncredited)
1952
Something to Live For
Man in Tweeds (uncredited)
1952
Room for One More
Boy Scout Ceremony Attendee (uncredited)
1952
Strangers on a Train
Tennis Match Spectator (uncredited)
1951
The Strange Door
1951
Hollywood Story
Christmas Parade Spectator (uncredited)
1951
Pier 23
Waiter (uncredited)
1951
On the Riviera
Party Guest (uncredited)
1951
Mister 880
Restaurant Diner (uncredited)
1950
Born to Be Bad
Charity Ball Guest (uncredited)
1950
Rocketship X-M
Reporter (uncredited)
1950
Young Man with a Horn
Man at Train Station / Café Guest (uncredited)
1950
No Man of Her Own
Country Club Patron (uncredited)
1950
East Side, West Side
Del Rio Club Patron (uncredited)
1949
Johnny Allegro
1949
An Innocent Affair
Rocket Roof Patron (uncredited)
1948
Easter Parade
Diner at Rooftop Show (uncredited)
1948
The Big Clock
Man at Van Barth's (uncredited)
1948
Monsieur Verdoux
Garden Party Guest (uncredited)
1947
Variety Girl
Plane Passenger (uncredited)
1947
Twilight on the Rio Grande
Rurale
1947
Devil Monster
Robert Jackson
1946
Without Reservations
Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
1946
Christmas in Connecticut
Restaurant Patron (uncredited)
1945
Maisie Goes to Reno
Nightclub Patron (Uncredited)
1944
Above Suspicion
German Cafe Patron (Uncredited)
1943
Mission to Moscow
Ball Guest (uncredited)
1943
Keeper of the Flame
1943
Casablanca
Gambler at Rick's (uncredited)
1943
You Were Never Lovelier
One of Maria's Suitors (uncredited)
1942
The Big Street
Nightclub Patron (Uncredited)
1942
The Falcon Takes Over
Nightclub Patron (Uncredited)
1942
Blue, White, and Perfect
Man at Ship Dock (uncredited)
1942
Hellzapoppin'
Party Guest (uncredited)
1941
The Mexican Spitfire's Baby
Nightclub Patron
1941
Niagara Falls
Hotel Guest (uncredited)
1941
Hold That Ghost
Club Patron (uncredited)
1941
Tom, Dick and Harry
Bowler (uncredited)
1941
Ziegfeld Girl
Palm Beach Casino Patron (uncredited)
1941
The Lady Eve
Passenger on Ship (uncredited)
1941
Mexican Spitfire Out West
Hotel Guest
1940
Christmas in July
Co-Worker in Office (uncredited)
1940
Down Argentine Way
Racetrack Spectator (uncredited)
1940
Dance, Girl, Dance
Dissaproving Theatre Patron (uncredited)
1940
Should Husbands Work?
Ronald McDonald
1939
Second Fiddle
Nightclub Patron
1939
Angel of Mercy
President Garfield's Secretary (uncredited)
1939
The Buccaneer
Villere
1938
I'll Take Romance
Juan
1937
Rich Relations
Don Blair
1937
Camille
Emile (uncredited)
1936
Captain Calamity
Carr
1936
The Sea Fiend
Robert Jackson
1936
The Great Ziegfeld
Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
1936
Murder at Glen Athol
Tom Randel
1936
The Devil of the Sea
Roberto
1935
Woman Wanted
Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
1935
Storm Over the Andes
Diaz
1935
Caravan
Young Officer at Beer Garden (Uncredited)
1934
Imitation of Life
Young Man Proposing Toast (uncredited)
1934
Grand Canary
Robert Tranter
1934
The World Moves On
Jacques Girard (1924)
1934
Let’s Be Ritzy
Rogers
1934
Unknown Blonde
Bob Parker
1934
Only Yesterday
Jerry (Uncredited)
1933
Lady for a Day
Carlos
1933
Cocktail Hour
Philippe
1933
Luxury Liner
Prince Vladimir Gleboff
1933
Dishonored
Young Lieutenant - Firing Squad
1931
Drácula
Juan Harker
1931
East is West
Billy Benson
1930
Curmudgeon
1930
Bold Love
1930
The Exalted Flapper
Prince Boris of Dacia
1929
Sins of the Fathers
Tom Spengler
1928
The Red Dance
Rasputin's Assassin (uncredited)
1928
Mother Knows Best
Boy
1928
4 Devils
Adolf
1928
Fleetwing
Jaafor
1928
The Legion of the Condemned
Byron Dashwood
1928
The Wizard
Reginald Van Lear
1927
Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans
Ballroom Dancer / Kissing Couple (uncredited)
1927
A Man About Town
Amos, a Centerville Clerk
1927
The Heart of Salome
Henri Bezanne
1927
Ankles Preferred
Jimmy
1927
The Canyon of Light
Ricardo Deane
1926
What Price Glory
Pvt. Kenneth 'Mother's Boy' Lewisohn
1926
The Lily
Max de Maigny
1926
The Black Pirate
Youth (uncredited)
1926