1905-06-16 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.
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The Bronze Screen: 100 Years of the Latino Image in American Cinema | 2002-06-06 | |
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Around the World in Eighty Days | Extra (uncredited) | 1956-10-17 |
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Serenade | Party Guest (uncredited) | 1956-03-23 |
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Written on the Wind | Courtroom Spectator (uncredited) | 1956-10-04 |
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Slightly Scarlet | 1956-02-29 | |
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To Catch a Thief | Frenchman (uncredited) | 1955-08-03 |
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It's Always Fair Weather | Nightclub Patron (uncredited) | 1955-08-30 |
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The Square Jungle | 1955-12-30 | |
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Lucky Me | Diner / Party Guest (uncredited) | 1954-04-09 |
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A Star Is Born | Benefit Attendee (uncredited) | 1954-10-01 |
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White Christmas | Carousel Club Diner (uncredited) | 1954-10-14 |
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The Caine Mutiny | Ship's Officer (uncredited) | 1954-06-24 |
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Trouble Along the Way | Party Guest | 1953-04-04 |
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The Jazz Singer | Nightclub Patron | 1953-02-14 |
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Small Town Girl | Party Guest | 1953-04-10 |
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How to Marry a Millionaire | Plane Passenger (uncredited) | 1953-10-29 |
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Room for One More | Boy Scout Ceremony Attendee (uncredited) | 1952-01-10 |
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Pat and Mike | Golf Spectator (uncredited) | 1952-06-13 |
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Something to Live For | Man in Tweeds (uncredited) | 1952-03-07 |
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The Merry Widow | Club Patron (uncredited) | 1952-09-05 |
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Young Man with Ideas | Lawyer at Seminar (uncredited) | 1952-05-02 |
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Hollywood Story | Christmas Parade Spectator (uncredited) | 1951-06-01 |
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The Strange Door | 1951-06-21 | |
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Pier 23 | Waiter (uncredited) | 1951-05-11 |
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Strangers on a Train | Tennis Match Spectator (uncredited) | 1951-06-27 |
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On the Riviera | Party Guest (uncredited) | 1951-04-20 |
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Rocketship X-M | Reporter (uncredited) | 1950-06-02 |
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No Man of Her Own | Country Club Patron (uncredited) | 1950-02-21 |
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The Toast of New Orleans | Restaurant Patron (uncredited) | 1950-08-24 |
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Mister 880 | Restaurant Diner (uncredited) | 1950-09-29 |
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Born to Be Bad | Charity Ball Guest (uncredited) | 1950-09-28 |
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Young Man with a Horn | Man at Train Station / Café Guest (uncredited) | 1950-03-01 |
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East Side, West Side | Del Rio Club Patron (uncredited) | 1949-12-22 |
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Johnny Allegro | 1949-05-26 | |
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An Innocent Affair | Rocket Roof Patron (uncredited) | 1948-10-15 |
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Easter Parade | Diner at Rooftop Show (uncredited) | 1948-07-08 |
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The Big Clock | Man at Van Barth's (uncredited) | 1948-03-18 |
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Variety Girl | Plane Passenger (uncredited) | 1947-08-29 |
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Twilight on the Rio Grande | Rurale | 1947-03-31 |
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Monsieur Verdoux | Garden Party Guest (uncredited) | 1947-09-26 |
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Devil Monster | Robert Jackson | 1946-06-29 |
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Without Reservations | Nightclub Patron (uncredited) | 1946-05-13 |
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Christmas in Connecticut | Restaurant Patron (uncredited) | 1945-07-27 |
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Maisie Goes to Reno | Nightclub Patron (Uncredited) | 1944-08-15 |
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Mission to Moscow | Ball Guest (uncredited) | 1943-04-29 |
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Casablanca | Gambler at Rick's (uncredited) | 1943-01-15 |
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Above Suspicion | German Cafe Patron (Uncredited) | 1943-05-31 |
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Keeper of the Flame | 1943-04-01 | |
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Blue, White, and Perfect | Man at Ship Dock (uncredited) | 1942-01-06 |
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The Falcon Takes Over | Nightclub Patron (Uncredited) | 1942-05-29 |
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You Were Never Lovelier | One of Maria's Suitors (uncredited) | 1942-11-19 |
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The Big Street | Nightclub Patron (Uncredited) | 1942-08-13 |
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The Mexican Spitfire's Baby | Nightclub Patron | 1941-11-28 |
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Niagara Falls | Hotel Guest (uncredited) | 1941-10-17 |
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The Lady Eve | Passenger on Ship (uncredited) | 1941-02-25 |
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Hellzapoppin' | Party Guest (uncredited) | 1941-12-25 |
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Ziegfeld Girl | Palm Beach Casino Patron (uncredited) | 1941-04-25 |
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Hold That Ghost | Club Patron (uncredited) | 1941-08-08 |
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Tom, Dick and Harry | Bowler (uncredited) | 1941-06-13 |
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Mexican Spitfire Out West | Hotel Guest | 1940-10-29 |
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Down Argentine Way | Racetrack Spectator (uncredited) | 1940-10-11 |
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Dance, Girl, Dance | Dissaproving Theatre Patron (uncredited) | 1940-08-30 |
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Christmas in July | Co-Worker in Office (uncredited) | 1940-10-25 |
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Should Husbands Work? | Ronald McDonald | 1939-07-26 |
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Angel of Mercy | President Garfield's Secretary (uncredited) | 1939-05-20 |
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Second Fiddle | Nightclub Patron | 1939-06-30 |
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The Buccaneer | Villere | 1938-02-04 |
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Rich Relations | Don Blair | 1937-02-01 |
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I'll Take Romance | Juan | 1937-11-17 |
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Camille | Emile (uncredited) | 1936-12-26 |
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Murder at Glen Athol | Tom Randel | 1936-02-27 |
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Captain Calamity | Carr | 1936-11-28 |
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The Great Ziegfeld | Nightclub Patron (uncredited) | 1936-04-08 |
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The Sea Fiend | Robert Jackson | 1936-04-14 |
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Woman Wanted | Nightclub Patron (uncredited) | 1935-08-02 |
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El Diablo del Mar | Roberto | 1935-12-12 |
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Storm Over the Andes | Diaz | 1935-04-01 |
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Grand Canary | Robert Tranter | 1934-07-20 |
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Caravan | Young Officer at Beer Garden (Uncredited) | 1934-12-30 |
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Unknown Blonde | Bob Parker | 1934-04-23 |
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Imitation of Life | Young Man Proposing Toast (uncredited) | 1934-11-23 |
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The World Moves On | Jacques Girard (1924) | 1934-06-27 |
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Let’s Be Ritzy | Rogers | 1934-05-01 |
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Cocktail Hour | Philippe | 1933-06-05 |
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Only Yesterday | Jerry (Uncredited) | 1933-11-01 |
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Lady for a Day | Carlos | 1933-09-13 |
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Luxury Liner | Prince Vladimir Gleboff | 1933-02-03 |
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Dishonored | Young Lieutenant - Firing Squad | 1931-04-04 |
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Drácula | Juan Harker | 1931-03-11 |
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Cascarrabias | 1930-09-11 | |
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Amor audaz | 1930-07-10 | |
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Oriente es Occidente | Billy Benson | 1930-11-30 |
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The Exalted Flapper | Prince Boris of Dacia | 1929-06-09 |
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Sins of the Fathers | Tom Spengler | 1928-12-28 |
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The Red Dance | Rasputin's Assassin (uncredited) | 1928-12-02 |
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The Legion of the Condemned | Byron Dashwood | 1928-03-10 |
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Mother Knows Best | Boy | 1928-10-28 |
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Fleetwing | Jaafor | 1928-06-24 |
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4 Devils | Adolf | 1928-10-03 |
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A Man About Town | Amos, a Centerville Clerk | 1927-05-15 |
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The Wizard | Reginald Van Lear | 1927-11-27 |
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Ankles Preferred | Jimmy | 1927-02-27 |
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The Heart of Salome | Henri Bezanne | 1927-05-08 |
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Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans | Ballroom Dancer / Kissing Couple (uncredited) | 1927-11-04 |
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The Black Pirate | Youth (uncredited) | 1926-03-08 |
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What Price Glory | Pvt. Kenneth 'Mother's Boy' Lewisohn | 1926-11-23 |
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The Canyon of Light | Ricardo Deane | 1926-12-05 |
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The Lily | Max de Maigny | 1926-10-03 |
