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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A Star Is Born | Benefit Attendee (uncredited) | 1954-10-01 |
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Lucky Me | Diner / Party Guest (uncredited) | 1954-04-09 |
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The Caine Mutiny | Ship's Officer (uncredited) | 1954-06-24 |
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White Christmas | Carousel Club Diner (uncredited) | 1954-10-14 |
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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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The Jazz Singer | Nightclub Patron | 1953-02-14 |
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Trouble Along the Way | Party Guest | 1953-04-04 |
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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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Room for One More | Boy Scout Ceremony Attendee (uncredited) | 1952-01-10 |
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Young Man with Ideas | Lawyer at Seminar (uncredited) | 1952-05-02 |
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The Merry Widow | Club Patron (uncredited) | 1952-09-05 |
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Strangers on a Train | Tennis Match Spectator (uncredited) | 1951-06-27 |
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Hollywood Story | Christmas Parade Spectator (uncredited) | 1951-06-01 |
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On the Riviera | Party Guest (uncredited) | 1951-04-20 |
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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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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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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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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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The Big Clock | Man at Van Barth's (uncredited) | 1948-03-18 |
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Easter Parade | Diner at Rooftop Show (uncredited) | 1948-07-08 |
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An Innocent Affair | Rocket Roof Patron (uncredited) | 1948-10-15 |
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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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Variety Girl | Plane Passenger (uncredited) | 1947-08-29 |
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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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Above Suspicion | German Cafe Patron (Uncredited) | 1943-05-31 |
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Casablanca | Gambler at Rick's (uncredited) | 1943-01-15 |
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Keeper of the Flame | 1943-04-01 | |
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The Big Street | Nightclub Patron (Uncredited) | 1942-08-13 |
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Blue, White, and Perfect | Man at Ship Dock (uncredited) | 1942-01-06 |
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You Were Never Lovelier | One of Maria's Suitors (uncredited) | 1942-11-19 |
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The Falcon Takes Over | Nightclub Patron (Uncredited) | 1942-05-29 |
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Hellzapoppin' | Party Guest (uncredited) | 1941-12-25 |
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Tom, Dick and Harry | Bowler (uncredited) | 1941-06-13 |
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Niagara Falls | Hotel Guest (uncredited) | 1941-10-17 |
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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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The Lady Eve | Passenger on Ship (uncredited) | 1941-02-25 |
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The Mexican Spitfire's Baby | Nightclub Patron | 1941-11-28 |
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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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Down Argentine Way | Racetrack Spectator (uncredited) | 1940-10-11 |
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Mexican Spitfire Out West | Hotel Guest | 1940-10-29 |
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Should Husbands Work? | Ronald McDonald | 1939-07-26 |
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Second Fiddle | Nightclub Patron | 1939-06-30 |
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Angel of Mercy | President Garfield's Secretary (uncredited) | 1939-05-20 |
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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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The Sea Fiend | Robert Jackson | 1936-04-14 |
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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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Camille | Emile (uncredited) | 1936-12-26 |
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Murder at Glen Athol | Tom Randel | 1936-02-27 |
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Storm Over the Andes | Diaz | 1935-04-01 |
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El Diablo del Mar | Roberto | 1935-12-12 |
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Woman Wanted | Nightclub Patron (uncredited) | 1935-08-02 |
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Let’s Be Ritzy | Rogers | 1934-05-01 |
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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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Unknown Blonde | Bob Parker | 1934-04-23 |
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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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Only Yesterday | Jerry (Uncredited) | 1933-11-01 |
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Luxury Liner | Prince Vladimir Gleboff | 1933-02-03 |
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Lady for a Day | Carlos | 1933-09-13 |
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Cocktail Hour | Philippe | 1933-06-05 |
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Drácula | Juan Harker | 1931-03-11 |
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Dishonored | Young Lieutenant - Firing Squad | 1931-04-04 |
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Cascarrabias | 1930-09-11 | |
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Oriente es Occidente | Billy Benson | 1930-11-30 |
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Amor audaz | 1930-07-10 | |
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The Exalted Flapper | Prince Boris of Dacia | 1929-06-09 |
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4 Devils | Adolf | 1928-10-03 |
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The Legion of the Condemned | Byron Dashwood | 1928-03-10 |
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Fleetwing | Jaafor | 1928-06-24 |
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The Red Dance | Rasputin's Assassin (uncredited) | 1928-12-02 |
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Mother Knows Best | Boy | 1928-10-28 |
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Sins of the Fathers | Tom Spengler | 1928-12-28 |
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The Wizard | Reginald Van Lear | 1927-11-27 |
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A Man About Town | Amos, a Centerville Clerk | 1927-05-15 |
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Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans | Ballroom Dancer / Kissing Couple (uncredited) | 1927-11-04 |
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The Heart of Salome | Henri Bezanne | 1927-05-08 |
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Ankles Preferred | Jimmy | 1927-02-27 |
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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 Lily | Max de Maigny | 1926-10-03 |
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The Canyon of Light | Ricardo Deane | 1926-12-05 |
