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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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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Around the World in Eighty Days | Extra (uncredited) | 1956-10-17 |
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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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To Catch a Thief | Frenchman (uncredited) | 1955-08-03 |
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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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How to Marry a Millionaire | Plane Passenger (uncredited) | 1953-10-29 |
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Trouble Along the Way | Party Guest | 1953-04-04 |
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Small Town Girl | Party Guest | 1953-04-10 |
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The Jazz Singer | Nightclub Patron | 1953-02-14 |
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Room for One More | Boy Scout Ceremony Attendee (uncredited) | 1952-01-10 |
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The Merry Widow | Club Patron (uncredited) | 1952-09-05 |
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Pat and Mike | Golf Spectator (uncredited) | 1952-06-13 |
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Young Man with Ideas | Lawyer at Seminar (uncredited) | 1952-05-02 |
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Something to Live For | Man in Tweeds (uncredited) | 1952-03-07 |
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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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Hollywood Story | Christmas Parade Spectator (uncredited) | 1951-06-01 |
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The Strange Door | 1951-06-21 | |
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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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No Man of Her Own | Country Club Patron (uncredited) | 1950-02-21 |
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Rocketship X-M | Reporter (uncredited) | 1950-06-02 |
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Mister 880 | Restaurant Diner (uncredited) | 1950-09-29 |
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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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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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Variety Girl | Plane Passenger (uncredited) | 1947-08-29 |
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Monsieur Verdoux | Garden Party Guest (uncredited) | 1947-09-26 |
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Twilight on the Rio Grande | Rurale | 1947-03-31 |
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Without Reservations | Nightclub Patron (uncredited) | 1946-05-13 |
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Devil Monster | Robert Jackson | 1946-06-29 |
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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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Keeper of the Flame | 1943-04-01 | |
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Above Suspicion | German Cafe Patron (Uncredited) | 1943-05-31 |
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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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Blue, White, and Perfect | Man at Ship Dock (uncredited) | 1942-01-06 |
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Tom, Dick and Harry | Bowler (uncredited) | 1941-06-13 |
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Hold That Ghost | Club Patron (uncredited) | 1941-08-08 |
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Ziegfeld Girl | Palm Beach Casino Patron (uncredited) | 1941-04-25 |
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Hellzapoppin' | Party Guest (uncredited) | 1941-12-25 |
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The Mexican Spitfire's Baby | Nightclub Patron | 1941-11-28 |
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The Lady Eve | Passenger on Ship (uncredited) | 1941-02-25 |
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Niagara Falls | Hotel Guest (uncredited) | 1941-10-17 |
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Mexican Spitfire Out West | Hotel Guest | 1940-10-29 |
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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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Dance, Girl, Dance | Dissaproving Theatre Patron (uncredited) | 1940-08-30 |
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Second Fiddle | Nightclub Patron | 1939-06-30 |
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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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The Buccaneer | Villere | 1938-02-04 |
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I'll Take Romance | Juan | 1937-11-17 |
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Rich Relations | Don Blair | 1937-02-01 |
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The Sea Fiend | Robert Jackson | 1936-04-14 |
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The Great Ziegfeld | Nightclub Patron (uncredited) | 1936-04-08 |
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Murder at Glen Athol | Tom Randel | 1936-02-27 |
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Camille | Emile (uncredited) | 1936-12-26 |
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Captain Calamity | Carr | 1936-11-28 |
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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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The World Moves On | Jacques Girard (1924) | 1934-06-27 |
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Imitation of Life | Young Man Proposing Toast (uncredited) | 1934-11-23 |
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Caravan | Young Officer at Beer Garden (Uncredited) | 1934-12-30 |
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Let’s Be Ritzy | Rogers | 1934-05-01 |
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Grand Canary | Robert Tranter | 1934-07-20 |
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Unknown Blonde | Bob Parker | 1934-04-23 |
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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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Cocktail Hour | Philippe | 1933-06-05 |
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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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Amor audaz | 1930-07-10 | |
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Oriente es Occidente | Billy Benson | 1930-11-30 |
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Cascarrabias | 1930-09-11 | |
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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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Fleetwing | Jaafor | 1928-06-24 |
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Mother Knows Best | Boy | 1928-10-28 |
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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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The Red Dance | Rasputin's Assassin (uncredited) | 1928-12-02 |
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Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans | Ballroom Dancer / Kissing Couple (uncredited) | 1927-11-04 |
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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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A Man About Town | Amos, a Centerville Clerk | 1927-05-15 |
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The Heart of Salome | Henri Bezanne | 1927-05-08 |
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The Canyon of Light | Ricardo Deane | 1926-12-05 |
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The Black Pirate | Youth (uncredited) | 1926-03-08 |
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The Lily | Max de Maigny | 1926-10-03 |
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What Price Glory | Pvt. Kenneth 'Mother's Boy' Lewisohn | 1926-11-23 |
