Barry Norton
Personal Info
Known for
Acting
Gender
Male
Birthday
1905-06-16
Day of Death
1956-08-24 (51 years old)
Place of Birth
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Barry Norton
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
Acting
(2002)
(1956)
Around the World in Eighty Days
as Extra (uncredited)
(1956)
Written on the Wind
as Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
(1956)
Serenade
as Party Guest (uncredited)
(1956)
(1955)
To Catch a Thief
as Frenchman (uncredited)
(1955)
It's Always Fair Weather
as Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
(1955)
(1954)
A Star Is Born
as Benefit Attendee (uncredited)
(1954)
The Caine Mutiny
as Ship's Officer (uncredited)
(1954)
White Christmas
as Carousel Club Diner (uncredited)
(1954)
Lucky Me
as Diner / Party Guest (uncredited)
(1953)
How to Marry a Millionaire
as Plane Passenger (uncredited)
(1953)
Trouble Along the Way
as Party Guest
(1953)
Small Town Girl
as Party Guest
(1953)
The Jazz Singer
as Nightclub Patron
(1952)
Pat and Mike
as Golf Spectator (uncredited)
(1952)
Room for One More
as Boy Scout Ceremony Attendee (uncredited)
(1952)
The Merry Widow
as Club Patron (uncredited)
(1952)
Something to Live For
as Man in Tweeds (uncredited)
(1952)
Young Man with Ideas
as Lawyer at Seminar (uncredited)
(1951)
Strangers on a Train
as Tennis Match Spectator (uncredited)
(1951)
(1951)
Pier 23
as Waiter (uncredited)
(1951)
Hollywood Story
as Christmas Parade Spectator (uncredited)
(1951)
On the Riviera
as Party Guest (uncredited)
(1950)
Young Man with a Horn
as Man at Train Station / Café Guest (uncredited)
(1950)
Born to Be Bad
as Charity Ball Guest (uncredited)
(1950)
No Man of Her Own
as Country Club Patron (uncredited)
(1950)
Mister 880
as Restaurant Diner (uncredited)
(1950)
Rocketship X-M
as Reporter (uncredited)
(1949)
East Side, West Side
as Del Rio Club Patron (uncredited)
(1949)
(1948)
An Innocent Affair
as Rocket Roof Patron (uncredited)
(1948)
Easter Parade
as Diner at Rooftop Show (uncredited)
(1948)
The Big Clock
as Man at Van Barth's (uncredited)
(1947)
Monsieur Verdoux
as Garden Party Guest (uncredited)
(1947)
Variety Girl
as Plane Passenger (uncredited)
(1947)
Twilight on the Rio Grande
as Rurale
(1946)
Devil Monster
as Robert Jackson
(1946)
Without Reservations
as Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
(1945)
Christmas in Connecticut
as Restaurant Patron (uncredited)
(1944)
Maisie Goes to Reno
as Nightclub Patron (Uncredited)
(1943)
Casablanca
as Gambler at Rick's (uncredited)
(1943)
Above Suspicion
as German Cafe Patron (Uncredited)
(1943)
(1943)
Mission to Moscow
as Ball Guest (uncredited)
(1942)
The Big Street
as Nightclub Patron (Uncredited)
(1942)
You Were Never Lovelier
as One of Maria's Suitors (uncredited)
(1942)
The Falcon Takes Over
as Nightclub Patron (Uncredited)
(1942)
Blue, White, and Perfect
as Man at Ship Dock (uncredited)
(1941)
Ziegfeld Girl
as Palm Beach Casino Patron (uncredited)
(1941)
The Lady Eve
as Passenger on Ship (uncredited)
(1941)
Hellzapoppin'
as Party Guest (uncredited)
(1941)
Niagara Falls
as Hotel Guest (uncredited)
(1941)
Hold That Ghost
as Club Patron (uncredited)
(1941)
Tom, Dick and Harry
as Bowler (uncredited)
(1941)
The Mexican Spitfire's Baby
as Nightclub Patron
(1940)
Christmas in July
as Co-Worker in Office (uncredited)
(1940)
Dance, Girl, Dance
as Dissaproving Theatre Patron (uncredited)
(1940)
Down Argentine Way
as Racetrack Spectator (uncredited)
(1940)
Mexican Spitfire Out West
as Hotel Guest
(1939)
Second Fiddle
as Nightclub Patron
(1939)
Angel of Mercy
as President Garfield's Secretary (uncredited)
(1939)
Should Husbands Work?
as Ronald McDonald
(1938)
The Buccaneer
as Villere
(1937)
I'll Take Romance
as Juan
(1937)
Rich Relations
as Don Blair
(1936)
Captain Calamity
as Carr
(1936)
Murder at Glen Athol
as Tom Randel
(1936)
Camille
as Emile (uncredited)
(1936)
The Great Ziegfeld
as Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
(1936)
The Sea Fiend
as Robert Jackson
(1935)
Woman Wanted
as Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
(1935)
Storm Over the Andes
as Diaz
(1935)
The Devil of the Sea
as Roberto
(1934)
Imitation of Life
as Young Man Proposing Toast (uncredited)
(1934)
Caravan
as Young Officer at Beer Garden (Uncredited)
(1934)
Grand Canary
as Robert Tranter
(1934)
The World Moves On
as Jacques Girard (1924)
(1934)
Unknown Blonde
as Bob Parker
(1934)
Let’s Be Ritzy
as Rogers
(1933)
Lady for a Day
as Carlos
(1933)
Cocktail Hour
as Philippe
(1933)
Only Yesterday
as Jerry (Uncredited)
(1933)
Luxury Liner
as Prince Vladimir Gleboff
(1931)
Drácula
as Juan Harker
(1931)
Dishonored
as Young Lieutenant - Firing Squad
(1930)
East is West
as Billy Benson
(1930)
(1930)
(1929)
The Exalted Flapper
as Prince Boris of Dacia
(1928)
4 Devils
as Adolf
(1928)
Mother Knows Best
as Boy
(1928)
Sins of the Fathers
as Tom Spengler
(1928)
The Legion of the Condemned
as Byron Dashwood
(1928)
Fleetwing
as Jaafor
(1928)
The Red Dance
as Rasputin's Assassin (uncredited)
(1927)
Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans
as Ballroom Dancer / Kissing Couple (uncredited)
(1927)
The Heart of Salome
as Henri Bezanne
(1927)
The Wizard
as Reginald Van Lear
(1927)
Ankles Preferred
as Jimmy
(1927)
A Man About Town
as Amos, a Centerville Clerk
(1926)
The Black Pirate
as Youth (uncredited)
(1926)
The Lily
as Max de Maigny
(1926)
What Price Glory
as Pvt. Kenneth 'Mother's Boy' Lewisohn
(1926)
The Canyon of Light
as Ricardo Deane