Barry Norton
Age: 51 | From: Buenos Aires, Argentina
Person Details
Birthday: 1905-06-16 21:25:50
Death: 1956-08-24 21:25:50
Aliases: Alfredo Carlos Birabén
Gender: Male
Place of birth: Buenos Aires, Argentina
Homepage:
Movie Involvements: 55
TV Involvements: 0
Most Famous Work
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.
Most Famous Work
Casablanca
(1943) Gambler at Rick's (uncredited)
A Star Is Born
(1954) Benefit Attendee (uncredited)
The Caine Mutiny
(1954) Ship's Officer (uncredited)
Written on the Wind
(1956) Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
The Great Ziegfeld
(1936) Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans
(1927) Ballroom Dancer / Kissing Couple (uncredited)
The Big Clock
(1948) Man at Van Barth's (uncredited)
Drácula
(1931) Juan HarkerActing
| Year | Character | Movie/Tv |
|---|---|---|
| 1956 | Extra (uncredited) | |
| Courtroom Spectator (uncredited) | ||
| Party Guest (uncredited) | ||
| 1955 | Frenchman (uncredited) | |
| 1954 | Carousel Club Diner (uncredited) | |
| Benefit Attendee (uncredited) | ||
| Ship's Officer (uncredited) | ||
| Diner / Party Guest (uncredited) | ||
| 1953 | Plane Passenger (uncredited) | |
| Party Guest | ||
| Party Guest | ||
| Nightclub Patron | ||
| 1952 | Man in Audience / Backstage Guest (uncredited) | |
| Lawyer at Seminar (uncredited) | ||
| Man in Tweeds (uncredited) | ||
| Boy Scout Ceremony Attendee (uncredited) | ||
| 1951 | N/A | |
| Christmas Parade Spectator (uncredited) | ||
| 1950 | Restaurant Diner (uncredited) | |
| Reporter (uncredited) | ||
| Man at Train Station / Café Guest (uncredited) | ||
| Country Club Patron (uncredited) | ||
| 1949 | Del Rio Club Patron (uncredited) | |
| N/A | ||
| 1948 | Rocket Roof Patron (uncredited) | |
| Man at Van Barth's (uncredited) | ||
| 1947 | Garden Party Guest (uncredited) | |
| Plane Passenger (uncredited) | ||
| Rurale | ||
| 1946 | Robert Jackson | |
| Nightclub Patron (uncredited) | ||
| 1945 | Restaurant Patron (uncredited) | |
| 1944 | Nightclub Patron (Uncredited) | |
| 1943 | German Cafe Patron (Uncredited) | |
| Ball Guest (uncredited) | ||
| N/A | ||
| Gambler at Rick's (uncredited) | ||
| 1942 | One of Maria's Suitors (uncredited) | |
| Nightclub Patron (Uncredited) | ||
| Nightclub Patron (Uncredited) | ||
| Man at Ship Dock (uncredited) | ||
| 1941 | Party Guest (uncredited) | |
| Nightclub Patron | ||
| Hotel Guest (uncredited) | ||
| Club Patron (uncredited) | ||
| Bowler (uncredited) | ||
| Palm Beach Casino Patron (Uncredited) | ||
| Passenger on Ship (uncredited) | ||
| 1940 | Hotel Guest | |
| Co-Worker in Office (uncredited) | ||
| Racetrack Spectator (uncredited) | ||
| Dissaproving Theatre Patron (uncredited) | ||
| 1939 | Ronald McDonald | |
| Nightclub Patron | ||
| President Garfield's Secretary (uncredited) | ||
| 1938 | Villere | |
| 1937 | Juan | |
| Don Blair | ||
| 1936 | Emile (uncredited) | |
| Carr | ||
| Robert Jackson | ||
| Nightclub Patron (uncredited) | ||
| Tom Randel | ||
| 1935 | Roberto | |
| Nightclub Patron (uncredited) | ||
| Diaz | ||
| 1934 | Young Officer at Beer Garden (Uncredited) | |
| Young Man Proposing Toast (uncredited) | ||
| Robert Tranter | ||
| Jacques Girard (1924) | ||
| Bob Parker | ||
| 1933 | Jerry (Uncredited) | |
| Carlos | ||
| Prince Philippe de Longville | ||
| Prince Vladimir Gleboff | ||
| 1931 | Young Lieutenant - Firing Squad | |
| Juan Harker | ||
| 1930 | Billy Benson | |
| N/A | ||
| Self - Master of Ceremonies | ||
| N/A | ||
| 1928 | Tom Spengler | |
| Rasputin's Assassin (uncredited) | ||
| Adolf | ||
| Jaafor | ||
| Byron Dashwood | ||
| 1927 | Reginald Van Lear | |
| Ballroom Dancer / Kissing Couple (uncredited) | ||
| Amos, a Centerville Clerk | ||
| Henri Bezanne | ||
| Jimmy | ||
| 1926 | Ricardo Deane | |
| Pvt. Kenneth 'Mother's Boy' Lewisohn | ||
| Max de Maigny | ||
| Youth (uncredited) | ||
| Year | Character | Movie/Tv |
