Barry Norton

Personal Info

Known For

Acting

Known Credits

107

Gender

Male

Birthday

1905-06-16

Deathday

1956-08-24 (51 years old)

Place of Birth

Buenos Aires, Argentina

Also Known As

  • Alfredo Carlos Birabén

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

Casablanca
8.2%

Casablanca

Jan 15, 1943

Strangers on a Train
7.7%

Strangers on a Train

Jun 27, 1951

To Catch a Thief
7.3%

To Catch a Thief

Aug 3, 1955

White Christmas
7.2%

White Christmas

Oct 14, 1954

Monsieur Verdoux
7.7%

Monsieur Verdoux

Sep 26, 1947

The Lady Eve
7.2%

The Lady Eve

Feb 25, 1941

The Caine Mutiny
7.2%

The Caine Mutiny

Jun 24, 1954

A Star Is Born
7.1%

A Star Is Born

Oct 1, 1954

Written on the Wind
6.9%

Written on the Wind

Oct 4, 1956

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Acting

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
Slightly Scarlet
1955
The Square Jungle
1955
It's Always Fair Weather as Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
1955
To Catch a Thief as Frenchman (uncredited)
1954
White Christmas as Carousel Club Diner (uncredited)
1954
A Star Is Born as Benefit Attendee (uncredited)
1954
The Caine Mutiny as Ship's Officer (uncredited)
1954
Lucky Me as Diner / Party Guest (uncredited)
1953
How to Marry a Millionaire as Plane Passenger (uncredited)
1953
Small Town Girl as Party Guest
1953
Trouble Along the Way as Party Guest
1953
The Jazz Singer as Nightclub Patron
1952
Four Star Playhouse as Man in Audience / Backstage Guest (uncredited)
1952
The Merry Widow as Club Patron (uncredited)
1952
Pat and Mike as Golf Spectator (uncredited)
1952
Young Man with Ideas as Lawyer at Seminar (uncredited)
1952
Something to Live For as Man in Tweeds (uncredited)
1952
Room for One More as Boy Scout Ceremony Attendee (uncredited)
1951
Strangers on a Train as Tennis Match Spectator (uncredited)
1951
The Strange Door
1951
Hollywood Story as Christmas Parade Spectator (uncredited)
1951
Pier 23 as Waiter (uncredited)
1951
On the Riviera as Party Guest (uncredited)
1950
Mister 880 as Restaurant Diner (uncredited)
1950
Born to Be Bad as Charity Ball Guest (uncredited)
1950
Rocketship X-M as Reporter (uncredited)
1950
Young Man with a Horn as Man at Train Station / Café Guest (uncredited)
1950
No Man of Her Own as Country Club Patron (uncredited)
1949
East Side, West Side as Del Rio Club Patron (uncredited)
1949
Johnny Allegro
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
Above Suspicion as German Cafe Patron (Uncredited)
1943
Mission to Moscow as Ball Guest (uncredited)
1943
Keeper of the Flame
1943
Casablanca as Gambler at Rick's (uncredited)
1942
You Were Never Lovelier as One of Maria's Suitors (uncredited)
1942
The Big Street as Nightclub Patron (Uncredited)
1942
The Falcon Takes Over as Nightclub Patron (Uncredited)
1942
Blue, White, and Perfect as Man at Ship Dock (uncredited)
1941
Hellzapoppin' as Party Guest (uncredited)
1941
The Mexican Spitfire's Baby as Nightclub Patron
1941
Niagara Falls as Hotel Guest (uncredited)
1941
Hold That Ghost as Club Patron (uncredited)
1941
Tom, Dick and Harry as Bowler (uncredited)
1941
Ziegfeld Girl as Palm Beach Casino Patron (uncredited)
1941
The Lady Eve as Passenger on Ship (uncredited)
1940
Mexican Spitfire Out West as Hotel Guest
1940
Christmas in July as Co-Worker in Office (uncredited)
1940
Down Argentine Way as Racetrack Spectator (uncredited)
1940
Dance, Girl, Dance as Dissaproving Theatre Patron (uncredited)
1939
Should Husbands Work? as Ronald McDonald
1939
Second Fiddle as Nightclub Patron
1939
Angel of Mercy as President Garfield's Secretary (uncredited)
1938
The Buccaneer as Villere
1937
I'll Take Romance as Juan
1937
Rich Relations as Don Blair
1936
Camille as Emile (uncredited)
1936
Captain Calamity as Carr
1936
The Sea Fiend as Robert Jackson
1936
The Great Ziegfeld as Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
1936
Murder at Glen Athol as Tom Randel
1935
The Devil of the Sea as Roberto
1935
Woman Wanted as Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
1935
Storm Over the Andes as Diaz
1934
Caravan as Young Officer at Beer Garden (Uncredited)
1934
Imitation of Life as Young Man Proposing Toast (uncredited)
1934
Grand Canary as Robert Tranter
1934
The World Moves On as Jacques Girard (1924)
1934
Let’s Be Ritzy as Rogers
1934
Unknown Blonde as Bob Parker
1933
Only Yesterday as Jerry (Uncredited)
1933
Lady for a Day as Carlos
1933
Cocktail Hour as Philippe
1933
Luxury Liner as Prince Vladimir Gleboff
1931
Dishonored as Young Lieutenant - Firing Squad
1931
Dracula (Spanish Version) as Juan Harker
1930
East is West as Billy Benson
1930
Curmudgeon
1930
Bold Love
1929
The Exalted Flapper as Prince Boris of Dacia
1928
Sins of the Fathers as Tom Spengler
1928
The Red Dance as Rasputin's Assassin (uncredited)
1928
Mother Knows Best as Boy
1928
4 Devils as Adolf
1928
Fleetwing as Jaafor
1928
The Legion of the Condemned as Byron Dashwood
1927
The Wizard as Reginald Van Lear
1927
Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans as Ballroom Dancer / Kissing Couple (uncredited)
1927
A Man About Town as Amos, a Centerville Clerk
1927
The Heart of Salome as Henri Bezanne
1927
Ankles Preferred as Jimmy
1926
The Canyon of Light as Ricardo Deane
1926
What Price Glory as Pvt. Kenneth 'Mother's Boy' Lewisohn
1926
The Lily as Max de Maigny
1926
The Black Pirate as Youth (uncredited)
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Barry Norton