1905-06-16 ( 119 years old ) in 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.
Movies
Around the World in Eighty Days
1956-10-17
Written on the Wind
1956-10-04
Serenade
1956-03-23
Slightly Scarlet
1956-02-29
The Square Jungle
1955-12-30
It's Always Fair Weather
1955-08-30
To Catch a Thief
1955-08-03
White Christmas
1954-10-14
A Star Is Born
1954-10-01
The Caine Mutiny
1954-06-24
Lucky Me
1954-04-09
How to Marry a Millionaire
1953-10-29
Small Town Girl
1953-04-10
Trouble Along the Way
1953-04-04
The Jazz Singer
1953-02-14
The Merry Widow
1952-09-05
Pat and Mike
1952-06-13
Young Man with Ideas
1952-05-02
Something to Live For
1952-03-07
Room for One More
1952-01-10
Strangers on a Train
1951-06-27
The Strange Door
1951-06-21
Hollywood Story
1951-06-01
Pier 23
1951-05-11
On the Riviera
1951-04-20
Mister 880
1950-09-29
Born to Be Bad
1950-09-28
Rocketship X-M
1950-06-02
Young Man with a Horn
1950-03-01
No Man of Her Own
1950-02-21
East Side, West Side
1949-12-22
Johnny Allegro
1949-05-26
An Innocent Affair
1948-10-15
Easter Parade
1948-07-08
The Big Clock
1948-03-18
Monsieur Verdoux
1947-09-26
Variety Girl
1947-08-29
Twilight on the Rio Grande
1947-03-31
Devil Monster
1946-06-29
Without Reservations
1946-05-13
Christmas in Connecticut
1945-07-27
Maisie Goes to Reno
1944-08-15
Above Suspicion
1943-05-31
Mission to Moscow
1943-04-29
Keeper of the Flame
1943-04-01
Casablanca
1943-01-15
You Were Never Lovelier
1942-11-19
The Big Street
1942-08-13
The Falcon Takes Over
1942-05-29
Blue, White, and Perfect
1942-01-06
Hellzapoppin'
1941-12-25
The Mexican Spitfire's Baby
1941-11-28
Niagara Falls
1941-10-17
Hold That Ghost
1941-08-08
Tom, Dick and Harry
1941-06-13
Ziegfeld Girl
1941-04-25
The Lady Eve
1941-02-25
Mexican Spitfire Out West
1940-10-29
Christmas in July
1940-10-25
Down Argentine Way
1940-10-11
Dance, Girl, Dance
1940-08-30
Should Husbands Work?
1939-07-26
Second Fiddle
1939-06-30
Angel of Mercy
1939-05-20
The Buccaneer
1938-02-04
I'll Take Romance
1937-11-17
Rich Relations
1937-02-01
Camille
1936-12-26
Captain Calamity
1936-11-28
The Sea Fiend
1936-04-14
The Great Ziegfeld
1936-04-08
Murder at Glen Athol
1936-02-27
The Devil of the Sea
1935-12-12
Woman Wanted
1935-08-02
Storm Over the Andes
1935-04-01
Caravan
1934-12-30
Imitation of Life
1934-11-23
Grand Canary
1934-07-20
The World Moves On
1934-06-27
Let’s Be Ritzy
1934-05-01
Unknown Blonde
1934-04-23
Only Yesterday
1933-11-01
Lady for a Day
1933-09-13
Cocktail Hour
1933-06-05
Luxury Liner
1933-02-03
Dishonored
1931-04-04
Drácula
1931-03-11
East is West
1930-11-30
Curmudgeon
1930-09-11
Bold Love
1930-07-10
The Exalted Flapper
1929-06-09
Sins of the Fathers
1928-12-28
The Red Dance
1928-12-02
Mother Knows Best
1928-10-28
4 Devils
1928-10-03
Fleetwing
1928-06-24
The Legion of the Condemned
1928-03-10
The Wizard
1927-11-27
Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans
1927-11-04
A Man About Town
1927-05-15
The Heart of Salome
1927-05-08
Ankles Preferred
1927-02-27
The Canyon of Light
1926-12-05
What Price Glory
1926-11-23
The Lily
1926-10-03
The Black Pirate
1926-03-08
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