Barry Norton

Barry Norton

Norton in 1927
Born Alfredo Carlos Birabén
June 16, 1905
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Died August 24, 1956
Hollywood, California

Barry Norton (June 16, 1905 – August 24, 1956) was an Argentine-born actor in American films. He appeared in over ninety films from 1925 until the time of his death. He is perhaps best known for his role as Juan Harker in the Spanish-language version of Dracula (1931), produced by Universal Pictures.

Career

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. Said one theater owner in Golden City, Montana: "...Barry Norton has as yet to show me a bad performance. There's a boy that is a 'natural.'"[1]

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. Dracula 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 George A. Hirliman's Captain Calamity (El capitan Tormenta), the latter film reuniting him with Lupita Tovar, his romantic interest from Dracula.[2]

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.[3] In 1933 he secured what would be his last important role, playing Jean Parker's South American fiancé in Frank Capra's Lady for a Day (1933).

Last years and death

Although he would continue to work for another fifteen 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. He died of a heart attack in Hollywood in 1956.

Personal life

Norton was born to an affluent family in Buenos Aires in 1905. His birth name was Alfredo Carlos Birabén.[4]

Norton was married to Californian Josephine Biraben (previously Josephine Byers), by whom he had a daughter, Sharon, and two grandchildren. In her autobiography Being and Becoming, actress Myrna Loy wrote that she briefly dated Norton. Other sources link him romantically with Dorothy Dare and Alice Terry. In the latter's case, they appear to have been friends rather than lovers.[5]

Selected filmography

References

  1. ↑ Profile, cinemaweb.com; accessed July 4, 2015.
  2. ↑ Rodriguez, Clara. Heroes, Lovers, and Others: The Story of Latinos in Hollywood. Oxford University Press, 2008. ISBN 0195335139, 9780195335132
  3. ↑ Barry Norton Video Archived 19 January 2011 at WebCite
  4. ↑ Barry Norton (I) - Biography Archived 19 January 2011 at WebCite
  5. ↑ Slide, Anthony. Silent Topics; Scarecrow, 2005, p. 48

External links

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