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Barry Norton (born Alfredo Carlos Birabén; June 16, 1905 – August 24, 1956) was an Argentine-American actor. He appeared in over 90 films, starting in
silent film A silent film is a film without synchronized recorded sound (or more generally, no audible dialogue). Though silent films convey narrative and emotion visually, various plot elements (such as a setting or era) or key lines of dialogue may, w ...
s from 1925 until his death in 1956. He is perhaps best known for his role as Juan Harker in
Universal Pictures Universal City Studios LLC, doing business as Universal Pictures (also known as Universal Studios or simply Universal), is an American filmmaking, film production and film distribution, distribution company headquartered at the 10 Universal Ci ...
' Spanish-language version of '' Drácula'' in 1931, the English language role of Jonathan Harker originated by David Manners.


Early life

In 1923, Norton emigrated to the United States as a second cabin class passenger under the name of Carlos Manuel A. Biraben on the S/S ''Vestris'', which had sailed from Buenos Aires, 12 March, and arrived at the Port of New York on 1 April 1923. Years later, he became a naturalized United States citizen.


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 '' The 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, " ortonhas 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 ''The Criminal Code'' is a 1931 American Pre-Code Hollywood, pre-Code Romance film, romantic Crime film, crime Drama (film and television), drama film directed by Howard Hawks and starring Walter Huston and Phillips Holmes. The screenplay, base ...
'' (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 Frank Russell Capra (born Francesco Rosario Capra; May 18, 1897 – September 3, 1991) was an Italian-American film director, producer, and screenwriter who was the creative force behind Frank Capra filmography#Films that won Academy Award ...
'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.


Personal life

Norton was married to Josephine Byers, a woman from
California California () is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States that lies on the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. It borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and shares Mexico–United States border, an ...
by whom he had a daughter, Sharon, and two grandchildren. In her autobiography ''Being and Becoming'', actress
Myrna Loy Myrna Loy (born Myrna Adele Williams; August 2, 1905 – December 14, 1993) was an American film, television and stage actress. As a performer, she was known for her ability to adapt to her screen partner's acting style. Born in Helena, Monta ...
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.


Death

On August 24, 1956, Norton died of a
heart attack A myocardial infarction (MI), commonly known as a heart attack, occurs when Ischemia, blood flow decreases or stops in one of the coronary arteries of the heart, causing infarction (tissue death) to the heart muscle. The most common symptom ...
in
Hollywood, California Hollywood, sometimes informally called Tinseltown, is a List of districts and neighborhoods in Los Angeles, neighborhood and district in the Central Los Angeles, central region of Los Angeles County, California, within the city of Los Angeles. ...
. He was 51 years old. He died penniless and his old Hollywood friends – among them Antonio Moreno,
Gilbert Roland Luis Antonio Dámaso de Alonso (December 11, 1905 – May 15, 1994), known professionally as Gilbert Roland, was a Mexican-born American film and television actor whose career spanned seven decades from the 1920s until the 1980s. He was twice no ...
, Gertrude Astor,
Philo McCullough Philo McCullough (June 16, 1893 – June 5, 1981) was an American actor. He appeared in more than 250 films between 1914 and 1969. He was born in San Bernardino, California, and died in Burbank, California. McCullough's film debut came in 1912 ...
and Charles Morton – took up a collection to pay for his cremation, which required the permission of his brother in Buenos Aires.


Selected filmography


References


External links

* *
Barry Norton profile
Virtual-History.com

ovguide.com {{DEFAULTSORT:Norton, Barry 1905 births 1956 deaths American male film actors Argentine male silent film actors Argentine male film actors Argentine people of French descent American male silent film actors Male actors from Buenos Aires 20th-century American male actors Argentine emigrants to the United States