Barry Norton (born Alfredo Carlos Birabén; June 16, 1905 â€" August
24, 1956) was an Argentine-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.Norton
was born to an affluent family in Buenos Aires on June 16, 1905. His
birth name was Alfredo Carlos Birabén. In 1923, he 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.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.
24, 1956) was an Argentine-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.Norton
was born to an affluent family in Buenos Aires on June 16, 1905. His
birth name was Alfredo Carlos Birabén. In 1923, he 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.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.
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