Career
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. 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 Private
"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.""
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 March), and George A. Hirliman"s 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 South American fiancé in Frank Capra"s Lady for a Day (1933).
Although he would continue to work for another fifteen years, Norton"s last credited screen role would be Should Husbands Work? (1939). Foreign 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.