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Jack Norton
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jack Norton (September 2, 1882 – October 15, 1958) was an American stage and film character actor who appeared in 184 films between 1934 and 1948, often playing drunks, although in real life he was a teetotaler.
Career
Jack Norton was born in Brooklyn, New York on September 2, 1882.
In his early career he had a vaudeville comedy act with his wife Lillian Healy. Norton made his Broadway debut in 1925 in that year's edition of Earl Carroll's Vanities, and also appeared in Florida Girl, which was produced and staged by Carroll.
Norton's first film work was for a musical short, School for Romance, in 1934, in which a young Betty Grable appeared, but his scenes were deleted. His work survived to reach the screen in his next assignment, The Super Snooper, a comedy short, and in his third film, his first full-length movie, Finishing School, which featured Frances Dee, Billie Burke, Ginger Rogers and Bruce Cabot, Norton played a drunk, setting the pattern for many of his future performances. Although he also played stone sober characters as well, he was best known for his inebriated characterizations, and he improved his work by following genuine drunks around, picking up behavioral tips.
As actor
Bob Hope's World of Comedy
The Big Parade of Comedy
I Was a Burlesque Queen
Malice in the Palace
The Sin of Harold Diddlebock
Variety Girl
Linda, Be Good
Hired Husband
Shadows Over Chinatown
Rhythm and Weep
Nocturne
Flame of Barbary Coast
The Scarlet Clue
Fashion Model
Man Alive
Captain Tugboat Annie
Two O'Clock Courage
Strange Confession
The Naughty Nineties
A Guy, a Gal and a Pal
Hold That Blonde!
Charlie Chan in The Chinese Cat
Going My Way
Once Upon a Time
The Miracle of Morgan's Creek
Make Your Own Bed
The Story of Dr. Wassell
Hail the Conquering Hero
The Big Noise
Taxi, Mister