JN
Jack Norton
Actor
Born September 1, 1889Died October 15, 1958 (69 years)
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.
Norton worked continuously and consistently, sometimes appearing in as many as 20 films in one year, although many of his performances went uncredited. One of the few times he was credited as part of the main cast was in 1945 for the film A Guy, a Gal and a Pal In the 1940s, Norton was part of Preston Sturges' unofficial "stock company" of character actors, appearing in five films written and directed by Sturges. He is perhaps best known to modern audiences as A. Pismo Clam, the drunken film director whom W.C. Fields is hired to replace in The Bank Dick (1940).
In 1947, Norton retired from films due to illness, his last appearance being in Alias a Gentlemen, which was released in 1948, although he did make some live television appearances in the early 1950s.
Jack Norton's final appearance would have been in the 1956 episode of The Honeymooners entitled "Unconventional Behavior", but age and infirmity had so overwhelmed him that he was literally written out of the show as it was being filmed, though Jackie Gleason saw to it that Norton was paid fully for the performance he was ready, willing, but unable to give.
Norton died on October 15, 1958 in Saranac Lake, New York at the age of 76. He is buried in Sacred Hearts Cemetery in Southampton, New York on Long Island.
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.
Norton worked continuously and consistently, sometimes appearing in as many as 20 films in one year, although many of his performances went uncredited. One of the few times he was credited as part of the main cast was in 1945 for the film A Guy, a Gal and a Pal In the 1940s, Norton was part of Preston Sturges' unofficial "stock company" of character actors, appearing in five films written and directed by Sturges. He is perhaps best known to modern audiences as A. Pismo Clam, the drunken film director whom W.C. Fields is hired to replace in The Bank Dick (1940).
In 1947, Norton retired from films due to illness, his last appearance being in Alias a Gentlemen, which was released in 1948, although he did make some live television appearances in the early 1950s.
Jack Norton's final appearance would have been in the 1956 episode of The Honeymooners entitled "Unconventional Behavior", but age and infirmity had so overwhelmed him that he was literally written out of the show as it was being filmed, though Jackie Gleason saw to it that Norton was paid fully for the performance he was ready, willing, but unable to give.
Norton died on October 15, 1958 in Saranac Lake, New York at the age of 76. He is buried in Sacred Hearts Cemetery in Southampton, New York on Long Island.
Movies & Shows on Plex
Filmography
| 1964 | The Big Parade of Comedy · as Actor In 'the Girl From Missouri' (archive Footage) (uncredited) |
| 1952 | The Jackie Gleason Show (TV Series) · as Drunk In Top Hat And Tails |
| 1949 | Two Knights from Brooklyn · as Reginald Von Nostrum, The Drunk |
| 1949 | Malice in the Palace · as Emir Of Schmoe (uncredited) |
| 1948 | Variety Time · as Mr. Drinkwater - Clip From 'hired Husband' |
| 1948 | Alias a Gentleman · as Charnell |
| 1947 | Variety Girl · as Busboy At Brown Derby |
| 1947 | Down to Earth · as Sleeping Man In Audience |
| 1947 | The Sin of Harold Diddlebock · as James R. Smoke |
| 1946 | Lady Luck · as Bartender At Sky's The Limit Club |
| 1946 | Nocturne · as Charlie (uncredited) |
| 1946 | Blue Skies · as Drunk |
| 1946 | Rhythm and Weep · as Mr. Walsh |
| 1946 | No Leave, No Love · as Drunk At Romanovitch's Bar |
| 1946 | Shadows Over Chinatown · as Cosgrove |
| 1946 | The Hoodlum Saint · as Drunk |
| 1946 | The Kid from Brooklyn · as Garden Party Guest |
| 1945 | Hold That Blonde! · as Drunk |
| 1945 | Man Alive · as William T. Lafferty |
| 1945 | Her Highness and the Bellboy · as Mr. Pook - Drunk At Jake's Joint |
| 1945 | Strange Confession · as Jack |
| 1945 | Sunset in El Dorado · as Man At Presentation |
| 1945 | The Naughty Nineties · as Drunk At The Gilded Cage (uncredited) |
| 1945 | Wonder Man · as Drunk In Club |
| 1945 | Flame of Barbary Coast · as Byline Conners, Reporter San Francisco Star |
| 1945 | The Scarlet Clue · as Willie Rand |
| 1945 | The Horn Blows at Midnight · as Drunk In Hotel Room |
| 1945 | Two O'Clock Courage · as Drunk At Blue Room Bar (uncredited) |
| 1945 | Fashion Model · as Herbert |
| 1945 | The Strange Mr. Gregory · as Drunk |
| 1944 | Here Come the Waves · as Waiter At Cabana Club |
| 1944 | Dancing in Manhattan · as Pesky Drunk |
| 1944 | Once Upon a Time · as Man In Barber Chair (uncredited) |
| 1944 | Going My Way · as Mr. Lilly (uncredited) |
| 1944 | The Big Noise · as Drunk On Train |
| 1944 | Gildersleeve's Ghost · as Drunk At Rally |
| 1944 | Hail the Conquering Hero · as Second Bandleader (uncredited) |
| 1944 | The Story of Dr. Wassell · as 'janssen' Passenger (uncredited) |
| 1944 | Ghost Catchers · as Wilbur Duffington |
| 1944 | Make Your Own Bed · as Drunk |
| 1944 | Charlie Chan in the Chinese Cat · as Hotel Desk Clerk |
| 1944 | And the Angels Sing · as Drunk |
| 1944 | Shine on Harvest Moon · as Drunk On Street |
| 1944 | Cover Girl · as Harry |
| 1943 | The Miracle of Morgan's Creek · as Country Club Man Ordering Champagne (uncredited) |
| 1943 | Gildersleeve on Broadway · as Mr. Dobrey, Drunk On Window Ledge |
| 1943 | Crazy House · as Drunk |
| 1943 | Thank Your Lucky Stars · as Customer In Bette Davis Number (uncredited) |
| 1943 | The Kansan · as Saloon Drunk |
| 1943 | Prairie Chickens · as Henry Lewis-Clark Iii |
| 1943 | The Falcon Strikes Back · as Second Hobo (uncredited) |
| 1943 | Taxi, Mister · as Reginald Van Nostrum - The Drunk |
| 1943 | It Ain't Hay · as Drunk (uncredited) |
| 1943 | Assignment in Brittany · as Drunken Peasant |
| 1943 | Lady Bodyguard · as Henderson |
| 1942 | Tennessee Johnson · as Drunk |
| 1942 | The Palm Beach Story · as Second Member Ale And Quail Club |
| 1942 | Dr. Renault's Secret · as Mr. Austin |
| 1942 | Moonlight in Havana · as George |
| 1942 | My Favorite Spy · as Orchid Room Drunk |
| 1942 | The Spoilers · as Mr. Skinner |
| 1942 | Roxie Hart · as Producer |
| 1942 | Dr. Broadway · as Drunk |
| 1942 | Brooklyn Orchid · as Jonathan Mcfeeder |
| 1942 | The Fleet's In · as Kellogg |
| 1941 | Pacific Blackout · as Drunk |
| 1941 | Louisiana Purchase · as Jester |
| 1941 | No Hands on the Clock · as Bartender At The Nugget Room |
| 1941 | You Belong to Me · as Keckel |
| 1941 | The Feminine Touch · as Drunk At Morgan's Parties |
| 1941 | Passage from Hong Kong · as Drunk Going To Oakland |
| 1941 | No Greater Sin · as Drunk |
| 1941 | Down in San Diego · as Drunk |
| 1941 | Forced Landing · as Cantina Drunk |
| 1941 | |
| 1941 | She Knew All the Answers · as Undetermined Secondary Role |
| 1941 | |
| 1941 | Footlight Fever · as Drunk |
| 1941 | Scattergood Baines · as Drunk On Train Smoking A Cigar |
| 1940 | Let's Make Music · as Drunk |
| 1940 | A Night at Earl Carroll's · as Alonzo Smith |
| 1940 | The Bank Dick · as A. Pismo Clam |
| 1940 | The Villain Still Pursued Her · as Drunk |
| 1940 | Golden Gloves · as Jake - The Bartender |
| 1940 | The Way of All Flesh · as Barber |
| 1940 | The Ghost Breakers · as Drunk (uncredited) |
| 1940 | The Farmer's Daughter · as Shimmy Conway |
| 1940 | City of Chance · as Mr. Murphy |
| 1939 | Joe and Ethel Turp Call on the President · as Parker |
| 1939 | Laugh It Off · as Thomas J. Carter, The Drunk |
| 1939 | The Roaring Twenties · as Drunk At Henderson Club (uncredited) |
| 1939 | News Is Made at Night · as Drunk |
| 1939 | Society Smugglers · as Prentis |
| 1939 | The Lone Wolf Spy Hunt · as Charlie Fenton - The Party Drunk (uncredited) |
| 1938 | Thanks for the Memory · as Bert Monroe |
| 1938 | Five of a Kind · as Hector - Drunk In Jail |
| 1938 | King of Alcatraz · as First Officer |
| 1938 | Kentucky Moonshine · as Drunk |
| 1938 | Hold That Kiss · as Mallory |
| 1938 | Paradise for Three · as Drunk At Drinking Fountain |
| 1938 | Jezebel · as Drunk (uncredited) |
| 1938 | Arsène Lupin Returns · as Hotel Manager (uncredited) |
| 1938 | Love Is a Headache · as Bartender (uncredited) |
| 1938 | Everybody's Doing It · as Harry The Drunk |
| 1938 | Man-Proof · as Drunk At Fight |
| 1937 | Thoroughbreds Don't Cry · as Man With Monocle |
| 1937 | The Great Garrick · as Drunken Gentleman |
| 1937 | My Dear Miss Aldrich · as First Drunk At Red Apple Inn (uncredited) |
| 1937 | The Women Men Marry · as Wilhelm Peebles (uncredited) |
| 1937 | Married Before Breakfast · as Drunk On Bus |
| 1937 | Riding on Air · as 'chicago Daily Blade' Reporter |
| 1937 | A Day at the Races · as Drunk |
| 1937 | Meet the Missus · as Mr. Norton |
| 1937 | Pick a Star · as Oscar The Souse |
| 1937 | Marked Woman · as Drunk |
| 1937 | Time Out for Romance · as Crapshooter |
| 1936 | Gold Diggers of 1937 · as Singing Drunk At Party |
| 1936 | After the Thin Man · as Reporter |
| 1936 | The Moon's Our Home · as Drunk |
| 1936 | Too Many Parents · as Drill Instructor |
| 1936 | The Preview Murder Mystery · as Comedy Director (uncredited) |
| 1936 | Anything Goes · as Drunk |
| 1935 | Miss Pacific Fleet · as Radio Announcer At Train |
| 1935 | Dr. Socrates · as Drunk In Park |
| 1935 | Page Miss Glory · as Reporter (uncredited) |
| 1935 | Dante's Inferno · as Drunk In Cabin |
| 1935 | Going Highbrow · as Sinclair |
| 1935 | Broadway Gondolier · as Man On Ship With Pipe |
| 1935 | Front Page Woman · as Reporter |
| 1935 | Don't Bet on Blondes · as J. Mortimer 'mousy' Slade |
| 1935 | Alibi Ike · as Reporter |
| 1935 | The Girl from 10th Avenue · as College Club Guest Outside Bar |
| 1935 | Go Into Your Dance · as Rehearsal Stage Manager |
| 1935 | Stolen Harmony · as Phillips (uncredited) |
| 1935 | Ruggles of Red Gap · as Barfly |
| 1935 | Sweet Music · as Drunk (uncredited) |
| 1935 | One More Spring · as Drunk |
| 1935 | The Gilded Lily · as Photographer |
| 1935 | Calling All Cars · as Duke Costello |
| 1935 | Bordertown · as Gambler At Silver Slipper |
| 1934 | One Hour Late · as Manager |
| 1934 | Happiness Ahead · as Party Reveller |
| 1934 | Death on the Diamond · as Gambler Associate Of Karnes |
| 1934 | The Girl from Missouri · as 1st Reporter In Stateroom |
| 1934 | Cockeyed Cavaliers · as King's Physician |
| 1934 | Money Means Nothing · as Jack - Hijacker |
| 1934 | Now I'll Tell · as One Of Murray's Chums |
| 1934 | A Duke for a Day · as Man Falling Out Of Elevator |
| 1934 | Woman Haters · as Justice Of The Peace (uncredited) |
| 1934 | Finishing School · as Drunk (uncredited) |
| 1930 | Girl of the Port · as Drunk |