Jack Norton

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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.

Filmography

Movies and shows, newest first

1976
Bob Hope's World of Comedy
Movie Self - Tribute Montage (archive footage)
1964
The Big Parade of Comedy
Movie Actor in 'The Girl from Missouri' (archive footage) (uncredited)
1953
I Was a Burlesque Queen
Movie Jim Benson
1949
Malice in the Palace
Movie Emir of Schmoe (uncredited)
1947
Linda, Be Good
Movie Jim Benson
1947
Variety Girl
Movie Busboy at Brown Derby
1947
Hired Husband
Movie Mr. Drinkwater
1947
The Sin of Harold Diddlebock
Movie James R. Smoke
1946
Nocturne
Movie Charlie (uncredited)
1946
Rhythm and Weep
Movie Mr. Walsh
1946
Shadows Over Chinatown
Movie Cosgrove
1945
Hold That Blonde!
Movie Drunk (uncredited)
1945
Captain Tugboat Annie
Movie Shiftless
1945
Man Alive
Movie William T. Lafferty
1945
Strange Confession
Movie Jack
1945
The Naughty Nineties
Movie Drunk at the Gilded Cage (uncredited)

More credits

1945
Flame of Barbary Coast
Movie Byline Conners, Reporter San Francisco Star
1945
The Scarlet Clue
Movie Willie Rand
1945
Two O'Clock Courage
Movie Drunk at Blue Room Bar (uncredited)
1945
A Guy, a Gal and a Pal
Movie Norton
1945
Fashion Model
Movie Herbert
1944
The Big Noise
Movie Drunk on Train
1944
The Miracle of Morgan's Creek
Movie Country Club Man Ordering Champagne (uncredited)
1944
Hail the Conquering Hero
Movie Second Bandleader (uncredited)
1944
The Story of Dr. Wassell
Movie 'Janssen' Passenger (uncredited)
1944
Once Upon a Time
Movie Man In Barber Chair (uncredited)
1944
Make Your Own Bed
Movie Drunk
1944
Charlie Chan in The Chinese Cat
Movie Hotel Desk Clerk
1944
Going My Way
Movie Mr. Lilly (uncredited)
1943
Crazy House
Movie Drunk
1943
Thank Your Lucky Stars
Movie Customer in Bette Davis Number (uncredited)
1943
The Kansan
Movie Saloon Drunk
1943
So's Your Uncle
Movie Drunk
1943
Prairie Chickens
Movie Henry Lewis-Clark III
1943
Taxi, Mister
Movie Reginald Van Nostrum - the Drunk
1943
The Falcon Strikes Back
Movie Second Hobo (uncredited)
1943
It Ain't Hay
Movie Drunk (uncredited)
1942
Dr. Renault's Secret
Movie Mr. Austin
1942
Moonlight in Havana
Movie George
1942
The Palm Beach Story
Movie Second Member Ale and Quail Club