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. 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
Bob Hope's World of Comedy
as Self - Tribute Montage (archive footage)
Bob Hope's World of Comedy
as Self - Tribute Montage (archive footage)
The Big Parade of Comedy
as Actor in 'The Girl from Missouri' (archive footage) (uncredited)
The Big Parade of Comedy
as Actor in 'The Girl from Missouri' (archive footage) (uncredited)
I Was a Burlesque Queen
as Jim Benson
I Was a Burlesque Queen
as Jim Benson
Malice in the Palace
as Emir of Schmoe (uncredited)
Malice in the Palace
as Emir of Schmoe (uncredited)
Linda, Be Good
as Jim Benson
Linda, Be Good
as Jim Benson
Variety Girl
as Busboy at Brown Derby
Variety Girl
as Busboy at Brown Derby
Hired Husband
as Mr. Drinkwater
Hired Husband
as Mr. Drinkwater
The Sin of Harold Diddlebock
as James R. Smoke
The Sin of Harold Diddlebock
as James R. Smoke
Nocturne
as Charlie (uncredited)
Nocturne
as Charlie (uncredited)
Rhythm and Weep
as Mr. Walsh
Rhythm and Weep
as Mr. Walsh
Shadows Over Chinatown
as Cosgrove
Shadows Over Chinatown
as Cosgrove
Hold That Blonde!
as Drunk (uncredited)
Hold That Blonde!
as Drunk (uncredited)
Captain Tugboat Annie
as Shiftless
Captain Tugboat Annie
as Shiftless
Man Alive
as William T. Lafferty
Man Alive
as William T. Lafferty
Strange Confession
as Jack
Strange Confession
as Jack
The Naughty Nineties
as Drunk at the Gilded Cage (uncredited)
The Naughty Nineties
as Drunk at the Gilded Cage (uncredited)
Flame of Barbary Coast
as Byline Conners, Reporter San Francisco Star
Flame of Barbary Coast
as Byline Conners, Reporter San Francisco Star
The Scarlet Clue
as Willie Rand
The Scarlet Clue
as Willie Rand
Two O'Clock Courage
as Drunk at Blue Room Bar (uncredited)
Two O'Clock Courage
as Drunk at Blue Room Bar (uncredited)
A Guy, a Gal and a Pal
as Norton
A Guy, a Gal and a Pal
as Norton
Fashion Model
as Herbert
Fashion Model
as Herbert
The Big Noise
as Drunk on Train
The Big Noise
as Drunk on Train
The Miracle of Morgan's Creek
as Country Club Man Ordering Champagne (uncredited)
The Miracle of Morgan's Creek
as Country Club Man Ordering Champagne (uncredited)
Hail the Conquering Hero
as Second Bandleader (uncredited)
Hail the Conquering Hero
as Second Bandleader (uncredited)
The Story of Dr. Wassell
as 'Janssen' Passenger (uncredited)
The Story of Dr. Wassell
as 'Janssen' Passenger (uncredited)
Once Upon a Time
as Man In Barber Chair (uncredited)
Once Upon a Time
as Man In Barber Chair (uncredited)
Make Your Own Bed
as Drunk
Make Your Own Bed
as Drunk
Charlie Chan in The Chinese Cat
as Hotel Desk Clerk
Charlie Chan in The Chinese Cat
as Hotel Desk Clerk
Going My Way
as Mr. Lilly (uncredited)
Going My Way
as Mr. Lilly (uncredited)
Crazy House
as Drunk
Crazy House
as Drunk
Thank Your Lucky Stars
as Customer in Bette Davis Number (uncredited)
Thank Your Lucky Stars
as Customer in Bette Davis Number (uncredited)
The Kansan
as Saloon Drunk
The Kansan
as Saloon Drunk
So's Your Uncle
as Drunk
So's Your Uncle
as Drunk
Prairie Chickens
as Henry Lewis-Clark III
Prairie Chickens
as Henry Lewis-Clark III
Taxi, Mister
as Reginald Van Nostrum - the Drunk
Taxi, Mister
as Reginald Van Nostrum - the Drunk
The Falcon Strikes Back
as Second Hobo (uncredited)
The Falcon Strikes Back
as Second Hobo (uncredited)
It Ain't Hay
as Drunk (uncredited)
It Ain't Hay
as Drunk (uncredited)
Dr. Renault's Secret
as Mr. Austin
Dr. Renault's Secret
as Mr. Austin
Moonlight in Havana
as George
Moonlight in Havana
as George
The Palm Beach Story
as Second Member Ale and Quail Club
The Palm Beach Story
as Second Member Ale and Quail Club
My Favorite Spy
as Orchid Room Drunk
My Favorite Spy
as Orchid Room Drunk
The Spoilers
as Mr. Skinner
The Spoilers
as Mr. Skinner
Dr. Broadway
as Drunk (uncredited)
Dr. Broadway
as Drunk (uncredited)
Brooklyn Orchid
as Jonathan McFeeder
Brooklyn Orchid
as Jonathan McFeeder
The Fleet's In
as Kellogg
The Fleet's In
as Kellogg
Pacific Blackout
as Drunk
Pacific Blackout
as Drunk
Louisiana Purchase
as Jester
Louisiana Purchase
as Jester
No Hands on the Clock
as Bartender at The Nugget Room
No Hands on the Clock
as Bartender at The Nugget Room
Ride on Vaquero
Ride on Vaquero
Let's Make Music
as Drunk
Let's Make Music
as Drunk
A Night at Earl Carroll's
as Alonzo Smith
A Night at Earl Carroll's
as Alonzo Smith
The Bank Dick
as A. Pismo Clam
The Bank Dick
as A. Pismo Clam
The Villain Still Pursued Her
as Drunk
The Villain Still Pursued Her
as Drunk
The Way of All Flesh
as Barber
The Way of All Flesh
as Barber
The Ghost Breakers
as Drunk (uncredited)
The Ghost Breakers
as Drunk (uncredited)
Opened by Mistake
as Al, the Bartender
Opened by Mistake
as Al, the Bartender
The Farmer's Daughter
as Shimmy Conway
The Farmer's Daughter
as Shimmy Conway
City of Chance
as Mr. Murphy
City of Chance
as Mr. Murphy
Joe and Ethel Turp Call on the President
as Parker
Joe and Ethel Turp Call on the President
as Parker
The Roaring Twenties
as Drunk at Henderson Club (uncredited)
The Roaring Twenties
as Drunk at Henderson Club (uncredited)
News Is Made at Night
as Drunk
News Is Made at Night
as Drunk
Grand Jury Secrets
as Doyle
Grand Jury Secrets
as Doyle
Society Smugglers
as Prentis
Society Smugglers
as Prentis
The Lone Wolf Spy Hunt
as Charlie Fenton - the Party Drunk (uncredited)
The Lone Wolf Spy Hunt
as Charlie Fenton - the Party Drunk (uncredited)
Thanks for the Memory
as Bert Monroe
Thanks for the Memory
as Bert Monroe
Meet the Girls
as Fletcher
Meet the Girls
as Fletcher
The Awful Tooth
as Dr. Schultz
The Awful Tooth
as Dr. Schultz
Hold That Kiss
as Mallory
Hold That Kiss
as Mallory
Jezebel
as Drunk (uncredited)
Jezebel
as Drunk (uncredited)
Arsène Lupin Returns
as Hotel Manager (uncredited)
Arsène Lupin Returns
as Hotel Manager (uncredited)
Love Is a Headache
as Bartender (uncredited)
Love Is a Headache
as Bartender (uncredited)
Everybody's Doing It
as Harry The Drunk
Everybody's Doing It
as Harry The Drunk
My Dear Miss Aldrich
as First Drunk at Red Apple Inn (uncredited)
My Dear Miss Aldrich
as First Drunk at Red Apple Inn (uncredited)
The Women Men Marry
as Wilhelm Peebles (uncredited)
The Women Men Marry
as Wilhelm Peebles (uncredited)
Meet the Missus
as Mr. Norton
Meet the Missus
as Mr. Norton
Marked Woman
as Drunk
Marked Woman
as Drunk
Time Out for Romance
as Crapshooter
Time Out for Romance
as Crapshooter
Who's Looney Now
as Herbert Brown
Who's Looney Now
as Herbert Brown
Forgotten Faces
as Drunk
Forgotten Faces
as Drunk
Down the Ribber
Down the Ribber
The Preview Murder Mystery
as Comedy Director (Uncredited)
The Preview Murder Mystery
as Comedy Director (Uncredited)
Foolish Hearts
as Jimmy
Foolish Hearts
as Jimmy
Ship Cafe
as Mr. Randall (uncredited)
Ship Cafe
as Mr. Randall (uncredited)
Dr. Socrates
as Drunk in Park
Dr. Socrates
as Drunk in Park
His Night Out
as Dr. Singer
His Night Out
as Dr. Singer
Page Miss Glory
as Reporter (uncredited)
Page Miss Glory
as Reporter (uncredited)
Broadway Gondolier
as Man on Ship with Pipe
Broadway Gondolier
as Man on Ship with Pipe
Don't Bet on Blondes
as J. Mortimer 'Mousy' Slade
Don't Bet on Blondes
as J. Mortimer 'Mousy' Slade
Going Highbrow
as Sinclair
Going Highbrow
as Sinclair
Stolen Harmony
as Phillips (uncredited)
Stolen Harmony
as Phillips (uncredited)
Sweet Music
as Drunk (uncredited)
Sweet Music
as Drunk (uncredited)
One More Spring
as Drunk
One More Spring
as Drunk
Calling All Cars
as Duke Costello
Calling All Cars
as Duke Costello
The Gilded Lily
as Photographer (uncredited)
The Gilded Lily
as Photographer (uncredited)
One Too Many
One Too Many
Fixing a Stew
as Pete
Fixing a Stew
as Pete
Counsel on De Fence
Counsel on De Fence
Cockeyed Cavaliers
as King's Physician
Cockeyed Cavaliers
as King's Physician
Woman Haters
as Justice of the Peace (uncredited)
Woman Haters
as Justice of the Peace (uncredited)
Finishing School
as Drunk (uncredited)
Finishing School
as Drunk (uncredited)
The Super Snooper
The Super Snooper