Judith Barrett
Encyclopedia
Judith Barrett also known as Nancy Dover, was an American film actress of the late 1920s and through the 1930s, up until 1940.
Born Lucille Kelley and raised in Arlington, Texas
, one of three children and the daughter of a cattle rancher, whom she later claimed to be a "dirt" farmer who died of a broken heart. From these humble beginnings she knew, even from a young age, that she was different from those around her. She loved to laugh, and to entertain the adults by singing, dancing and playing "drum" on a turned over metal wash tub. Barrett made several appearances at The Palace Theatre, Dallas while still at school. She did modeling at a department store for ladies tea/fashion shows. At sixteen leaving everything behind, she got on a train to Hollywood knowing she had what it took to be a star. With hard work and dedication her first big chance came to her, when she started in a lavish commercial film in 1928, The Sock Exchange opposite Bobby Vernon
. In 1929 she went to Hollywood, starred in five films, and made a successful transition to "talking films". From 1928 to 1933 she was billed as "Nancy Dover", and from 1930 to 1933 she appeared in nine films, all credited. In 1933 she appeared in only one film, Marriage Humor opposite Harry Langdon
and Vernon Dent
, while doing stage work. She would not have another role until 1936, when she starred in the crime drama Yellowstone
opposite Henry Hunter, and alongside Ralph Morgan
and Alan Hale
. It was the first film that she was billed as "Judith Barrett". She appeared in two films that year, and five in 1937, one of which was her first uncredited role.
From 1938 to 1940 Barrett appeared in ten films, all credited. Barrett retired from film acting following her appearance in the 1940 film Those Were the Days!, starring William Holden
and Bonita Granville
.
Noted for her beauty, the October 16, 1939 edition of the Baltimore Sun said of her: "Judith Barrett, pretty and blonde actress, is the first Telegenic Girl to go on record. In other words, she is the perfect type of beauty for television. ... She is slated for the first television motion picture."
She eventually settled in Palm Desert, California
, where she was residing at the time of her death on March 10, 2000.
Born Lucille Kelley and raised in Arlington, Texas
Arlington, Texas
Arlington is a city in Tarrant County, Texas within the Dallas–Fort Worth metropolitan area. According to the 2010 census results, the city had a population of 365,438, making it the third largest municipality in the Metroplex...
, one of three children and the daughter of a cattle rancher, whom she later claimed to be a "dirt" farmer who died of a broken heart. From these humble beginnings she knew, even from a young age, that she was different from those around her. She loved to laugh, and to entertain the adults by singing, dancing and playing "drum" on a turned over metal wash tub. Barrett made several appearances at The Palace Theatre, Dallas while still at school. She did modeling at a department store for ladies tea/fashion shows. At sixteen leaving everything behind, she got on a train to Hollywood knowing she had what it took to be a star. With hard work and dedication her first big chance came to her, when she started in a lavish commercial film in 1928, The Sock Exchange opposite Bobby Vernon
Bobby Vernon
Bobby Vernon was an American comedic actor in silent films. He later became a writer and comedy supervisor at Paramount for W.C. Fields and Bing Crosby, when the sound era arrived....
. In 1929 she went to Hollywood, starred in five films, and made a successful transition to "talking films". From 1928 to 1933 she was billed as "Nancy Dover", and from 1930 to 1933 she appeared in nine films, all credited. In 1933 she appeared in only one film, Marriage Humor opposite Harry Langdon
Harry Langdon
Harry Philmore Langdon was an American comedian who appeared in vaudeville, silent films , and talkies. He was briefly partnered with Oliver Hardy.-Life and career:...
and Vernon Dent
Vernon Dent
Vernon Bruce Dent was a comic actor who appeared in over 400 films in his career. He co-starred in many short films for Columbia Pictures, frequently as the foil to the Three Stooges.-Early career:...
, while doing stage work. She would not have another role until 1936, when she starred in the crime drama Yellowstone
Yellowstone (film)
Yellowstone is a 63-minute American film set in Yellowstone National Park, directed by Arthur Lubin and released by Universal Studios....
opposite Henry Hunter, and alongside Ralph Morgan
Ralph Morgan
Ralph Morgan was a Hollywood film, stage and character actor, and the older brother of Frank Morgan .-Early life:...
and Alan Hale
Alan Hale, Sr.
Alan Hale, Sr. was an American movie actor and director, most widely remembered for his many supporting character roles, in particular as frequent sidekick of Errol Flynn. His wife of over thirty years was Gretchen Hartman , a child actress and silent film player and mother of their three children...
. It was the first film that she was billed as "Judith Barrett". She appeared in two films that year, and five in 1937, one of which was her first uncredited role.
From 1938 to 1940 Barrett appeared in ten films, all credited. Barrett retired from film acting following her appearance in the 1940 film Those Were the Days!, starring William Holden
William Holden
William Holden was an American actor. Holden won the Academy Award for Best Actor in 1954 and the Emmy Award for Best Actor in 1974...
and Bonita Granville
Bonita Granville
Bonita Granville was an American film actress and television producer.-Early life:Born in Chicago, Illinois, Granville was the daughter of stage actors, and made her film debut at the age of nine in Westward Passage...
.
Noted for her beauty, the October 16, 1939 edition of the Baltimore Sun said of her: "Judith Barrett, pretty and blonde actress, is the first Telegenic Girl to go on record. In other words, she is the perfect type of beauty for television. ... She is slated for the first television motion picture."
She eventually settled in Palm Desert, California
Palm Desert, California
Palm Desert is a city in Riverside County, California, United States, in the Coachella Valley, approximately east of Palm Springs. The population was 48,445 at the 2010 census, up from 41,155 at the 2000 census...
, where she was residing at the time of her death on March 10, 2000.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1928 | June | Credited as Nancy Dover | |
| 1929 | Happy Heels | Credited as Nancy Dover | |
| 1929 | Scandal | Janet | Credited as Nancy Dover |
| 1929 | Skirt Shy | Nancy, the maid | Credited as Nancy Dover |
| 1929 | Dynamite Dynamite (film) Dynamite is a drama film produced and directed by Cecil B. DeMille. It stars Conrad Nagel, Kay Johnson, Charles Bickford and Julia Faye... |
Good Mixer | Credited as Nancy Dover |
| 1929 | Romance De Luxe | Credited as Nancy Dover | |
| 1930 | Nancy | Credited as Nancy Dover | |
| 1930 | Oh Darling | Credited as Nancy Dover | |
| 1930 | The Brunette Dance Hall Girl | Credited as Nancy Dover | |
| 1930 | Harry's Girl | Credited as Nancy Dover | |
| 1930 | Colleen Riley | Credited as Nancy Dover | |
| 1931 | Cimarron Cimarron (1931 film) Cimarron is a 1931 Pre-Code film directed by Wesley Ruggles and based on the Edna Ferber novel Cimarron. It won three Academy Awards.-Background:... |
Donna Cravat | Credited as Nancy Dover |
| 1931 | Big Business Girl | Sarah Ellen | Credited as Nancy Dover |
| 1931 | Hollywood Halfbacks | Kay | Credited as Nancy Dover |
| Marriage Humor | Credited as Nancy Dover | ||
| 1936 | Yellowstone Yellowstone (film) Yellowstone is a 63-minute American film set in Yellowstone National Park, directed by Arthur Lubin and released by Universal Studios.... |
Ruth Foster | |
| 1936 | Flying Hostess | Helen Brooks | |
| 1937 | Ina Heath | ||
| 1937 | Let Them Live | Rita Johnson | |
| 1937 | Armored Car | Ella Logan | |
| 1937 | Vogues of 1938 | Model | Uncredited |
| 1937 | Behind the Mike | Jane Arledge | |
| 1938 | Illegal Traffic | Marie Arden | |
| 1939 | Persons in Hiding | Blase Blonde | |
| 1939 | I'm from Missouri | Lola Pike | |
| 1939 | Dixie Del Marr | ||
| 1939 | Television Spy Television Spy -Plot:A scientist invents a television called the Iconoscope, which thieves try to steal. Ironically, the term iconoscope was used in real life for certain television vacuum tubes.-Cast:* William Henry as Douglas Cameron* Judith Barrett as Gwen Lawson... |
Gwen Lawson | |
| 1939 | Disputed Passage Disputed Passage Disputed Passage is a 1939 American film starring John Howard, Dorothy Lamour, Akim Tamiroff, Judith Barrett, and William Collier, Sr. Set in war-torn China, the film was described by the New York Times as a "lavish soap opera". The 87 minute-long film was based on the best-selling novel of the... |
Winifred Bane | |
| 1939 | Marie Clark | ||
| 1940 | Road to Singapore Road to Singapore Road to Singapore is a 1940 Paramount Pictures film starring Bing Crosby, Dorothy Lamour, and Bob Hope, which marked the debut of the long-running and popular "Road to …" series of pictures spotlighting the trio.-Plot:... |
Gloria Wycott | |
| 1940 | Women Without Names | Peggy Athens | |
| 1940 | Those Were the Days! | Mirabel Allstairs |