Judith Barrett


Judith Barrett, also known as Nancy Dover, was an American film actress whose career spanned from the late 1920s until 1940.

Early life

Born and raised in Venus, Texas, Barrett was one of three children of a cattle rancher Sam Kelley.

Career

At 16, Barrett got on a train to Hollywood. Her first big chance came when she started in a lavish commercial film in 1928, The Sock Exchange opposite Bobby Vernon. In 1929, Barrett 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, Barrett appeared in only one film, Marriage Humor opposite Harry Langdon and Vernon Dent, while doing stage work. She did 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 in which 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 10 films, all credited, including Road to Singapore, the first "road" picture by the team of Bing Crosby and Bob Hope. Barrett retired from film acting following her appearance in the 1940 comedy Those Were the Days!, starring William Holden and Bonita Granville.

Telegenic

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." The Salt Lake Tribune noted that Barrett was "selected after months of exhaustive tests by television experts, sound engineers, photographers, and make-up specialists." Paramount Pictures followed up on the selection by featuring her in its film, Television Spy.

Personal life

In March 1940, Barrett married Lindsay C. Howard in Yuma, Arizona. They divorced on April 8, 1952. She had earlier been married to actor Cliff Edwards.
She eventually settled in Palm Desert, California, where she was residing at the time of her death at the age of 91 on March 10, 2000. She had two children with Howard and the marriage ended in divorce.

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNotes
1928'JuneFirst role credited as Nancy Dover
1929Happy Heels-
1929ScandalJanet-
1929Skirt ShyNancy, the maid-
1929DynamiteGood Mixer-
1929Romance De Luxe-
1930'Nancy-
1930Oh Darling-
1930 The Brunette Dance Hall Girl-
1930'Harry's Girl-
1930The ThoroughbredColleen Riley-
1931CimarronDonna Cravat-
1931Big Business Girl Sarah Ellen-
1931Hollywood HalfbacksKay-
1933Marriage HumorLast role credited as Nancy Dover
1936YellowstoneRuth Foster
1936Flying HostessHelen Brooks
1937'Ina Heath
1937Let Them LiveRita Johnson
1937Armored CarElla Logan
1937Vogues of 1938ModelUncredited
1937Behind the MikeJane Arledge
1938Illegal TrafficMarie Arden
1939Persons in HidingBlase Blonde
1939I'm from MissouriLola Pike
1939'Dixie Del Marr
1939Television SpyGwen Lawson
1939Disputed PassageWinifred Bane
1939'Marie Clark
1940Road to SingaporeGloria Wycott
1940Women Without NamesPeggy Athens
1940Those Were the Days!Mirabel AllstairsFinal film role