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Judith BarrettAmerican film actress
Date of Birth: 02.02.1909
Country:  USA |
Content:
Biography of Judith Barrett
Judith Barrett was an American actress who starred in leading female roles from the late 1920s to the early 1940s. She was also known by her creative pseudonym Nancy Dover. Her real name was Lucille Kelley. She was born on February 2, 1909, in Arlington, Texas, and spent her childhood there. Some sources indicate her birth year as 1914, however, actors often changed not only their names but also reduced their age.
Early Career
During her school years, Judith appeared several times on the stage of The Palace Theatre in Dallas. She made her film debut in 1928 under the pseudonym Nancy Dover and used this name until 1933. Her first film was the comedy "The Stock Exchange," in which she starred alongside Bobby Vernon, a Hollywood silent film star. Later, with the advent of sound cinema, Vernon left acting and became a screenwriter. In 1929, Judith headed to Hollywood and successfully adapted to the industry, appearing in six films. She had a pleasant voice and successfully made the transition to sound cinema.
Transition to Judith Barrett
From 1928 to 1933, under the name Nancy Dover, she appeared in 16 films. Then, she took a three-year break, which ended after her divorce. During the hiatus, she performed on the theater stage. The only film released in 1933 featuring Barrett was the short comedy "Marriage Humor," in which she acted alongside comedic actors Harry Langdon and Vernon Dent. In 1936, she returned to the screens under the new name Judith Barrett and appeared in 17 films. Her first film under the new name was the crime drama "Yellowstone," which combined a mysterious murder, a romantic story, and the beauty of Yellowstone National Park. Henry Hunter played the romantic interest of Judith Barrett's character, while Ralph Morgan and Alan Hale had supporting roles.
Later Career and Personal Life
In 1937, five films were released featuring Barrett, although she played a tiny role as a model in one of them and was not even mentioned in the credits. Over the next two years, Judith began to receive only supporting roles instead of leading ones. Her final work was the 1940 comedy "Those Were the Days!" starring William Holden and Bonita Granville in the lead roles. Judith was married twice. Her first husband was Cliff Edwards, a popular actor, singer, and ukulele player who was 15-20 years older than her. Barrett and Edwards married in August 1932 but divorced four years later. Judith married for the second time in March 1940 to Lindsay Coleman Howard, a top-class polo player. After 1940, she did not appear in any more films, possibly because she did not want to witness her declining popularity or because she decided to focus on her home and children. Despite their divorce after 12 years, Judith and Lindsay had two children together, a daughter named Judith and a son named Frank. The divorce was highly publicized in the press. Eventually, Judith settled in Palm Desert, California, where she lived until her death. She passed away on March 10, 2000, at the age of 91 (or 86, according to other sources).
