Judith Barrett

Judith Barrett (born Lucille Kelley, 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 (1939). They divorced on April 8, 1952. She had earlier been married to actor Cliff Edwards. She had two children with Howard and the marriage ended in divorce.

Filmography

+ Film Year Title Role Notes 1928 JuneFirst role credited as Nancy Dover 1929 Happy Heels 1929 Scandal Janet 1929 Skirt Shy Nancy, the maid 1929 Dynamite Good Mixer 1929 Romance De Luxe 1930 Nancy 1930 Oh Darling 1930 The Brunette Dance Hall Girl 1930 Harry's Girl 1930The Thoroughbred Colleen Riley 1931 Cimarron Donna Cravat 1931 Big Business Girl Sarah Ellen 1931 Hollywood Halfbacks Kay 1933 Marriage Humor Last role credited as Nancy Dover 1936 Yellowstone 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 Gwen Lawson 1939 Disputed Passage Winifred Bane 1939 Marie Clark 1940 Road to Singapore Gloria Wycott 1940 Women Without Names Peggy Athens 1940 Those Were the Days! Mirabel Allstairs Final film role