Judith Barrett

• Name — Judith Barrett • Birth Name — Lucille Kelley • Born — 2 February 1909 • Birthplace — Venus, Texas, U.S. • Died — 10 March 2000 • Place of death — Palm Desert, California, U.S. • Other Names — Nancy Dover • Occupation — Actress • Years Active — 1928–1940

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

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.

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).

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.

Film • Year — Title — Role — Notes • 1928 — The — June — First 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 — The — Nancy • 1930 — Oh Darling • 1930 — The — The Brunette Dance Hall Girl • 1930 — The — Harry's Girl • 1930 — The 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 — The — 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 — The — Dixie Del Marr • 1939 — Television Spy — Gwen Lawson • 1939 — Disputed Passage — Winifred Bane • 1939 — The — Marie Clark • 1940 — Road to Singapore — Gloria Wycott • 1940 — Women Without Names — Peggy Athens • 1940 — Those Were the Days! — Mirabel Allstairs — Final film role

Judith Barrett was recorded at birth as Lucille Kelley. She also worked under the name Nancy Dover. The authorities additionally record the headings Nancy Dover, Lucille Kelly and Lucille Kelley. Her recorded language was English. She married Cliff Edwards and Lindsay C.

Judith Barrett is recorded as actress.