Which actor played Norman Maine in the 1954 film A Star is Born?

James Mason played Norman Maine in the 1954 film A Star Is Born. He portrayed a fading matinée idol whose alcoholism threatens both his career and his marriage to the rising singer Esther Blodgett, played by Judy Garland.

Directed by George Cukor and written by Moss Hart, the film was a remake of the 1937 original starring Janet Gaynor and Fredric March. The studio renames Esther “Vicki Lester” after casting her, and Norman helps her move from small parts to major stardom.

Mason’s performance earned him a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actor, while Garland was nominated for Best Actress. Mason reportedly took the role after Cary Grant turned it down. A common mix-up is confusing him with Jack Carson or Charles Bickford, who also appear in the film but play different supporting characters.

The 1954 version is the second of four official A Star Is Born films, followed by adaptations in 1976 and 2018.