Lionel Barrymore (born Lionel Herbert Blythe; 1878–1954) was an American actor of stage, screen, and radio. He also directed several films, wrote scripts, created etchings, sketches, and composed music. He was the eldest child of the actors Maurice Barrymore and Georgie Drew Barrymore, and his two siblings were John and Ethel; these and other family members were part of an acting dynasty. Reluctant to follow his parents' career, Barrymore appeared together with his grandmother Louisa Lane Drew in a stage production of The Rivals at the age of 15. He soon found success on stage in character roles. Although he took a break from acting in 1906–1909 to train in Paris as a painter, he was not successful as an artist, and returned to the US and acting. He also joined his family troupe, from 1910, in their vaudeville act.

Barrymore began his film career in 1911, appearing in numerous silent films, many of which have subsequently been lost. In 1911, he signed a contract with the Biograph Company and appeared as a character actor in short films, many of them directed by D. W. Griffith, before moving into feature-length productions in 1914. He began writing scripts and directing films shortly afterwards, and for the next five years, he did not act on the legitimate stage. Although he had several successes on Broadway after the First World War, he encountered strongly negative criticism in a 1921 production of Macbeth, and in three productions in a row in 1925. Afterwards, he never again appeared on the New York stage. In 1925, he signed a contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, where he became a close friend of Louis B. Mayer, for whom he made numerous films. He directed several films from 1929 to 1931, but concentrated on acting afterwards.

Barrymore became well known in curmudgeonly roles. In 1938, he broke his hip, and, aggravated by arthritis, he lived the remainder of his life in a wheelchair. Mayer made sure that roles were found or written to accommodate Barrymore, who continued to act in films until 1953. During that time, he appeared as Dr. Gillespie in the popular Dr. Kildare film series, with Lew Ayres in the title role, and as Mr. Potter in It's a Wonderful Life—a role that was highly placed on the American Film Institute's list of the 100 Heroes and Villains in a film that the critic Philip French described as "a complex inspirational work". Beginning in the 1930s, Barrymore increasingly worked in radio, initially as Ebenezer Scrooge in Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol, which was broadcast annually from 1934 to 1953, then in Mayor of the Town, beginning in 1942, and also in a radio series spun off from the Dr. Kildare films (playing the same character that he had played in the films), among others.

Two of the films in which Barrymore appeared—Grand Hotel (1932), and You Can't Take It with You (1938)—won the Academy Award for Best Picture. He was considered for the Academy Award for Best Director for his 1929 film, Madame X, and won the Best Actor award for his performance in A Free Soul (1931). He was inducted to the Hollywood Walk of Fame on February 8, 1960, and is, along with his two siblings, included in the American Theater Hall of Fame.

Stage appearances

+ Barrymore's stage appearances Production Date Theatre (New York City, unless stated) Role Notes Billed as Lional Barrymore Star Theatre Footman Park Theatre, Boston Subsequently, at the Star Theatre, Buffalo, from January 12, 1897. Mary Pennington, Spinster Palmer's Theatre Watson Squire Kate Palmer's Theatre Cumberland '61 14th Street Theatre Minneapolis–Saint Paul Magda Minneapolis–Saint Paul Oliver Twist Minneapolis–Saint Paul East Lynne Minneapolis–Saint Paul Camille Minneapolis–Saint Paul Uncle Dick Star Theatre, Buffalo Honorable John Rigsby New National Theatre, Washington Subsequently, at the Powers' Theatre, Chicago from January 23, 1899, for two weeks. Arizona Chicago Grand Opera House, Chicago Rain Clouds Albany, New York Albany, New York Albany, New York Sag Harbor  – December 1900 Republic Theatre Ran for 76 performances Brixton Burglary  – July 8, 1901 Herald Square Theatre Ran for 48 performances  – December 1901 Empire Theatre Ran for 128 performances – November 1902 and April 1903 – ? Empire Theatre Giuseppe Ran for 85 performances in 1902 and then a second run in 1903  – December 1903 Academy of Music Ran for 65 performances  – May 1904 Criterion Theatre Ran for 160 performances, transferring to the Empire Theatre on January 25, 1904, and then to the Lyceum Theatre on May 2, 1904 Pantaloon/Alice Sit-by-the-Fire  – March 1906 Criterion Theatre Pantaloon Ran for 81 performances; double bill with his siblings Illinois Theatre, Chicago Abdulla Barrymore left the production at the end of December Victoria Theater Majestic Theatre, Chicago Italian laborer Written by Barrymore; co-starred first wife Doris Rankin Bob Acres Brooklyn Stalled Cincinnati Peter Ibbetson  – June 1917 Republic Theatre Ran for 71 performances; with John Barrymore  – June 1918 Shubert Theatre Ran for 120 performances  – February 28, 1920 Plymouth Theatre Ran for 77 performances and then another 179 performances after a summer break; adapted play with E. Sheldon and John Barrymore (co-star)  – July 1920 Criterion Theatre Mouzon Ran for 89 performances Macbeth  –March 1921 Apollo Theatre Macbeth Ran for 28 performances  – January 1922 Broadhurst Theatre Ran for 115 performances; co-starred Doris Rankin and Irene Fenwick (second wife) Laugh, Clown, Laugh  – March 1924 Belasco Theatre Ran for 133 performances  – February 1925 Eltinge Theatre Ran for 44 performances Taps  – May 1925 Broadhurst Theatre Ran for 32 performances Man or Devil  – June 1925 Broadhurst Theatre Ran for 20 performances

Filmography

As actor

The list does not include the 1913 film The Vengeance of Galora, which Barrymore wrote. Although some sources list him as also appearing in the film, his biographers, James Kotsilibas-Davis and Margot Peters, separately state he did not. Kotsilibas-Davis also lists Fighting Blood (1911), My Hero (1912), and The Musketeers of Pig Alley (1912) as films in which Barrymore did not appear, despite claims of other biographers to the contrary; Peters does not list the films in her filmography of the actor. However short films, like feature films, do survive incomplete as with many in the Library of Congress collection. Finding complete prints is still in progress.

+ Barrymore's filmography Film Year Role Notes 1911 Debut with Biograph. Fighting Blood at silentera.com Wagon driver *uncredited Jules A Lodging for the Night 1912 Desperado at card table*uncredited A Lodging for the Night at silentera.com Home Folks – Friends So Near, Yet so Far – Young man Lost film Neighbor Woodsman Heredity – Lost film Gold and Glitter – My Baby – Union soldier Brutality – Householder Actor and writer – Lost film – Three Friends Second friend Lost film Desk sergeant Father Lost film The Tender Hearted Boy – Actor and writer Lost film Oil and Water – – Lost film Love in an Apartment Hotel – Lost film – Lost film – Lost film – Near to Earth – Lost film Fate – – Lost film – The Little Tease – – – – – The Yaqui Cur – Just Gold – – Lost film – Red Hicks Defies the World – Lost film – Lost film Death's Marathon Financial backer – Almost a Wild Man – – Lost film Lost film – Lost film Teddy's Rival – Lost film Under the Shadow of the Law – Lost film I Was Meant for You – Lost film – Lost film – Lost film – Lost film – Lost film – *Lionel designed the lobby poster for this movie. Lost film – Lost film So Runs the Way – Lost film All for Science – Lost film – – The Bartered Crown Landlord Lost film Classmates Dumble Her Father's Silent Partner – Lost film – Judith of Bethulia – Strongheart – Lost film Brute Force – Woman Against Woman – The Cracksman's Gratitude – Lost film Men and Women – The Woman in Black Lost film Lost film Under the Gaslight Lost film Wildfire Incomplete film A Modern Magdalen Lindsay Lost film The Curious Conduct of Judge Legarde Lost film Elaine Lost film – Lost film Dora Thorne Lost film Lost film Dorian's Divorce Lost film Lost film His Father's Son Lost film National Red Cross Pageant Himself Lost film; Ethel appeared with Lionel in Camille scene Lost film Lost film Jim the Penman Incomplete film Boomerang Bill Boomerang Bill Incomplete film Incomplete film Enemies of Women Incomplete film Unseeing Eyes Lost film Incomplete film, only last two reels exists America Decameron Nights Saladin Lost film Meddling Women I Am the Man Lost film Lost film Children of the Whirlwind Lost film The Wrongdoers Fifty-Fifty Lost film Lost film The Woman Who Did Lost film Ben-Hur Extra Brooding Eyes Lost film Lost film Wife Tamers Paris at Midnight Vautrin Mathias Canterac Women Love Diamonds Body and Soul The Thirteenth Hour Sadie Thompson Drums of Love Road House Lost film Alias Jimmy Valentine Doyle Lost film West of Zanzibar Crane Himself – Free and Easy Himself Guilty Hands Barrymore won the Academy Award for Best Actor Mata Hari Broken Lullaby Arsène Lupin Guerchard Grand Hotel Rasputin and the Empress Rasputin Sweepings Looking Forward Benton Dinner at Eight One Man's Journey Night Flight Christopher Bean Should Ladies Behave This Side of Heaven Carolina Treasure Island David Copperfield Mark of the Vampire Public Hero ﹟1 Ah, Wilderness! The character is also known as Private Morain Camille Captains Courageous Saratoga Navy Blue and Gold Test Pilot You Can't Take It with You Young Dr. Kildare Let Freedom Ring Calling Dr. Kildare On Borrowed Time Narrator Barrymore's narration is on the US release only Dr. Kildare's Strange Case Dr. Kildare Goes Home Dr. Kildare's Crisis The Penalty Dr. Kildare's Wedding Day Barrymore also composed the music Lady Be Good Dr. Kildare's Victory Calling Dr. Gillespie Dr. Gillespie's New Assistant Tennessee Johnson Dr. Gillespie's Criminal Case Gramps Short Three Men in White Since You Went Away Clergyman Dragon Seed Narrator Thousands Cheer Announcer Between Two Women Three Wise Fools It's a Wonderful Life Duel in the Sun Dark Delusion 1947 Key Largo 1948 Down to the Sea in Ships Malaya Right Cross 1950 Bannerline 1951 Lone Star 1952 Main Street to Broadway 1953 Himself Our Mr. Sun 1956 Father Times voice (released posthumously)

As director

+ Barrymore's director credits Film Year Notes His Secret Lost film Where's the Baby? Lost film No Place for Father Lost film Just Boys Lost film Chocolate Dynamite Lost film Graham, Cooper C. and others, D. W. Griffith and the Biograph Company, Chocolate Dynamite, p. 210. Retrieved via Internet Archive (San Francisco, California), July 4, 2023. Life's Whirlpool 1917 Also writer; lost film His Glorious Night 1929 Barrymore also composed the music Madame X Barrymore was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Director Confession Redemption Only for retakes Uncredited Guilty Hands Uncredited Ten Cents a Dance

Radio broadcasts

+ Barrymore's radio credits (selected) Title Date Role Network Notes A Christmas Carol  – December 25, 1953 CBS Broadcast annually on Christmas Day Mayor of the Town 1942–1949 ABC, CBS, Mutual, and NBC Barrymore also composed the theme Screen Guild Players: "The Old Lady Shows Her Medals" Narrator CBS Barrymore played the narration as the author, J. M. Barrie Dr. Kildare 1949–1952 Syndicated The Hallmark Hall of Fame 1953–1955 Host CBS

Television broadcast + Barrymore's television credit Title Date Role Network Notes Our Mr. Sun November 19, 1956 Father Time CBS Posthumous Release

Notes

References

Bibliography

External links

Lionel Barrymore in 1910