LIONEL BARRYMORE
AUTOGRAPHED PHOTO SIGNED
Lionel Barrymore (born Lionel Herbert Blythe; 1878–1954) was an 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 less 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– including one with Laurel and Hardy — but concentrated on acting afterwards.
Barrymore became well known for his curmudgeonly codgers. In 1938, he broke his hip, and, aggravated by arthritis, he lived the remainder of his life acting 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 Capra’s 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
The Rivals November 28, 1893 The Auditorium, Kansas City Billed as Lional Barrymore
The Road to Ruin January 15, 1894 Star Theatre Footman
The Bachelor's Baby October 21, 1895 Park Theatre, Boston Sgt. Jones Subsequently, at the Star Theatre, Buffalo, from January 12, 1897.
Mary Pennington, Spinster October 12, 1896 Palmer's Theatre Watson
Squire Kate October 26, 1896 Palmer's Theatre Lord Silversnake
Cumberland '61 October 18, 1897 14th Street Theatre Adolfus Drayton Lenox
A Wife's Peril 1898 Minneapolis–Saint Paul
Magda 1898 Minneapolis–Saint Paul
Oliver Twist 1898 Minneapolis–Saint Paul
East Lynne 1898 Minneapolis–Saint Paul
Camille 1898 Minneapolis–Saint Paul
Uncle Dick October 6, 1898 Star Theatre, Buffalo Lawrence Sherman
Honorable John Rigsby November 28, 1898 New National Theatre, Washington Harold Marson Subsequently, at the Powers' Theatre, Chicago from January 23, 1899, for two weeks.
Arizona February 11, 1900 Chicago Grand Opera House, Chicago Sgt. Kellar
Rain Clouds 1900 Albany, New York
The Rivals 1900 Albany, New York
An Arabian Night 1900 Albany, New York
Sag Harbor September 27, 1900 – December 1900 Republic Theatre Frank Turner Ran for 76 performances
Brixton Burglary May 20, 1901 – July 8, 1901 Herald Square Theatre Ran for 48 performances
The Second in Command September 2, 1901 – December 1901 Empire Theatre Ran for 128 performances
The Mummy and the Hummingbird September 4, 1902 – November 1902 and April 1903 – ? Empire Theatre Giuseppe Ran for 85 performances in 1902 and then a second run in 1903
The Best of Friends October 19, 1903 – December 1903 Academy of Music Kid Garvey Ran for 65 performances
The Other Girl December 29, 1903 – May 1904 Criterion Theatre Mr. Sheldon 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 December 25, 1905 – March 1906 Criterion Theatre Pantaloon Ran for 81 performances; double bill with his siblings
The Fires of Fate December 6, 1909 Illinois Theatre, Chicago Abdulla Barrymore left the production at the end of December
The Jail Bird January 31, 1910 Victoria Theater
The White Slaver February 22, 1910 Majestic Theatre, Chicago Italian laborer Written by Barrymore; co-starred first wife Doris Rankin
Bob Acres September 11, 1911 Brooklyn Sir Lucius O'Trigger
Stalled 1912
The Still Voice March 26, 1912 Cincinnati
Peter Ibbetson April 17, 1917 – June 1917 Republic Theatre Colonel Ibbetson Ran for 71 performances; with John Barrymore
The Copperhead February 18, 1918 – June 1918 Shubert Theatre Milt Shanks Ran for 120 performances
The Jest April 9, 1919 – February 28, 1920 Plymouth Theatre Neri Chiaramantesi Ran for 77 performances and then another 179 performances after a summer break; adapted play with E. Sheldon and John Barrymore (co-star)
The Letter of the Law February 23, 1920 – July 1920 Criterion Theatre Mouzon Ran for 89 performances
Macbeth February 17, 1921 –March 1921 Apollo Theatre Macbeth Ran for 28 performances
The Claw October 17, 1921 – January 1922 Broadhurst Theatre Achille Cortelon Ran for 115 performances; co-starred Doris Rankin and Irene Fenwick (second wife)
Laugh, Clown, Laugh November 28, 1923 – March 1924 Belasco Theatre Tito Beppi, Flik Ran for 133 performances
The Piker January 15, 1925 – February 1925 Eltinge Theatre Bernie Kaplan Ran for 44 performances
Taps April 14, 1925 – May 1925 Broadhurst Theatre Sergeant Volkhardt Ran for 32 performances
Man or Devil May 21, 1925 – June 1925 Broadhurst Theatre Nicholas Snyders Ran for 20 performances
FILM ROLEX
Fighting Blood 1911 Debut with Biograph.
The Battle 1911 Wagon driver
The Miser's Heart 1911 Jules
Home Folks 1912
Friends 1912 Grizzley Fallon So Near, Yet so Far 1912
The Chief's Blanket 1912 Young man
The One She Loved 1912 Neighbor
The Painted Lady 1912 Woodsman
Heredity 1912
Gold and Glitter 1912
My Baby 1912
The Informer 1912 Union soldier
Brutality 1912
The New York Hat 1912 Preacher Bolton
The Burglar's Dilemma 1912 Householder Actor and writer
A Cry for Help 1912
The God Within 1912
Three Friends 1913 Second friend
The Telephone Girl and the Lady 1913 Desk sergeant
An Adventure in the Autumn Woods 1913 Father
The Tender Hearted Boy 1913 Actor and writer
Oil and Water 1913
A Chance Deception 1913
Love in an Apartment Hotel 1913
The Wrong Bottle 1913
A Girl's Stratagem 1913
The Unwelcome Guest 1913
Near to Earth 1913
Fate 1913
The Sheriff's Baby 1913
The Perfidy of Mary 1913
The Little Tease 1913
A Misunderstood Boy 1913
The Lady and the Mouse 1913 The Wanderer 1913
The House of Darkness 1913
The Yaqui Cur 1913
Just Gold 1913
The Ranchero's Revenge 1913
A Timely Interception 1913
Red Hicks Defies the World 1913
The Well 1913
Death's Marathon 1913 Financial backer
The Switch Tower 1913
Almost a Wild Man 1913
In Diplomatic Circles 1913
A Gamble with Death 1913 Jim Benton
The Enemy's Baby 1913
Pa Says 1913 Teddy's Rival
The Mirror 1913
Under the Shadow of the Law 1913
I Was Meant for You 1913
An Indian's Loyalty 1913
The Suffragette Minstrels 1913
The Work Habit 1913
The Crook and the Girl 1913
The Strong Man's Burden 1913 *Lionel designed the lobby poster for this movie.
The Stolen Treaty 1913
So Runs the Way 1913
All for Science 1913
The Battle at Elderbush Gulch 1913
The House of Discord 1913
The Bartered Crown 1914 Landlord
Classmates 1914 Dumble
Her Father's Silent Partner 1914
The Massacre 1914
Judith of Bethulia 1914
Strongheart 1914
Brute Force 1914
Woman Against Woman 1914
The Cracksman's Gratitude 1914
Men and Women 1914
The Power of the Press 1914 Steve Carson
The Woman in Black 1914 Robert Crane
The Span of Life 1914 Richard Blunt
The Seats of the Mighty 1914 Monsieur Doltaire
Under the Gaslight 1914 William Byke
Wildfire 1915 John Keefe
A Modern Magdalen 1915 Lindsay
The Curious Conduct of Judge Legarde 1915 Judge Randolph Legarde
The Romance of Elaine 1915 Elaine
The Flaming Sword 1915
Dora Thorne 1915 Lord Earle
A Yellow Streak 1915 Barry Dale
Dorian's Divorce 1916 Richard Dorian
The Quitter 1916 "Happy Jack" Lewis
The Upheaval 1916 Jim Gordon
The Brand of Cowardice 1916 Cyril Hamilton
The End of the Tour 1917 Byron Bennett
His Father's Son 1917 J. Dabney Barron
The Millionaire's Double 1917 Bide Bennington
National Red Cross Pageant 1917 Himself; Ethel appeared with Lionel in Camille scene
The Copperhead 1920 Milt Shanks
The Master Mind 1920 Henry Allen
The Devil's Garden 1920 William Dale
The Great Adventure 1921 Priam Farll
Jim the Penman 1921 James Ralston
Boomerang Bill 1922 Boomerang Bill
The Face in the Fog 1922 Boston Blackie Dawson
Enemies of Women 1923 Prince Lubimoff
Unseeing Eyes 1923 Conrad Dean
The Eternal City 1923 Baron Bonelli , only last two reels exists
America 1924 Capt. Walter Butler
Decameron Nights 1924 Saladin
Meddling Women 1924 Edwin Ainsworth/John Wells
I Am the Man 1924 James McQuade
A Man of Iron 1925 Philip Durban
The Girl Who Wouldn't Work 1925 Gordon Kent
Children of the Whirlwind 1925 Joe Ellison
The Wrongdoers 1925 Daniel Abbott
Fifty-Fifty 1925 Frederick Harmon
The Splendid Road 1925 Dan Clehollis
The Woman Who Did 1925 Allan Merrick
Ben-Hur 1925 Extra
Brooding Eyes 1926 Slim Jim Carey
The Barrier 1926 Stark Bennett
Wife Tamers 1926 Mr. Barry
Paris at Midnight 1926 Vautrin
The Lucky Lady 1926 Count Ferranzo
The Bells 1926 Mathias
The Temptress 1926 Canterac
The Show 1927 The Greek
Women Love Diamonds 1927 Hugo Harlan
Body and Soul 1927 Dr. Leyden
The Thirteenth Hour 1927 Professor Leroy
Sadie Thompson 1928 Alfred Davidson
Drums of Love 1928 Duke Cathos de Alvia
The Lion and the Mouse 1928 "Ready Money" Ryder
Road House 1928 Henry Grayson
Alias Jimmy Valentine 1928 Doyle
Lon Chaney West of Zanzibar 1928 Crane
The River Woman 1928 Bill Lefty
The Mysterious Island 1929 Count Andre Dakkar
The Hollywood Revue of 1929 1929 Himself
Buster Keaton Free and Easy 1930 Himself
Guilty Hands 1931 Richard Grant
A Free Soul 1931 Stephen Ashe Barrymore won the Academy Award The Yellow Ticket 1931 Baron Igor Andreeff
GARBO Mata Hari 1931 General Serge Shubin
LUBITSCH Broken Lullaby 1932 Dr. Holderlin
Arsène Lupin 1932 Guerchard
GARBO Grand Hotel 1932 Otto Kringelein
The Washington Masquerade 1932 Jefferson Keane
Rasputin and the Empress 1932 Rasputin
Sweepings 1933 Daniel Pardway
Looking Forward 1933 Benton
The Stranger's Return 1933 Grandpa Storr
HARLOW DRESSLER Dinner at Eight 1933 Oliver Jordan
One Man's Journey 1933 Eli Watt
Night Flight 1933 Inspector Robineau
DRESSLER Christopher Bean 1933 Dr. Milton Haggett
Should Ladies Behave 1933 Augustus Merrick
This Side of Heaven 1934 Martin Turner
Carolina 1934 Bob Connelly
HARLOW The Girl from Missouri 1934 T. R. Paige
Treasure Island 1934 Billy Bones
W C FIELDS David Copperfield 1935 Dan Peggotty
TEMPLE The Little Colonel 1935 Colonel Lloyd
TOD BROWNING Mark of the Vampire 1935 Professor Zelin
Public Hero No. 1 1935 Dr. Josiah Glass
The Return of Peter Grimm 1935 Peter Grimm
Ah, Wilderness! 1935 Nat Miller
The Voice of Bugle Ann 1936 Spring Davis
The Road to Glory 1936 La Roche TOD BROWNING The Devil-Doll 1936 Paul Lavond
The Gorgeous Hussy 1936 Andrew Jackson
Camille 1936 Monsieur Duval
A Family Affair 1937 Judge James K. Hardy
Captains Courageous 1937 Capt. Disko Troop
HARLOW Saratoga 1937 Grandpa Clayton
Navy Blue and Gold 1937 Captain "Skinny" Dawes
A Yank at Oxford 1938 Dan Sheridan
Test Pilot 1938 Howard B. Drake
CAPRA You Can't Take It with You 1938 Martin Vanderhof
Young Dr. Kildare 1938 Dr. Leonard Gillespie
Let Freedom Ring 1939 Thomas Logan
Calling Dr. Kildare 1939 Dr. Leonard Gillespie
On Borrowed Time 1939 Julian Northrup
The Secret of Dr. Kildare 1939 Dr. Leonard Gillespie
The Stars Look Down 1940 Narrator on the US release
Dr. Kildare's Strange Case 1940 Dr. Leonard Gillespie
Dr. Kildare Goes Home 1940 Dr. Leonard Gillespie
Dr. Kildare's Crisis 1940 Dr. Leonard Gillespie
The Penalty 1941 "Grandpa" Logan
The Bad Man 1941 Uncle Henry Jones
The People vs. Dr. Kildare 1941 Dr. Leonard Gillespie
Dr. Kildare's Wedding Day 1941 Dr. Leonard Gillespie Barrymore also composed the music
Lady Be Good 1941 Judge Murdock
Dr. Kildare's Victory 1942 Dr. Leonard Gillespie
Calling Dr. Gillespie 1942 Dr. Leonard Gillespie
Dr. Gillespie's New Assistant 1942 Dr. Leonard Gillespie
Tennessee Johnson 1942 Thaddeus Stevens
Dr. Gillespie's Criminal Case 1943 Dr. Leonard Gillespie
The Last Will and Testament of Tom Smith 1943 Gramps Short
A Guy Named Joe 1943 The General
3 Men in White 1944 Dr. Leonard Gillespie
Since You Went Away 1944 Clergyman
Dragon Seed 1944 Narrator
Thousands Cheer 1944 Announcer
Between Two Women 1945 Dr. Leonard Gillespie
The Valley of Decision 1945 Pat Rafferty
Three Wise Fools 1946 Dr. Richard Gaunght
CAPRA It's a Wonderful Life 1946 Henry F. Potter
The Secret Heart 1946 Dr. Rossiger
Duel in the Sun 1946 Senator Jackson McCanles
Dark Delusion 1947 Dr. Leonard Gillespie
BOGART HUSTON Key Largo 1948 James Temple
Down to the Sea in Ships 1949 Captain Bering Joy
Malaya 1949 John Manchester
Right Cross 1950 Sean O'Malley
Bannerline 1951 Hugo Trimble
Lone Star 1952 Andrew Jackson
Main Street to Broadway 1953 Himself
CAPRA Our Mr. Sun 1956 Father Times voice (released posthumously)
DIRECTOR
His Secret 1914
Where's the Baby? 1914
No Place for Father 1914
Just Boys 1914
Chocolate Dynamite 1914
Life's Whirlpool 1917 Also writer
His Glorious Night 1929 Barrymore also composed the music
Madame X 1929
The Unholy Night 1929
Confession 1929
LAUREL & HARDY The Rogue Song 1930
Redemption 1930 Only for retakes
The Sea Bat 1930
Guilty Hands 1931
Ten Cents a Dance 1931
PARTIAL RADIO CREDITS
A Christmas Carol December 25, 1934 – December 25, 1953 Ebenezer Scrooge CBS Broadcast annually on Christmas Day
Mayor of the Town 1942–1949 The Mayor ABC, CBS, Mutual, and NBC Barrymore also composed the theme
Screen Guild Players: "The Old Lady Shows Her Medals" October 7, 1946 Narrator CBS Barrymore played the narration as the author, J. M. Barrie
Dr. Kildare 1949–1952 Dr. Leonard Gillespie Syndicated
The Hallmark Hall of Fame 1953–1955 Host CBS
TV
Barrymore's television credit
CAPRA - Our Mr. Sun November 19, 1956 Father Time CBS Posthumous Release
INSURED SHIPPING IN BOX