Lionel Barrymore

Lionel Barrymore

🎂 28th April 1878 (147 yrs) 📍 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

Known For

It's a Wonderful Life

Biography

Lionel Barrymore (born Lionel Herbert Blythe; April 28, 1878 – November 15, 1954) was an American actor of stage, screen and radio as well as a film director. He won an Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance in A Free Soul (1931), and remains best known to modern audiences for the role of villainous Mr. Potter in Frank Capra's 1946 film It's a Wonderful Life. He is also particularly remembered as Ebenezer Scrooge in annual broadcasts of A Christmas Carol during his last two decades. He is also known for playing Dr. Leonard Gillespie in MGM's nine Dr. Kildare films, a role he reprised in a further six films focusing solely on Gillespie and in a radio series entitled The Story of Dr. Kildare. He was a member of the theatrical Barrymore family.

Lionel Barrymore

Movies Featuring Lionel Barrymore

Frank Capra Jr. Remembers... You Can't Take It with You

Frank Capra Jr. Remembers... You Can't Take It with You (2008)

as Self (archive footage)
No Image

Checking Out: Grand Hotel (2004)

as Self / Various roles (archive footage)
The Mesmerist

The Mesmerist (2003)

as The Innkeeper (archive footage)
Complicated Women

Complicated Women (2003)

as Self (archive footage)
D.W. Griffith - Years of Discovery 1909-1913

D.W. Griffith - Years of Discovery 1909-1913 (2002)

James Stewart: A Wonderful Life

James Stewart: A Wonderful Life (1987)

as Self (archive footage)
Super Duper Bloopers

Super Duper Bloopers (1986)

as Self
That's Entertainment, Part II

That's Entertainment, Part II (1976)

as (archive footage)
Hooray for Hollywood

Hooray for Hollywood (1976)

as Self (archive footage)
That's Entertainment!

That's Entertainment! (1974)

as (archive footage) (uncredited)
Hollywood: The Dream Factory

Hollywood: The Dream Factory (1972)

as Self (archive footage)
Brasileiros em Hollywood

Brasileiros em Hollywood (1970)

as Self (archive footage)
Our Mr. Sun

Our Mr. Sun (1956)

as Father Time (voice)
No Image

Film Fun (1955)

as (archive footage)
Yesterday and Today

Yesterday and Today (1953)

as (archive footage)
Main Street to Broadway

Main Street to Broadway (1953)

as Self
Lone Star

Lone Star (1952)

as Andrew Jackson
Bannerline

Bannerline (1951)

as Hugo Trimble
The Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Story

The Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Story (1951)

as Himself - Giving Introduction
Right Cross

Right Cross (1950)

as Sean O'Malley
No Image

Screen Actors (1950)

as Self (uncredited)
Breakdowns of 1949

Breakdowns of 1949 (1949)

as Self
Malaya

Malaya (1949)

as John Manchester
No Image

Some of the Best: Twenty-Five Years of Motion Picture Leadership (1949)

as Himself
Down to the Sea in Ships

Down to the Sea in Ships (1949)

as Bering Joy
Key Largo

Key Largo (1948)

as James Temple
Dark Delusion

Dark Delusion (1947)

as Dr. Leonard Gillespie
The Way of the World

The Way of the World (1947)

as Grizzley Fallon (Archive Footage)
Duel in the Sun

Duel in the Sun (1946)

as Sen. Jackson McCanles
The Secret Heart

The Secret Heart (1946)

as Dr. Rossiger
It's a Wonderful Life

It's a Wonderful Life (1946)

as Mr. Potter
Three Wise Fools

Three Wise Fools (1946)

as Dr. Richard Gaunght
The Valley of Decision

The Valley of Decision (1945)

as Pat Rafferty
Between Two Women

Between Two Women (1945)

as Dr. Leonard Gillespie
Dragon Seed

Dragon Seed (1944)

as Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
Since You Went Away

Since You Went Away (1944)

as Clergyman
3 Men in White

3 Men in White (1944)

as Dr. Leonard Gillespie
A Guy Named Joe

A Guy Named Joe (1944)

as The General
Twenty Years After

Twenty Years After (1944)

as (archive footage)
The Last Will and Testament of Tom Smith

The Last Will and Testament of Tom Smith (1943)

as Gramps
Dr. Gillespie's Criminal Case

Dr. Gillespie's Criminal Case (1943)

as Dr. Leonard Gillespie
Tennessee Johnson

Tennessee Johnson (1942)

as Thaddeus Stevens
Dr. Gillespie's New Assistant

Dr. Gillespie's New Assistant (1942)

as Dr. Leonard Gillespie
Calling Dr. Gillespie

Calling Dr. Gillespie (1942)

as Dr. Leonard Gillespie
Dr. Kildare's Victory

Dr. Kildare's Victory (1942)

as Dr. Leonard Gillespie
Lady Be Good

Lady Be Good (1941)

as Judge Murdock
Dr. Kildare's Wedding Day

Dr. Kildare's Wedding Day (1941)

as Dr. Leonard Gillespie
The People Vs. Dr. Kildare

The People Vs. Dr. Kildare (1941)

as Dr. Leonard Gillespie
The Bad Man

The Bad Man (1941)

as Uncle Henry Jones
The Penalty

The Penalty (1941)

as 'Grandpop' Logan
Dr. Kildare's Crisis

Dr. Kildare's Crisis (1940)

as Dr. Leonard Gillespie
A New Romance of Celluloid: The Miracle of Sound

A New Romance of Celluloid: The Miracle of Sound (1940)

as Self
Dr. Kildare Goes Home

Dr. Kildare Goes Home (1940)

as Dr. Leonard Gillespie
Cavalcade of the Academy Awards

Cavalcade of the Academy Awards (1940)

as Self (archive footage)
Hollywood: Style Center of the World

Hollywood: Style Center of the World (1940)

as Self
Dr. Kildare's Strange Case

Dr. Kildare's Strange Case (1940)

as Dr. Leonard Gillespie
The Stars Look Down

The Stars Look Down (1940)

as Narrator (U.S. release only) (voice)
The Secret of Dr. Kildare

The Secret of Dr. Kildare (1939)

as Dr. Leonard Gillespie
On Borrowed Time

On Borrowed Time (1939)

as Julian Northrup aka Gramps
The Movies March On

The Movies March On (1939)

as Self (segment The New York Hat) (archive footage)
Land of Liberty

Land of Liberty (1939)

as (archive footage)
From the Ends of the Earth

From the Ends of the Earth (1939)

as Self
Calling Dr. Kildare

Calling Dr. Kildare (1939)

as Dr. Leonard Gillespie
Let Freedom Ring

Let Freedom Ring (1939)

as Thomas Logan
No Image

A Fireside Chat with Lionel Barrymore (1938)

as Self
Young Dr. Kildare

Young Dr. Kildare (1938)

as Dr. Leonard Gillespie
You Can't Take It with You

You Can't Take It with You (1938)

as Martin Vanderhof
Screen Snapshots Series 17, No. 12

Screen Snapshots Series 17, No. 12 (1938)

as Lionel Barrymore
Test Pilot

Test Pilot (1938)

as Howard B. Drake
A Yank at Oxford

A Yank at Oxford (1938)

as Dan Sheridan
Navy Blue and Gold

Navy Blue and Gold (1937)

as Captain 'Skinny' Dawes
Saratoga

Saratoga (1937)

as Grandpa Clayton
Captains Courageous

Captains Courageous (1937)

as Captain Disko Troop
A Family Affair

A Family Affair (1937)

as Judge Hardy
Camille

Camille (1936)

as Monsieur Duval
The Road to Glory

The Road to Glory (1936)

as Papa La Roche / Pvt. Morin
The Gorgeous Hussy

The Gorgeous Hussy (1936)

as Andrew Jackson
The Devil-Doll

The Devil-Doll (1936)

as Paul Lavond
The Voice of Bugle Ann

The Voice of Bugle Ann (1936)

as Springfield Davis
Ah, Wilderness!

Ah, Wilderness! (1935)

as Nat Miller
The Return Of Peter Grimm

The Return Of Peter Grimm (1935)

as Peter Grimm
Public Hero Number 1

Public Hero Number 1 (1935)

as Dr. Josiah Glass
Mark of the Vampire

Mark of the Vampire (1935)

as Professor Zelin
The Little Colonel

The Little Colonel (1935)

as Colonel Lloyd
David Copperfield

David Copperfield (1935)

as Dan Peggotty
Treasure Island

Treasure Island (1934)

as Billy Bones
The Girl from Missouri

The Girl from Missouri (1934)

as T.R. Paige
This Side of Heaven

This Side of Heaven (1934)

as Martin Turner
Carolina

Carolina (1934)

as Bob Connelly
Dinner at Eight

Dinner at Eight (1933)

as Oliver Jordan
Should Ladies Behave

Should Ladies Behave (1933)

as Augustus Merrick
Christopher Bean

Christopher Bean (1933)

as Dr. Milton Haggett
Night Flight

Night Flight (1933)

as Robineau
One Man's Journey

One Man's Journey (1933)

as Eli Watt
The Stranger's Return

The Stranger's Return (1933)

as Grandpa Cyrus Tatum Storr
Looking Forward

Looking Forward (1933)

as Tim Benton
Sweepings

Sweepings (1933)

as Daniel Pardway
Rasputin and the Empress

Rasputin and the Empress (1932)

as Grigori Rasputin
The Washington Masquerade

The Washington Masquerade (1932)

as Jefferson "Jeff" Keane
Grand Hotel

Grand Hotel (1932)

as Otto Kringelein
Arsène Lupin

Arsène Lupin (1932)

as Detective Guerchard
Broken Lullaby

Broken Lullaby (1932)

as Dr. H. Holderlin
Mata Hari

Mata Hari (1931)

as General Serge Shubin
The Christmas Party

The Christmas Party (1931)

as Himself (uncredited)
The Yellow Ticket

The Yellow Ticket (1931)

as Baron Igor Andreeff
Guilty Hands

Guilty Hands (1931)

as Richard Grant
A Free Soul

A Free Soul (1931)

as Stephen Ashe
Estrellados

Estrellados (1930)

as Self (Guest Appearance)
Free and Easy

Free and Easy (1930)

as Bedroom Scene
The Hollywood Revue of 1929

The Hollywood Revue of 1929 (1929)

as Self - Director of 'Romeo and Juliet' (uncredited)
The Mysterious Island

The Mysterious Island (1929)

as Andre Dakkar
The River Woman

The River Woman (1928)

as Bill Lefty
West of Zanzibar

West of Zanzibar (1928)

as Crane
Alias Jimmy Valentine

Alias Jimmy Valentine (1928)

as Doyle
Road House

Road House (1928)

as Henry Grayson
The Lion and the Mouse

The Lion and the Mouse (1928)

as John Ryder
Drums of Love

Drums of Love (1928)

as Duke Cathos de Alvia
Sadie Thompson

Sadie Thompson (1928)

as Alfred Davidson
The Thirteenth Hour

The Thirteenth Hour (1927)

as Prof. Leroy
Body and Soul

Body and Soul (1927)

as Dr. Leyden
Women Love Diamonds

Women Love Diamonds (1927)

as Hugo Harlan
The Show

The Show (1927)

as The Greek
The Temptress

The Temptress (1926)

as Canterac
The Bells

The Bells (1926)

as Mathias
The Lucky Lady

The Lucky Lady (1926)

as Count Ferranzo
Paris at Midnight

Paris at Midnight (1926)

as Vautrin
Wife Tamers

Wife Tamers (1926)

as Mr. Barry
The Barrier

The Barrier (1926)

as Stark Bennett
No Image

Brooding Eyes (1926)

as Slim Jim Carey
Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ

Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ (1925)

as Chariot Race Spectator (uncredited)
The Splendid Road

The Splendid Road (1925)

as Dan Clehollis
No Image

The Woman Who Did (1925)

as Allan Merrick
Fifty-Fifty

Fifty-Fifty (1925)

as Frederick Harmon
The Wrongdoers

The Wrongdoers (1925)

as Daniel Abbott
The Girl Who Wouldn't Work

The Girl Who Wouldn't Work (1925)

as Gordon Kent
Children of the Whirlwind

Children of the Whirlwind (1925)

as Joe Ellison
A Man of Iron

A Man of Iron (1925)

as Philip Durban
No Image

I Am the Man (1924)

as James McQuade
Meddling Women

Meddling Women (1924)

as Edwin Ainsworth / John Wells (duel role)
America

America (1924)

as Capt. Walter Butler
Decameron Nights

Decameron Nights (1924)

as Saladin
The Eternal City

The Eternal City (1923)

as Baron Bonelli
Unseeing Eyes

Unseeing Eyes (1923)

as Conrad Dean
Enemies of Women

Enemies of Women (1923)

as Prince Lubimoff
The Face in the Fog

The Face in the Fog (1922)

as Boston Blackie Dawson
Boomerang Bill

Boomerang Bill (1922)

as Boomerang Bill
Jim the Penman

Jim the Penman (1921)

as James Ralston
The Great Adventure

The Great Adventure (1921)

as Priam Farll
The Devil's Garden

The Devil's Garden (1920)

as William Dale
The Master Mind

The Master Mind (1920)

as Henry Allen
The Copperhead

The Copperhead (1920)

as Milt Shanks
National Red Cross Pageant

National Red Cross Pageant (1917)

The Millionaire's Double

The Millionaire's Double (1917)

as Bide Bennington
His Father's Son

His Father's Son (1917)

as J. Dabney Barro
The End of the Tour

The End of the Tour (1917)

as Byron Bennett
The Brand of Cowardice

The Brand of Cowardice (1916)

as Cyril Hamilton
The Upheaval

The Upheaval (1916)

as Jim Gordon
The Quitter

The Quitter (1916)

as Happy Jack Lewis
Dorian's Divorce

Dorian's Divorce (1916)

as Richard Dorian
A Yellow Streak

A Yellow Streak (1915)

as Barry Dale
Dora Thorne

Dora Thorne (1915)

as Lord Earle
The Flaming Sword

The Flaming Sword (1915)

as Steve
The Romance of Elaine

The Romance of Elaine (1915)

as Marcus Del Mar / Mr. X
The Curious Conduct of Judge Legarde

The Curious Conduct of Judge Legarde (1915)

as Judge Randolph Legarde
A Modern Magdalen

A Modern Magdalen (1915)

as Lindsay
Wildfire

Wildfire (1915)

as John Keefe
The Exploits of Elaine

The Exploits of Elaine (1914)

No Image

The Span of Life (1914)

as Richard Blunt
The Seats of the Mighty

The Seats of the Mighty (1914)

as Monsieur Doltaire
Under the Gaslight

Under the Gaslight (1914)

as William Byke
The Woman in Black

The Woman in Black (1914)

as Robert Crane
The Power of the Press

The Power of the Press (1914)

as Steve Carson
Men and Women

Men and Women (1914)

as Stephen Rodman / Robert Stevens
No Image

The Cracksman's Gratitude (1914)

No Image

Woman Against Woman (1914)

as Gilbert Craven
Judith of Bethulia

Judith of Bethulia (1914)

as Extra (uncredited)
Strongheart

Strongheart (1914)

as Billy Saunders
No Image

Her Father's Silent Partner (1914)

No Image

Classmates (1914)

as Bubby Dumble
No Image

The Bartered Crown (1914)

as The Landlord
The House of Discord

The House of Discord (1913)

as The Husband
No Image

All for Science (1913)

as Detective
No Image

So Runs the Way (1913)

No Image

The Stolen Treaty (1913)

as The Japanese Diplomat
The Strong Man's Burden

The Strong Man's Burden (1913)

as John - the Elder Brother
No Image

The Crook and the Girl (1913)

as The Nephew
No Image

The Work Habit (1913)

as The Father
No Image

The Suffragette Minstrels (1913)

as (unconfirmed)
An Indian's Loyalty

An Indian's Loyalty (1913)

as The Cattle Buyer
No Image

Under the Shadow of the Law (1913)

as Charles Darnton - the Employer
No Image

I Was Meant for You (1913)

as Lavina's Father
No Image

The Vengeance of Galora (1913)

No Image

The Mirror (1913)

as Daisy's Father
No Image

Pa Says (1913)

as Teddy's Rival
No Image

A Gamble with Death (1913)

as Jim Benton, the Bartender
No Image

In Diplomatic Circles (1913)

as The Japanese Ambassador
No Image

Almost a Wild Man (1913)

as In Audience (uncredited)
The Switchtower

The Switchtower (1913)

as First Counterfeiter
Death's Marathon

Death's Marathon (1913)

as The Financial Backer
No Image

The Well (1913)

as The Farmer
No Image

The Enemy's Baby (1913)

as Postmaster Ben Brown
No Image

Red Hicks Defies the World (1913)

as The Referee
A Timely Interception

A Timely Interception (1913)

as Uncle James - The Farmer's Brother
No Image

The Ranchero's Revenge (1913)

as The Ranchero
No Image

Just Gold (1913)

as The Stay-at-Home Brother
The Yaqui Cur

The Yaqui Cur (1913)

as The Easterner
The House of Darkness

The House of Darkness (1913)

as The Doctor
The Wanderer

The Wanderer (1913)

as The Male Lover
The Lady and the Mouse

The Lady and the Mouse (1913)

as The Father
No Image

A Misunderstood Boy (1913)

as The Father
The Little Tease

The Little Tease (1913)

as In Bar
No Image

The Perfidy of Mary (1913)

as Mary's Father
The Sheriff's Baby

The Sheriff's Baby (1913)

as Third Bandit
Fate

Fate (1913)

as Father, Loving Family
Near To Earth

Near To Earth (1913)

as Gato
The Unwelcome Guest

The Unwelcome Guest (1913)

as At Auction (uncredited)
No Image

The Wrong Bottle (1913)

as The Father
No Image

Love in an Apartment Hotel (1913)

as In Hotel Lobby
No Image

A Chance Deception (1913)

as 2nd Policeman
Oil and Water

Oil and Water (1913)

as The Idealist's Friend
No Image

The Tender Hearted Boy (1913)

as (uncredited)
No Image

An Adventure in the Autumn Woods (1913)

as The Father
The Telephone Girl and the Lady

The Telephone Girl and the Lady (1913)

as The Desk Sergeant
Three Friends

Three Friends (1913)

as Second Friend
No Image

The God Within (1912)

as The Woman of the Camp's Lover
A Cry for Help

A Cry for Help (1912)

as The Tramp
The Burglar’s Dilemma

The Burglar’s Dilemma (1912)

as The Householder
No Image

My Hero (1912)

The New York Hat

The New York Hat (1912)

as Minister
Brutality

Brutality (1912)

as At Wedding
The Informer

The Informer (1912)

as Union Soldier
My Baby

My Baby (1912)

as At table
Gold and Glitter

Gold and Glitter (1912)

as The Lover
Heredity

Heredity (1912)

as Woodsman
The Musketeers of Pig Alley

The Musketeers of Pig Alley (1912)

as The Musician's Friend
The Painted Lady

The Painted Lady (1912)

as At Ice Cream Festival
The One She Loved

The One She Loved (1912)

as The Neighbor
The Chief's Blanket

The Chief's Blanket (1912)

as The Young Man
So Near, Yet So Far

So Near, Yet So Far (1912)

as In Club
Friends

Friends (1912)

as Grizzley Fallon - Dandy Jack's Friend
The Miser's Heart

The Miser's Heart (1911)

as Jules - the Thief
The Battle

The Battle (1911)

as Wagon Driver (uncredited)
Fighting Blood

Fighting Blood (1911)

The White Caps

The White Caps (1905)