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Lionel Barrymore

Lionel Barrymore

Acting

Born: April 28, 1878Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

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.

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

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

Self (archive footage)

2008

Checking Out: Grand Hotel

Self / Various roles (archive footage)

2004
The Mesmerist

The Mesmerist

The Innkeeper (archive footage)

2003
Complicated Women

Complicated Women

Self (archive footage)

2003
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

Self (archive footage)

1987
Super Duper Bloopers

Super Duper Bloopers

Self

1986
That's Entertainment, Part II

That's Entertainment, Part II

(archive footage)

1976
Hooray for Hollywood

Hooray for Hollywood

Self (archive footage)

1976
That's Entertainment!

That's Entertainment!

(archive footage) (uncredited)

1974
Hollywood: The Dream Factory

Hollywood: The Dream Factory

Self (archive footage)

1972
Brasileiros em Hollywood

Brasileiros em Hollywood

Self (archive footage)

1970
Our Mr. Sun

Our Mr. Sun

Father Time (voice)

1956

Film Fun

(archive footage)

1955
Yesterday and Today

Yesterday and Today

(archive footage)

1953
Main Street to Broadway

Main Street to Broadway

Self

1953
Lone Star

Lone Star

Andrew Jackson

1952
Bannerline

Bannerline

Hugo Trimble

1951
The Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Story

The Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Story

Himself - Giving Introduction

1951
Right Cross

Right Cross

Sean O'Malley

1950

Screen Actors

Self (uncredited)

1950
Breakdowns of 1949

Breakdowns of 1949

Self

1949
Malaya

Malaya

John Manchester

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

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

Himself

1949
Down to the Sea in Ships

Down to the Sea in Ships

Bering Joy

1949
Key Largo

Key Largo

James Temple

1948
Dark Delusion

Dark Delusion

Dr. Leonard Gillespie

1947
The Way of the World

The Way of the World

Grizzley Fallon (Archive Footage)

1947
Duel in the Sun

Duel in the Sun

Sen. Jackson McCanles

1946
The Secret Heart

The Secret Heart

Dr. Rossiger

1946
It's a Wonderful Life

It's a Wonderful Life

Mr. Potter

1946
Three Wise Fools

Three Wise Fools

Dr. Richard Gaunght

1946
The Valley of Decision

The Valley of Decision

Pat Rafferty

1945
Between Two Women

Between Two Women

Dr. Leonard Gillespie

1945
Dragon Seed

Dragon Seed

Narrator (voice) (uncredited)

1944
Since You Went Away

Since You Went Away

Clergyman

1944
3 Men in White

3 Men in White

Dr. Leonard Gillespie

1944
A Guy Named Joe

A Guy Named Joe

The General

1944
Twenty Years After

Twenty Years After

(archive footage)

1944
The Last Will and Testament of Tom Smith

The Last Will and Testament of Tom Smith

Gramps

1943
Dr. Gillespie's Criminal Case

Dr. Gillespie's Criminal Case

Dr. Leonard Gillespie

1943
Tennessee Johnson

Tennessee Johnson

Thaddeus Stevens

1942
Dr. Gillespie's New Assistant

Dr. Gillespie's New Assistant

Dr. Leonard Gillespie

1942
Calling Dr. Gillespie

Calling Dr. Gillespie

Dr. Leonard Gillespie

1942
Dr. Kildare's Victory

Dr. Kildare's Victory

Dr. Leonard Gillespie

1942
Lady Be Good

Lady Be Good

Judge Murdock

1941
Dr. Kildare's Wedding Day

Dr. Kildare's Wedding Day

Dr. Leonard Gillespie

1941
The People Vs. Dr. Kildare

The People Vs. Dr. Kildare

Dr. Leonard Gillespie

1941
The Bad Man

The Bad Man

Uncle Henry Jones

1941
The Penalty

The Penalty

'Grandpop' Logan

1941
Dr. Kildare's Crisis

Dr. Kildare's Crisis

Dr. Leonard Gillespie

1940
A New Romance of Celluloid: The Miracle of Sound

A New Romance of Celluloid: The Miracle of Sound

Self

1940
Dr. Kildare Goes Home

Dr. Kildare Goes Home

Dr. Leonard Gillespie

1940
Cavalcade of the Academy Awards

Cavalcade of the Academy Awards

Self (archive footage)

1940
Hollywood: Style Center of the World

Hollywood: Style Center of the World

Self

1940
Dr. Kildare's Strange Case

Dr. Kildare's Strange Case

Dr. Leonard Gillespie

1940
The Stars Look Down

The Stars Look Down

Narrator (U.S. release only) (voice)

1940
The Secret of Dr. Kildare

The Secret of Dr. Kildare

Dr. Leonard Gillespie

1939
On Borrowed Time

On Borrowed Time

Julian Northrup aka Gramps

1939
The Movies March On

The Movies March On

Self (segment The New York Hat) (archive footage)

1939
Land of Liberty

Land of Liberty

(archive footage)

1939
From the Ends of the Earth

From the Ends of the Earth

Self

1939
Calling Dr. Kildare

Calling Dr. Kildare

Dr. Leonard Gillespie

1939
Let Freedom Ring

Let Freedom Ring

Thomas Logan

1939

A Fireside Chat with Lionel Barrymore

Self

1938
Young Dr. Kildare

Young Dr. Kildare

Dr. Leonard Gillespie

1938
You Can't Take It with You

You Can't Take It with You

Martin Vanderhof

1938
Screen Snapshots Series 17, No. 12

Screen Snapshots Series 17, No. 12

Lionel Barrymore

1938
Test Pilot

Test Pilot

Howard B. Drake

1938
A Yank at Oxford

A Yank at Oxford

Dan Sheridan

1938
Navy Blue and Gold

Navy Blue and Gold

Captain 'Skinny' Dawes

1937
Saratoga

Saratoga

Grandpa Clayton

1937
Captains Courageous

Captains Courageous

Captain Disko Troop

1937
A Family Affair

A Family Affair

Judge Hardy

1937
Camille

Camille

Monsieur Duval

1936
The Road to Glory

The Road to Glory

Papa La Roche / Pvt. Morin

1936
The Gorgeous Hussy

The Gorgeous Hussy

Andrew Jackson

1936
The Devil-Doll

The Devil-Doll

Paul Lavond

1936
The Voice of Bugle Ann

The Voice of Bugle Ann

Springfield Davis

1936
Ah, Wilderness!

Ah, Wilderness!

Nat Miller

1935
The Return Of Peter Grimm

The Return Of Peter Grimm

Peter Grimm

1935
Public Hero Number 1

Public Hero Number 1

Dr. Josiah Glass

1935
Mark of the Vampire

Mark of the Vampire

Professor Zelin

1935
The Little Colonel

The Little Colonel

Colonel Lloyd

1935
David Copperfield

David Copperfield

Dan Peggotty

1935
Treasure Island

Treasure Island

Billy Bones

1934
The Girl from Missouri

The Girl from Missouri

T.R. Paige

1934
Carolina

Carolina

Bob Connelly

1934
This Side of Heaven

This Side of Heaven

Martin Turner

1934
Dinner at Eight

Dinner at Eight

Oliver Jordan

1933
Should Ladies Behave

Should Ladies Behave

Augustus Merrick

1933
Christopher Bean

Christopher Bean

Dr. Milton Haggett

1933
Night Flight

Night Flight

Robineau

1933
One Man's Journey

One Man's Journey

Eli Watt

1933
The Stranger's Return

The Stranger's Return

Grandpa Cyrus Tatum Storr

1933
Looking Forward

Looking Forward

Tim Benton

1933
Sweepings

Sweepings

Daniel Pardway

1933
Rasputin and the Empress

Rasputin and the Empress

Grigori Rasputin

1932
Grand Hotel

Grand Hotel

Otto Kringelein

1932
The Washington Masquerade

The Washington Masquerade

Jefferson "Jeff" Keane

1932
Arsène Lupin

Arsène Lupin

Detective Guerchard

1932
Broken Lullaby

Broken Lullaby

Dr. H. Holderlin

1932
Mata Hari

Mata Hari

General Serge Shubin

1931
The Christmas Party

The Christmas Party

Himself (uncredited)

1931
The Yellow Ticket

The Yellow Ticket

Baron Igor Andreeff

1931
Guilty Hands

Guilty Hands

Richard Grant

1931
A Free Soul

A Free Soul

Stephen Ashe

1931
Estrellados

Estrellados

Self (Guest Appearance)

1930
Free and Easy

Free and Easy

Bedroom Scene

1930
The Hollywood Revue of 1929

The Hollywood Revue of 1929

Self - Director of 'Romeo and Juliet' (uncredited)

1929
The Mysterious Island

The Mysterious Island

Andre Dakkar

1929
The River Woman

The River Woman

Bill Lefty

1928
West of Zanzibar

West of Zanzibar

Crane

1928
Alias Jimmy Valentine

Alias Jimmy Valentine

Doyle

1928
Road House

Road House

Henry Grayson

1928
The Lion and the Mouse

The Lion and the Mouse

John Ryder

1928
Drums of Love

Drums of Love

Duke Cathos de Alvia

1928
Sadie Thompson

Sadie Thompson

Alfred Davidson

1928
The Thirteenth Hour

The Thirteenth Hour

Prof. Leroy

1927
Body and Soul

Body and Soul

Dr. Leyden

1927
Women Love Diamonds

Women Love Diamonds

Hugo Harlan

1927
The Show

The Show

The Greek

1927
The Temptress

The Temptress

Canterac

1926
The Bells

The Bells

Mathias

1926
The Lucky Lady

The Lucky Lady

Count Ferranzo

1926
Paris at Midnight

Paris at Midnight

Vautrin

1926
Wife Tamers

Wife Tamers

Mr. Barry

1926
The Barrier

The Barrier

Stark Bennett

1926

Brooding Eyes

Slim Jim Carey

1926
Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ

Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ

Chariot Race Spectator (uncredited)

1925
The Splendid Road

The Splendid Road

Dan Clehollis

1925

The Woman Who Did

Allan Merrick

1925
Fifty-Fifty

Fifty-Fifty

Frederick Harmon

1925
The Wrongdoers

The Wrongdoers

Daniel Abbott

1925
The Girl Who Wouldn't Work

The Girl Who Wouldn't Work

Gordon Kent

1925
Children of the Whirlwind

Children of the Whirlwind

Joe Ellison

1925
A Man of Iron

A Man of Iron

Philip Durban

1925

I Am the Man

James McQuade

1924
Meddling Women

Meddling Women

Edwin Ainsworth / John Wells (duel role)

1924
America

America

Capt. Walter Butler

1924
Decameron Nights

Decameron Nights

Saladin

1924
The Eternal City

The Eternal City

Baron Bonelli

1923
Unseeing Eyes

Unseeing Eyes

Conrad Dean

1923
Enemies of Women

Enemies of Women

Prince Lubimoff

1923
The Face in the Fog

The Face in the Fog

Boston Blackie Dawson

1922
Boomerang Bill

Boomerang Bill

Boomerang Bill

1922
Jim the Penman

Jim the Penman

James Ralston

1921
The Great Adventure

The Great Adventure

Priam Farll

1921
The Devil's Garden

The Devil's Garden

William Dale

1920
The Master Mind

The Master Mind

Henry Allen

1920
The Copperhead

The Copperhead

Milt Shanks

1920
National Red Cross Pageant

National Red Cross Pageant

1917
The Millionaire's Double

The Millionaire's Double

Bide Bennington

1917
His Father's Son

His Father's Son

J. Dabney Barro

1917
The End of the Tour

The End of the Tour

Byron Bennett

1917
The Brand of Cowardice

The Brand of Cowardice

Cyril Hamilton

1916
The Upheaval

The Upheaval

Jim Gordon

1916
The Quitter

The Quitter

Happy Jack Lewis

1916
Dorian's Divorce

Dorian's Divorce

Richard Dorian

1916
A Yellow Streak

A Yellow Streak

Barry Dale

1915
Dora Thorne

Dora Thorne

Lord Earle

1915
The Flaming Sword

The Flaming Sword

Steve

1915
The Romance of Elaine

The Romance of Elaine

Marcus Del Mar / Mr. X

1915
The Curious Conduct of Judge Legarde

The Curious Conduct of Judge Legarde

Judge Randolph Legarde

1915
A Modern Magdalen

A Modern Magdalen

Lindsay

1915
Wildfire

Wildfire

John Keefe

1915
The Exploits of Elaine

The Exploits of Elaine

1914
The Seats of the Mighty

The Seats of the Mighty

Monsieur Doltaire

1914

The Span of Life

Richard Blunt

1914
Under the Gaslight

Under the Gaslight

William Byke

1914
The Woman in Black

The Woman in Black

Robert Crane

1914
The Power of the Press

The Power of the Press

Steve Carson

1914
Men and Women

Men and Women

Stephen Rodman / Robert Stevens

1914

The Cracksman's Gratitude

1914

Woman Against Woman

Gilbert Craven

1914
Strongheart

Strongheart

Billy Saunders

1914
Judith of Bethulia

Judith of Bethulia

Extra (uncredited)

1914
Her Father's Silent Partner

Her Father's Silent Partner

1914

Classmates

Bubby Dumble

1914

The Bartered Crown

The Landlord

1914
The House of Discord

The House of Discord

The Husband

1913

All for Science

Detective

1913

So Runs the Way

1913

The Stolen Treaty

The Japanese Diplomat

1913
The Strong Man's Burden

The Strong Man's Burden

John - the Elder Brother

1913

The Crook and the Girl

The Nephew

1913

The Work Habit

The Father

1913

The Suffragette Minstrels

(unconfirmed)

1913
An Indian's Loyalty

An Indian's Loyalty

The Cattle Buyer

1913

Under the Shadow of the Law

Charles Darnton - the Employer

1913

I Was Meant for You

Lavina's Father

1913

The Vengeance of Galora

1913

The Mirror

Daisy's Father

1913

Pa Says

Teddy's Rival

1913

A Gamble with Death

Jim Benton, the Bartender

1913

In Diplomatic Circles

The Japanese Ambassador

1913

Almost a Wild Man

In Audience (uncredited)

1913
The Switchtower

The Switchtower

First Counterfeiter

1913
Death's Marathon

Death's Marathon

The Financial Backer

1913

The Well

The Farmer

1913

The Enemy's Baby

Postmaster Ben Brown

1913

Red Hicks Defies the World

The Referee

1913
A Timely Interception

A Timely Interception

Uncle James - The Farmer's Brother

1913

The Ranchero's Revenge

The Ranchero

1913

Just Gold

The Stay-at-Home Brother

1913
The Yaqui Cur

The Yaqui Cur

The Easterner

1913
The House of Darkness

The House of Darkness

The Doctor

1913
The Wanderer

The Wanderer

The Male Lover

1913
The Lady and the Mouse

The Lady and the Mouse

The Father

1913

A Misunderstood Boy

The Father

1913
The Little Tease

The Little Tease

In Bar

1913

The Perfidy of Mary

Mary's Father

1913
The Sheriff's Baby

The Sheriff's Baby

Third Bandit

1913
Fate

Fate

Father, Loving Family

1913
Near To Earth

Near To Earth

Gato

1913
The Unwelcome Guest

The Unwelcome Guest

At Auction (uncredited)

1913

The Wrong Bottle

The Father

1913

Love in an Apartment Hotel

In Hotel Lobby

1913

A Chance Deception

2nd Policeman

1913
Oil and Water

Oil and Water

The Idealist's Friend

1913

The Tender Hearted Boy

(uncredited)

1913

An Adventure in the Autumn Woods

The Father

1913
The Telephone Girl and the Lady

The Telephone Girl and the Lady

The Desk Sergeant

1913
Three Friends

Three Friends

Second Friend

1913

The God Within

The Woman of the Camp's Lover

1912
A Cry for Help

A Cry for Help

The Tramp

1912
The Burglar’s Dilemma

The Burglar’s Dilemma

The Householder

1912

My Hero

1912
The New York Hat

The New York Hat

Minister

1912
Brutality

Brutality

At Wedding

1912
The Informer

The Informer

Union Soldier

1912
My Baby

My Baby

At table

1912
Gold and Glitter

Gold and Glitter

The Lover

1912
Heredity

Heredity

Woodsman

1912
The Musketeers of Pig Alley

The Musketeers of Pig Alley

The Musician's Friend

1912
The Painted Lady

The Painted Lady

At Ice Cream Festival

1912
The One She Loved

The One She Loved

The Neighbor

1912
The Chief's Blanket

The Chief's Blanket

The Young Man

1912
So Near, Yet So Far

So Near, Yet So Far

In Club

1912
Friends

Friends

Grizzley Fallon - Dandy Jack's Friend

1912
The Miser's Heart

The Miser's Heart

Jules - the Thief

1911
The Battle

The Battle

Wagon Driver (uncredited)

1911
Fighting Blood

Fighting Blood

1911
The White Caps

The White Caps

1905