Lionel Barrymore (1878–1954)

Actor | Director | Soundtrack

Famed actor, composer, artist, author and director. His talents extended to the authoring of the ...

Born: April 28, 1878
Died: November 15, 1954 (age 76)

Photos

Filmography

Known For

Key Largo James Temple (1948)
It's a Wonderful Life Mr. Potter (1946)
You Can't Take It with You Martin Vanderhof (1938)
Known For

A Free Soul Stephen Ashe (1931)
Actor

Our Mr. Sun Father Time (1956)
Main Street to Broadway Lionel Barrymore (1953)
Lone Star Andrew Jackson (1952)
Bannerline Hugo Trimble (1951)
Right Cross Sean O'Malley (1950)
Malaya John Manchester (1949)
Down to the Sea in Ships Capt. Bering Joy (1949)
Key Largo James Temple (1948)
Dark Delusion Dr. Leonard Gillespie (1947)
Duel in the Sun Sen. Jackson McCanles (1946)
The Secret Heart Dr. Rossiger (1946)
It's a Wonderful Life Mr. Potter (1946)
Three Wise Fools Dr. Richard Gaunght (1946)
The Valley of Decision Pat Rafferty (1945)
Between Two Women Dr. Leonard B. Gillespie (1945)
Dragon Seed Narrator (1944)
Since You Went Away Clergyman (1944)
3 Men in White Dr. Leonard B. Gillespie (1944)
A Guy Named Joe The General (1943)
The Last Will and Testament of Tom Smith Gramps (1943)
Dr. Gillespie's Criminal Case Dr. Leonard B. Gillespie (1943)
Tennessee Johnson Thaddeus Stevens (1942)
Dr. Gillespie's New Assistant Dr. Leonard Gillespie (1942)
Calling Dr. Gillespie Dr. Leonard Gillespie (1942)
Dr. Kildare's Victory Dr. Leonard Gillespie (1942)
Lady Be Good Judge Murdock (1941)
Dr. Kildare's Wedding Day Dr. Leonard Gillespie (1941)
The People vs. Dr. Kildare Dr. Leonard Gillespie (1941)
The Bad Man Uncle Henry Jones (1941)
The Penalty 'Grandpop' Logan (1941)
Dr. Kildare's Crisis Dr. Leonard Gillespie (1940)
Dr. Kildare Goes Home Dr. Leonard Gillespie (1940)
Dr. Kildare's Strange Case Dr. Leonard Gillespie (1940)
The Stars Look Down Narrator (U.S. release only) (1940)
The Secret of Dr. Kildare Dr. Leonard Barry Gillespie (1939)
On Borrowed Time Julian Northrup - Gramps (1939)
Calling Dr. Kildare Dr. Leonard Gillespie (1939)
Let Freedom Ring Thomas Logan (1939)
Young Dr. Kildare Dr. Leonard Gillespie (1938)
You Can't Take It with You Martin Vanderhof (1938)
Screen Snapshots Series 17, No. 12 Lionel Barrymore (1938)
Test Pilot Howard B. Drake (1938)
A Yank at Oxford Dan Sheridan (1938)
Navy Blue and Gold Capt. 'Skinny' Dawes (1937)
Saratoga Grandpa Clayton (1937)
Captains Courageous Disko (1937)
A Family Affair Judge James K. Hardy (1937)
Camille Monsieur Duval (1936)
The Gorgeous Hussy Andrew Jackson (1936)
The Devil-Doll Paul Lavond (1936)
The Road to Glory Papa La Roche / Pvt. Morin (1936)
The Voice of Bugle Ann Spring Davis (1936)
Ah Wilderness! Nat Miller (1935)
The Return of Peter Grimm Peter Grimm (1935)
Public Hero Number 1 Doctor Josiah Glass (1935)
Mark of the Vampire Professor Zelin (1935)
The Little Colonel Colonel Lloyd (1935)
David Copperfield Dan Peggotty (1935)
Treasure Island Billy Bones (1934)
The Girl from Missouri Thomas Randall Paige (1934)
This Side of Heaven Martin Turner (1934)
Carolina Bob Connelly (1934)
Should Ladies Behave Augustus Merrick (1933)
Christopher Bean Dr. Milton Haggett (1933)
Night Flight Insp. Robineau (1933)
One Man's Journey Eli Watt (1933)
Dinner at Eight Oliver Jordan (1933)
The Stranger's Return Grandpa Storr (1933)
Looking Forward Tim Benton (1933)
Sweepings Daniel Pardway (1933)
Rasputin and the Empress Grigori Yefimovitch Rasputin (1932)
The Washington Masquerade Jeff Keane (1932)
Grand Hotel Otto Kringelein (1932)
Arsène Lupin Guerchard (1932)
Broken Lullaby Dr. H. Holderlin (1932)
Mata Hari General Shubin (1931)
The Christmas Party Lionel Barrymore (1931)
The Yellow Ticket Baron Igor Andreeff (1931)
Guilty Hands Richard Grant (1931)
A Free Soul Stephen Ashe (1931)
Free and Easy Lionel Barrymore - Director of Bedroom Scene (1930)
The Mysterious Island Count Andre Dakkar (1929)
The Hollywood Revue of 1929 Lionel Barrymore - Director of 'Romeo and Juliet' (1929)
The River Woman Bill Lefty (1928)
West of Zanzibar Crane (1928)
Alias Jimmy Valentine Doyle (1928)
Road House Henry Grayson (1928)
The Lion and the Mouse John Ryder (1928)
Drums of Love Duke Cathos de Alvia (1928)
Sadie Thompson Alfred Davidson (1928)
The Thirteenth Hour Prof. Leroy (1927)
Body and Soul Dr. Leyden (1927)
Women Love Diamonds Hugo Harlan (1927)
The Show The Greek (1927)
The Temptress Canterac (1926)
The Bells Mathias (1926)
The Lucky Lady Count Ferranzo (1926)
Paris at Midnight Vautrin (1926)
Wife Tamers Mr. Barry (1926)
The Barrier Stark Bennett (1926)
Brooding Eyes Slim Jim Carey (1926)
Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ Chariot Race Spectator (1925)
The Woman Who Did Allan Merrick (1925)
The Splendid Road Dan Clehollis (1925)
Fifty-Fifty Frederick Harmon (1925)
The Wrongdoers Daniel Abbott (1925)
Children of the Whirlwind Joe Ellison (1925)
The Girl Who Wouldn't Work Gordon Kent (1925)
A Man of Iron Philip Durban (1925)
Wedding Women (1924)
I Am the Man James McQuade (1924)
Meddling Women Edwin Ainsworth / John Wells (1924)
Decameron Nights Saladin (1924)
America Captain Walter Butler (1924)
The Eternal City Baron Bonelli (1923)
Unseeing Eyes Conrad Dean (1923)
Enemies of Women Prince Lubimoff (1923)
The Face in the Fog Boston Blackie Dawson (1922)
Boomerang Bill Boomerang Bill (1922)
Jim the Penman James Ralston (1921)
The Great Adventure Priam Farll (1921)
The Devil's Garden William Dale (1920)
The Master Mind Henry Allen (1920)
The Copperhead Milt Shanks (1920)
National Red Cross Pageant Undetermined role and episode (1917)
The Millionaire's Double Bide Bennington (1917)
His Father's Son J. Dabney Barro (1917)
The End of the Tour Byron Bennett (1917)
The Brand of Cowardice Cyril Hamilton (1916)
The Upheaval Jim Gordon (1916)
The Quitter Happy Jack Lewis (1916)
Dorian's Divorce Richard Dorian (1916)
A Yellow Streak Barry Dale (1915)
Dora Thorne Lord Earle (1915)
The Flaming Sword Steve (1915)
The Romance of Elaine Marcus Del Mar / Mr. X (1915)
The Curious Conduct of Judge Legarde Judge Randolph Legarde (1915)
A Modern Magdalen Lindsay (1915)
Wildfire John Keefe (1915)
Under the Gaslight William Byke (1914)
The Exploits of Elaine Undetermined Role (1914)
The Span of Life Richard Blunt (1914)
The Seats of the Mighty Monsieur Doltaire (1914)
The Woman in Black Robert Crane (1914)
The Power of the Press Steve Carson (1914)
Men and Women Stephen Rodman / Robert Stevens (1914)
The Cracksman's Gratitude (1914)
Woman Against Woman Gilbert Craven (1914)
Strongheart Billy Saunders (1914)
Judith of Bethulia Extra (1914)
Her Father's Silent Partner (1914)
Classmates Bubby Dumble (1914)
The Bartered Crown The Landlord (1914)
The House of Discord The Husband (1913)
All for Science Detective (1913)
So Runs the Way Undetermined Role (1913)
The Stolen Treaty The Japanese Diplomat (1913)
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 (1913)
An Indian's Loyalty The Cattle Buyer (1913)
I Was Meant for You Lavina's Father (1913)
Under the Shadow of the Law Charles Darnton - the Employer (1913)
The Vengeance of Galora (1913)
The Mirror Daisy's Father (1913)
Pa Says Teddy's Rival (1913)
The Enemy's Baby Postmaster Ben Brown (1913)
A Gamble with Death Jim Benton, the Bartender (1913)
In Diplomatic Circles The Japanese Ambassador (1913)
Almost a Wild Man In Audience (1913)
The Switch Tower First Counterfeiter (1913)
Death's Marathon The Financial Backer (1913)
The Well The Farmer (1913)
Red Hicks Defies the World The Referee (1913)
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 Easterner (1913)
The House of Darkness The Doctor (1913)
The Wanderer The Male Lover (1913)
The Lady and the Mouse The Father (1913)
A Misunderstood Boy The Father (1913)
The Little Tease In Bar (1913)
The Perfidy of Mary Mary's Father (1913)
The Sheriff's Baby Third Bandit (1913)
Fate The Father - Loving Family (1913)
Near to Earth Gato (1913)
The Unwelcome Guest At Auction (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 The Idealist's Friend (1913)
The Tender Hearted Boy Undetermined Secondary Role (1913)
An Adventure in the Autumn Woods The Father (1913)
The Telephone Girl and the Lady The Desk Sergeant (1913)
Three Friends Second Friend (1913)
The God Within The Woman of the Camp's Lover (1912)
A Cry for Help The Tramp (1912)
The Burglar's Dilemma The Author (1912)
My Hero Undetermined Secondary Role (1912)
The New York Hat Preacher Bolton - the Minister (1912)
Brutality At Wedding (1912)
The Informer Union Soldier (1912)
My Baby At Table (1912)
Gold and Glitter The Lover (1912)
Heredity Woodsman (1912)
The Musketeers of Pig Alley The Musician's Friend (1912)
The Painted Lady At Ice Cream Festival (1912)
The One She Loved The Neighbor (1912)
The Chief's Blanket The Young Man (1912)
So Near, Yet So Far In Club (1912)
Friends Grizzly Fallon - Dandy Jack's Friend (1912)
The Miser's Heart Jules - the Thief (1911)
The Battle Wagon Driver (1911)
Fighting Blood (1911)
The Paris Hat (1908)
Actor

The White Caps Abusive husband (1905)
Director

Guilty Hands (1931)
Ten Cents a Dance (1931)
The Sea Bat (1930)
The Rogue Song (1930)
Redemption (1930)
His Glorious Night (1929)
The Unholy Night (1929)
Madame X (1929)
Confession (1929)
Life's Whirlpool (1917)
Chocolate Dynamite (1914)
Just Boys (1914)
No Place for Father (1913)
Where's the Baby? (1913)
Director

His Secret (1913)
Soundtrack

Dr. Kildare's Wedding Day (1941)
The People vs. Dr. Kildare (1941)
On Borrowed Time (1939)
You Can't Take It with You (1938)
The Return of Peter Grimm (1935)
Soundtrack

Treasure Island (1934)
Writer

Life's Whirlpool (1917)
The Criminal's Thumb (1916)
The Vengeance of Galora (1913)
The Tender Hearted Boy (1913)
Writer

The Burglar's Dilemma (1912)
Archive footage

The Oscars Library: A Tribute to the Academy Awards (2019)
L'antre du Mea (2017)
Before the Flood (2016)
Leslie Howard: The Man Who Gave a Damn (2016)
And the Oscar Goes To... (2014)
Blue Skies Beyond the Looking Glass (2008)
Spisok korabley (2008)
Settling the Score (2005)
Garbo (2005)
Love Find Andy Hardy Intro (2004)
Checking Out: Grand Hotel (2004)
The Mesmerist (2003)
Complicated Women (2003)
Biography (2002)
The Great Christmas Movies (1998)
Hollywoodism: Jews, Movies and the American Dream (1998)
Escape from It's a Wonderful Life (1996)
Home Alone (1990)
Walt Disney World 4th of July Spectacular (1988)
James Stewart: A Wonderful Life - Hosted by Johnny Carson (1987)
Hooray for Hollywood (1982)
Hollywood (1980)
That's Entertainment, Part II (1976)
That's Entertainment! (1974)
Hollywood: The Dream Factory (1972)
The Dick Cavett Show (1971)
Hollywood: The Selznick Years (1969)
Black History: Lost, Stolen or Strayed (1968)
The Big Parade of Comedy (1964)
Hollywood: The Golden Years (1961)
MGM Parade (1955-1956)
Film Fun (1955)
Yesterday and Today (1953)
Flicker Flashbacks No. 2, Series 5 (1947)
Twenty Years After (1944)
Some of the Best (1944)
The Miracle of Sound (1940)
Hollywood: Style Center of the World (1940)
Cavalcade of the Academy Awards (1940)
From the Ends of the Earth (1939)
The Movies March On (1939)
Archive footage

Land of Liberty (1939)
The Movie Album (1932)
Composer

Si l'empereur savait ça (1930)
Olympia (1930)
Composer

His Glorious Night (1929)
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director

The Hollywood Revue of 1929 (1929)

Videos

Awards

Did You Know

Trivia

Counting unofficial nominees, is the first person to have Academy Award nominations for Best Actor (for A Free Soul (1931), which he won) and Best Director (for Madame X (1929)).

You can't retire in Hollywood. Nobody gives up a job, even if he's ninety, or sick, or has money like Midas. Everybody works until his last breath, and when one day they die, they die like Napoleon/s grenadiers, who died with the words "Vive ...