Lionel Barrymore
Acting • Born 1878-04-28 – Died 1954-11-15
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.
Filmography
248 credits
It's a Wonderful Life
Movie • 1946
Mr. Potter
Estrellados
Movie • 1930
Self (Guest Appearance)
Calling Dr. Gillespie
Movie • 1942
Dr. Leonard Gillespie
Key Largo
Movie • 1948
James Temple
The Romance of Elaine
Movie • 1915
Marcus Del Mar / Mr. X
The End of the Tour
Movie • 1917
Byron Bennett
The Hollywood Revue of 1929
Movie • 1929
Self - Director of 'Romeo and Juliet' (uncredited)
Duel in the Sun
Movie • 1946
Sen. Jackson McCanles
Public Hero Number 1
Movie • 1935
Dr. Josiah Glass
Grand Hotel
Movie • 1932
Otto Kringelein
West of Zanzibar
Movie • 1928
Crane
You Can't Take It with You
Movie • 1938
Martin Vanderhof
Frank Capra Jr. Remembers... You Can't Take It with You
Movie • 2008
Self (archive footage)
Mata Hari
Movie • 1931
General Serge Shubin
On Borrowed Time
Movie • 1939
Julian Northrup aka Gramps
Mark of the Vampire
Movie • 1935
Professor Zelin
The Devil-Doll
Movie • 1936
Paul Lavond
Since You Went Away
Movie • 1944
Clergyman
The Little Colonel
Movie • 1935
Colonel Lloyd
Sadie Thompson
Movie • 1928
Alfred Davidson
The Musketeers of Pig Alley
Movie • 1912
The Musician's Friend
Free and Easy
Movie • 1930
Bedroom Scene
A Guy Named Joe
Movie • 1944
The General
Rasputin and the Empress
Movie • 1932
Grigori Rasputin
Test Pilot
Movie • 1938
Howard B. Drake
Lady Be Good
Movie • 1941
Judge Murdock
The Valley of Decision
Movie • 1945
Pat Rafferty
Treasure Island
Movie • 1934
Billy Bones
Camille
Movie • 1936
Monsieur Duval
Lone Star
Movie • 1952
Andrew Jackson
David Copperfield
Movie • 1935
Dan Peggotty
Malaya
Movie • 1949
John Manchester
Yesterday and Today
Movie • 1953
(archive footage)
Saratoga
Movie • 1937
Grandpa Clayton
Captains Courageous
Movie • 1937
Captain Disko Troop
Dinner at Eight
Movie • 1933
Oliver Jordan
Tennessee Johnson
Movie • 1942
Thaddeus Stevens
A Free Soul
Movie • 1931
Stephen Ashe
The Sheriff's Baby
Movie • 1913
Third Bandit
Dr. Kildare's Wedding Day
Movie • 1941
Dr. Leonard Gillespie
Dr. Kildare Goes Home
Movie • 1940
Dr. Leonard Gillespie
Gold and Glitter
Movie • 1912
The Lover
The Informer
Movie • 1912
Union Soldier
The Unwelcome Guest
Movie • 1913
At Auction (uncredited)
So Runs the Way
Movie • 1913
The Wrong Bottle
Movie • 1913
The Father
Love in an Apartment Hotel
Movie • 1913
In Hotel Lobby
A Chance Deception
Movie • 1913
2nd Policeman
A Cry for Help
Movie • 1912
The Tramp
An Adventure in the Autumn Woods
Movie • 1913
The Father
Just Gold
Movie • 1913
The Stay-at-Home Brother
Night Flight
Movie • 1933
Robineau
Heredity
Movie • 1912
Woodsman
Brutality
Movie • 1912
At Wedding
My Hero
Movie • 1912
Near To Earth
Movie • 1913
Gato
Broken Lullaby
Movie • 1932
Dr. H. Holderlin
The Ranchero's Revenge
Movie • 1913
The Ranchero
In Diplomatic Circles
Movie • 1913
The Japanese Ambassador
Red Hicks Defies the World
Movie • 1913
The Referee
The Well
Movie • 1913
The Farmer
A Gamble with Death
Movie • 1913
Jim Benton, the Bartender
The Enemy's Baby
Movie • 1913
Postmaster Ben Brown
The Mirror
Movie • 1913
Daisy's Father
I Was Meant for You
Movie • 1913
Lavina's Father
Under the Shadow of the Law
Movie • 1913
Charles Darnton - the Employer
The Work Habit
Movie • 1913
The Father
Fighting Blood
Movie • 1911
The Crook and the Girl
Movie • 1913
The Nephew
The Stolen Treaty
Movie • 1913
The Japanese Diplomat
The Temptress
Movie • 1926
Canterac
All for Science
Movie • 1913
Detective
Dr. Gillespie's Criminal Case
Movie • 1943
Dr. Leonard Gillespie
The Mysterious Island
Movie • 1929
Andre Dakkar
Dr. Kildare's Crisis
Movie • 1940
Dr. Leonard Gillespie
The Yellow Ticket
Movie • 1931
Baron Igor Andreeff
Ah, Wilderness!
Movie • 1935
Nat Miller
The Girl from Missouri
Movie • 1934
T.R. Paige
Her Father's Silent Partner
Movie • 1914
Judith of Bethulia
Movie • 1914
Extra (uncredited)
The Road to Glory
Movie • 1936
Papa La Roche / Pvt. Morin
Hollywood: The Dream Factory
Movie • 1972
Self (archive footage)
The Stranger's Return
Movie • 1933
Grandpa Cyrus Tatum Storr
The Show
Movie • 1927
The Greek
Should Ladies Behave
Movie • 1933
Augustus Merrick
The Gorgeous Hussy
Movie • 1936
Andrew Jackson
The New York Hat
Movie • 1912
Minister
A Yank at Oxford
Movie • 1938
Dan Sheridan
The Secret of Dr. Kildare
Movie • 1939
Dr. Leonard Gillespie
Calling Dr. Kildare
Movie • 1939
Dr. Leonard Gillespie
The People Vs. Dr. Kildare
Movie • 1941
Dr. Leonard Gillespie
Young Dr. Kildare
Movie • 1938
Dr. Leonard Gillespie
Dr. Kildare's Strange Case
Movie • 1940
Dr. Leonard Gillespie
Dr. Kildare's Victory
Movie • 1942
Dr. Leonard Gillespie
A Family Affair
Movie • 1937
Judge Hardy
A Misunderstood Boy
Movie • 1913
The Father
Death's Marathon
Movie • 1913
The Financial Backer
The Perfidy of Mary
Movie • 1913
Mary's Father
The Tender Hearted Boy
Movie • 1913
(uncredited)
The Vengeance of Galora
Movie • 1913
Pa Says
Movie • 1913
Teddy's Rival
The Suffragette Minstrels
Movie • 1913
(unconfirmed)
Navy Blue and Gold
Movie • 1937
Captain 'Skinny' Dawes
Guilty Hands
Movie • 1931
Richard Grant
The Woman Who Did
Movie • 1925
Allan Merrick
The Splendid Road
Movie • 1925
Dan Clehollis
The Barrier
Movie • 1926
Stark Bennett
Road House
Movie • 1928
Henry Grayson
The House of Discord
Movie • 1913
The Husband
The Return Of Peter Grimm
Movie • 1935
Peter Grimm
Woman Against Woman
Movie • 1914
Gilbert Craven
The Bartered Crown
Movie • 1914
The Landlord
Men and Women
Movie • 1914
Stephen Rodman / Robert Stevens
The Cracksman's Gratitude
Movie • 1914
Screen Snapshots Series 17, No. 12
Movie • 1938
Lionel Barrymore
The Power of the Press
Movie • 1914
Steve Carson
The Span of Life
Movie • 1914
Richard Blunt
The Seats of the Mighty
Movie • 1914
Monsieur Doltaire
Arsène Lupin
Movie • 1932
Detective Guerchard
Down to the Sea in Ships
Movie • 1949
Bering Joy
The Exploits of Elaine
Movie • 1914
The Flaming Sword
Movie • 1915
Steve
A Modern Magdalen
Movie • 1915
Lindsay
Under the Gaslight
Movie • 1914
William Byke
Dora Thorne
Movie • 1915
Lord Earle
The Curious Conduct of Judge Legarde
Movie • 1915
Judge Randolph Legarde
A Yellow Streak
Movie • 1915
Barry Dale
The Painted Lady
Movie • 1912
At Ice Cream Festival
His Father's Son
Movie • 1917
J. Dabney Barro
The Brand of Cowardice
Movie • 1916
Cyril Hamilton
The Millionaire's Double
Movie • 1917
Bide Bennington
National Red Cross Pageant
Movie • 1917
The Battle
Movie • 1911
Wagon Driver (uncredited)
The Chief's Blanket
Movie • 1912
The Young Man
The White Caps
Movie • 1905
The Miser's Heart
Movie • 1911
Jules - the Thief
Boomerang Bill
Movie • 1922
Boomerang Bill
A Man of Iron
Movie • 1925
Philip Durban
The Wrongdoers
Movie • 1925
Daniel Abbott
I Am the Man
Movie • 1924
James McQuade
3 Men in White
Movie • 1944
Dr. Leonard Gillespie
The Voice of Bugle Ann
Movie • 1936
Springfield Davis
The Yaqui Cur
Movie • 1913
The Easterner
The Wanderer
Movie • 1913
The Male Lover
Dr. Gillespie's New Assistant
Movie • 1942
Dr. Leonard Gillespie
The Switchtower
Movie • 1913
First Counterfeiter
So Near, Yet So Far
Movie • 1912
In Club
Sweepings
Movie • 1933
Daniel Pardway
The Bells
Movie • 1926
Mathias
Friends
Movie • 1912
Grizzley Fallon - Dandy Jack's Friend
The Burglar’s Dilemma
Movie • 1912
The Householder
Strongheart
Movie • 1914
Billy Saunders
Wife Tamers
Movie • 1926
Mr. Barry
Let Freedom Ring
Movie • 1939
Thomas Logan
Right Cross
Movie • 1950
Sean O'Malley
One Man's Journey
Movie • 1933
Eli Watt
Bannerline
Movie • 1951
Hugo Trimble
Three Wise Fools
Movie • 1946
Dr. Richard Gaunght
Between Two Women
Movie • 1945
Dr. Leonard Gillespie
The Washington Masquerade
Movie • 1932
Jefferson "Jeff" Keane
Our Mr. Sun
Movie • 1956
Father Time (voice)
This Side of Heaven
Movie • 1934
Martin Turner
Carolina
Movie • 1934
Bob Connelly
The Secret Heart
Movie • 1946
Dr. Rossiger
Checking Out: Grand Hotel
Movie • 2004
Self / Various roles (archive footage)
Super Duper Bloopers
Movie • 1986
Self
Almost a Wild Man
Movie • 1913
In Audience (uncredited)
Looking Forward
Movie • 1933
Tim Benton
The Christmas Party
Movie • 1931
Himself (uncredited)
Land of Liberty
Movie • 1939
(archive footage)
Unseeing Eyes
Movie • 1923
Conrad Dean
The Eternal City
Movie • 1923
Baron Bonelli
Classmates
Movie • 1914
Bubby Dumble
A Fireside Chat with Lionel Barrymore
Movie • 1938
Self
Paris at Midnight
Movie • 1926
Vautrin
Dark Delusion
Movie • 1947
Dr. Leonard Gillespie
Drums of Love
Movie • 1928
Duke Cathos de Alvia
That's Entertainment!
Movie • 1974
(archive footage) (uncredited)
Alias Jimmy Valentine
Movie • 1928
Doyle
The Penalty
Movie • 1941
'Grandpop' Logan
The Devil's Garden
Movie • 1920
William Dale
Three Friends
Movie • 1913
Second Friend
Body and Soul
Movie • 1927
Dr. Leyden
The Lucky Lady
Movie • 1926
Count Ferranzo
The Stars Look Down
Movie • 1940
Narrator (U.S. release only) (voice)
The Bad Man
Movie • 1941
Uncle Henry Jones
An Indian's Loyalty
Movie • 1913
The Cattle Buyer
Main Street to Broadway
Movie • 1953
Self
The Strong Man's Burden
Movie • 1913
John - the Elder Brother
A New Romance of Celluloid: The Miracle of Sound
Movie • 1940
Self
Christopher Bean
Movie • 1933
Dr. Milton Haggett
The Face in the Fog
Movie • 1922
Boston Blackie Dawson
Some of the Best: Twenty-Five Years of Motion Picture Leadership
Movie • 1949
Himself
The Lion and the Mouse
Movie • 1928
John Ryder
From the Ends of the Earth
Movie • 1939
Self
Fate
Movie • 1913
Father, Loving Family
The One She Loved
Movie • 1912
The Neighbor
My Baby
Movie • 1912
At table
The Telephone Girl and the Lady
Movie • 1913
The Desk Sergeant
Breakdowns of 1949
Movie • 1949
Self
Cavalcade of the Academy Awards
Movie • 1940
Self (archive footage)
Hollywood: Style Center of the World
Movie • 1940
Self
The Mesmerist
Movie • 2003
The Innkeeper (archive footage)
Wildfire
Movie • 1915
John Keefe
America
Movie • 1924
Capt. Walter Butler
Dragon Seed
Movie • 1944
Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
D.W. Griffith - Years of Discovery 1909-1913
Movie • 2002
Complicated Women
Movie • 2003
Self (archive footage)
That's Entertainment, Part II
Movie • 1976
(archive footage)
Twenty Years After
Movie • 1944
(archive footage)
Brooding Eyes
Movie • 1926
Slim Jim Carey
The Girl Who Wouldn't Work
Movie • 1925
Gordon Kent
Women Love Diamonds
Movie • 1927
Hugo Harlan
The Little Tease
Movie • 1913
In Bar
Fifty-Fifty
Movie • 1925
Frederick Harmon
The Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Story
Movie • 1951
Himself - Giving Introduction
The Last Will and Testament of Tom Smith
Movie • 1943
Gramps
Oil and Water
Movie • 1913
The Idealist's Friend
The Quitter
Movie • 1916
Happy Jack Lewis
A Timely Interception
Movie • 1913
Uncle James - The Farmer's Brother
The God Within
Movie • 1912
The Woman of the Camp's Lover
Enemies of Women
Movie • 1923
Prince Lubimoff
The Great Adventure
Movie • 1921
Priam Farll
The River Woman
Movie • 1928
Bill Lefty
James Stewart: A Wonderful Life
Movie • 1987
Self (archive footage)
Jim the Penman
Movie • 1921
James Ralston
The Copperhead
Movie • 1920
Milt Shanks
Children of the Whirlwind
Movie • 1925
Joe Ellison
The Woman in Black
Movie • 1914
Robert Crane
The Thirteenth Hour
Movie • 1927
Prof. Leroy
The Lady and the Mouse
Movie • 1913
The Father
Film Fun
Movie • 1955
(archive footage)
The Movies March On
Movie • 1939
Self (segment The New York Hat) (archive footage)
Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ
Movie • 1925
Chariot Race Spectator (uncredited)
The Upheaval
Movie • 1916
Jim Gordon
Dorian's Divorce
Movie • 1916
Richard Dorian
Screen Actors
Movie • 1950
Self (uncredited)
The House of Darkness
Movie • 1913
The Doctor
Decameron Nights
Movie • 1924
Saladin
Meddling Women
Movie • 1924
Edwin Ainsworth / John Wells (duel role)
The Master Mind
Movie • 1920
Henry Allen
Hooray for Hollywood
Movie • 1976
Self (archive footage)
The Way of the World
Movie • 1947
Grizzley Fallon (Archive Footage)
Brasileiros em Hollywood
Movie • 1970
Self (archive footage)
The Ed Sullivan Show
TV • 1948
Self
MGM Parade
TV • 1955
MGM Parade
TV • 1955
Self
MGM Parade
TV • 1955
self