Person

Lionel Barrymore

Acting · 1878–1954 · Philadelphia, 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.

• 

  It's a Wonderful Life

  Mr. Potter

• 

  The Ed Sullivan Show

  Self

• 

  MGM Parade

  1955

• 

  Duel in the Sun

  Sen. Jackson McCanles

• 

  Key Largo

  James Temple

• 

  That's Entertainment!

  (archive footage) (uncredited)

• 

  Grand Hotel

  Otto Kringelein

• 

  Treasure Island

  Billy Bones

• 

  Wife Tamers

  Mr. Barry

• 

  You Can't Take It with You

  Martin Vanderhof

• 2008Frank Capra Jr. Remembers... You Can't Take It with YouSelf (archive footage)
• 2005Irving Thalberg: Prince of HollywoodSelf (archive footage)
• 2004Checking Out: Grand HotelSelf / Various roles (archive footage)
• 2003The MesmeristThe Innkeeper (archive footage)
• 2003Complicated WomenSelf (archive footage)
• 2002D.W. Griffith - Years of Discovery 1909-1913
• 1987James Stewart: A Wonderful LifeSelf (archive footage)
• 1986Super Duper BloopersSelf
• 1976That's Entertainment, Part II(archive footage)
• 1976Hooray for HollywoodSelf (archive footage)
• 1974That's Entertainment!(archive footage) (uncredited)
• 1972Hollywood: The Dream FactorySelf (archive footage)
• 1970Brasileiros em HollywoodSelf (archive footage)
• 1956Our Mr. SunFather Time (voice)
• 1955MGM Parade
• 1955Film Fun(archive footage)
• 1953Yesterday and Today(archive footage)
• 1953Main Street to BroadwaySelf
• 1952Lone StarAndrew Jackson
• 1951BannerlineHugo Trimble
• 1951The Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer StoryHimself - Giving Introduction
• 1950Right CrossSean O'Malley
• 1950Screen ActorsSelf (uncredited)
• 1949Breakdowns of 1949Self
• 1949MalayaJohn Manchester
• 1949Some of the Best: Twenty-Five Years of Motion Picture LeadershipHimself
• 1949Down to the Sea in ShipsBering Joy
• 1948Key LargoJames Temple
• 1948The Ed Sullivan ShowSelf
• 1947Dark DelusionDr. Leonard Gillespie
• 1947The Way of the WorldGrizzley Fallon (Archive Footage)
• 1946Duel in the SunSen. Jackson McCanles
• 1946The Secret HeartDr. Rossiger
• 1946It's a Wonderful LifeMr. Potter
• 1946Three Wise FoolsDr. Richard Gaunght
• 1945The Valley of DecisionPat Rafferty
• 1945Between Two WomenDr. Leonard Gillespie
• 1944Dragon SeedNarrator (voice) (uncredited)
• 1944Since You Went AwayClergyman
• 19443 Men in WhiteDr. Leonard Gillespie
• 1944A Guy Named JoeThe General
• 1944Twenty Years After(archive footage)
• 1943The Last Will and Testament of Tom SmithGramps
• 1943Dr. Gillespie's Criminal CaseDr. Leonard Gillespie
• 1942Tennessee JohnsonThaddeus Stevens
• 1942Dr. Gillespie's New AssistantDr. Leonard Gillespie
• 1942Calling Dr. GillespieDr. Leonard Gillespie
• 1942Dr. Kildare's VictoryDr. Leonard Gillespie
• 1941Lady Be GoodJudge Murdock
• 1941Dr. Kildare's Wedding DayDr. Leonard Gillespie
• 1941The People Vs. Dr. KildareDr. Leonard Gillespie
• 1941The Bad ManUncle Henry Jones
• 1941The Penalty'Grandpop' Logan
• 1940Dr. Kildare's CrisisDr. Leonard Gillespie
• 1940A New Romance of Celluloid: The Miracle of SoundSelf
• 1940Dr. Kildare Goes HomeDr. Leonard Gillespie
• 1940Cavalcade of the Academy AwardsSelf (archive footage)
• 1940Hollywood: Style Center of the WorldSelf
• 1940Dr. Kildare's Strange CaseLeonard Gillespie
• 1940The Stars Look DownNarrator (U.S. release only) (voice)
• 1939The Secret of Dr. KildareLeonard Gillespie
• 1939On Borrowed TimeJulian Northrup aka Gramps
• 1939The Movies March OnSelf (segment The New York Hat) (archive footage)
• 1939Land of Liberty(archive footage)
• 1939From the Ends of the EarthSelf
• 1939Calling Dr. KildareDr. Leonard Gillespie
• 1939Let Freedom RingThomas Logan
• 1938A Fireside Chat with Lionel BarrymoreSelf
• 1938Young Dr. KildareDr. Leonard Gillespie
• 1938You Can't Take It with YouMartin Vanderhof
• 1938Screen Snapshots Series 17, No. 12Lionel Barrymore
• 1938Test PilotHoward B. Drake
• 1938A Yank at OxfordDan Sheridan
• 1937Navy Blue and GoldCaptain 'Skinny' Dawes
• 1937SaratogaGrandpa Clayton
• 1937Captains CourageousCaptain Disko Troop
• 1937A Family AffairJudge Hardy
• 1936CamilleMonsieur Duval
• 1936The Road to GloryPapa La Roche / Pvt. Morin
• 1936The Gorgeous HussyAndrew Jackson
• 1936The Devil-DollPaul Lavond
• 1936The Voice of Bugle AnnSpringfield Davis
• 1935Ah, Wilderness!Nat Miller
• 1935The Return Of Peter GrimmPeter Grimm
• 1935Public Hero Number 1Dr. Josiah Glass
• 1935Mark of the VampireProfessor Zelin
• 1935The Little ColonelColonel Lloyd
• 1935David CopperfieldDan Peggotty
• 1934Treasure IslandBilly Bones
• 1934The Girl from MissouriT.R. Paige
• 1934This Side of HeavenMartin Turner
• 1934CarolinaBob Connelly
• 1933Dinner at EightOliver Jordan
• 1933Should Ladies BehaveAugustus Merrick
• 1933Christopher BeanDr. Milton Haggett
• 1933Night FlightRobineau
• 1933One Man's JourneyEli Watt
• 1933The Stranger's ReturnGrandpa Cyrus Tatum Storr
• 1933Looking ForwardTim Benton
• 1933SweepingsDaniel Pardway
• 1932Rasputin and the EmpressGrigori Rasputin
• 1932Grand HotelOtto Kringelein
• 1932The Washington MasqueradeJefferson "Jeff" Keane
• 1932The Movie Album(archive footage)
• 1932Arsène LupinDetective Guerchard
• 1932Broken LullabyDr. H. Holderlin
• 1931Mata HariGeneral Serge Shubin
• 1931The Christmas PartyHimself (uncredited)
• 1931The Yellow TicketBaron Igor Andreeff
• 1931Guilty HandsRichard Grant
• 1931A Free SoulStephen Ashe
• 1931Ten Cents a DanceDirector
• 1930Si l'empereur savait çaMusic
• 1930EstrelladosSelf (Guest Appearance)
• 1930The Sea BatDirector
• 1930RedemptionDirector
• 1930Free and EasyBedroom Scene
• 1930The Rogue SongDirector
• 1929The Hollywood Revue of 1929Self - Director of 'Romeo and Juliet' (uncredited)
• 1929The Mysterious IslandAndre Dakkar
• 1929His Glorious NightDirector
• 1929The Unholy NightDirector
• 1929Madame XDirector
• 1928The River WomanBill Lefty
• 1928West of ZanzibarCrane
• 1928Alias Jimmy ValentineDoyle
• 1928Road HouseHenry Grayson
• 1928The Lion and the MouseJohn Ryder
• 1928Drums of LoveDuke Cathos de Alvia
• 1928Sadie ThompsonAlfred Davidson
• 1927The Thirteenth HourProf. Leroy
• 1927Body and SoulDr. Leyden
• 1927Women Love DiamondsHugo Harlan
• 1927The ShowThe Greek
• 1926The TemptressCanterac
• 1926The BellsMathias
• 1926The Lucky LadyCount Ferranzo
• 1926Paris at MidnightVautrin
• 1926Wife TamersMr. Barry
• 1926The BarrierStark Bennett
• 1926Brooding EyesSlim Jim Carey
• 1925Ben-Hur: A Tale of the ChristChariot Race Spectator (uncredited)
• 1925The Splendid RoadDan Clehollis
• 1925The Woman Who DidAllan Merrick
• 1925Fifty-FiftyFrederick Harmon
• 1925The WrongdoersDaniel Abbott
• 1925The Girl Who Wouldn't WorkGordon Kent
• 1925Children of the WhirlwindJoe Ellison
• 1925A Man of IronPhilip Durban
• 1924I Am the ManJames McQuade
• 1924Meddling WomenEdwin Ainsworth / John Wells (duel role)
• 1924AmericaCapt. Walter Butler
• 1924Decameron NightsSaladin
• 1923The Eternal CityBaron Bonelli
• 1923Unseeing EyesConrad Dean
• 1923Enemies of WomenPrince Lubimoff
• 1922The Face in the FogBoston Blackie Dawson
• 1922Boomerang BillBoomerang Bill
• 1921Jim the PenmanJames Ralston
• 1921The Great AdventurePriam Farll
• 1920The Devil's GardenWilliam Dale
• 1920The Master MindHenry Allen
• 1920The CopperheadMilt Shanks
• 1917National Red Cross Pageant
• 1917Life's WhirlpoolDirector
• 1917The Millionaire's DoubleBide Bennington
• 1917His Father's SonJ. Dabney Barro
• 1917The End of the TourByron Bennett
• 1916The Brand of CowardiceCyril Hamilton
• 1916The UpheavalJim Gordon
• 1916The QuitterHappy Jack Lewis
• 1916Dorian's DivorceRichard Dorian
• 1915A Yellow StreakBarry Dale
• 1915Dora ThorneLord Earle
• 1915The Flaming SwordSteve
• 1915The Romance of ElaineMarcus Del Mar / Mr. X
• 1915The Curious Conduct of Judge LegardeJudge Randolph Legarde
• 1915A Modern MagdalenLindsay
• 1915WildfireJohn Keefe
• 1914The Exploits of Elaine
• 1914The Span of LifeRichard Blunt
• 1914The Seats of the MightyMonsieur Doltaire
• 1914Under the GaslightWilliam Byke
• 1914The Woman in BlackRobert Crane
• 1914The Power of the PressSteve Carson
• 1914Men and WomenStephen Rodman / Robert Stevens
• 1914The Cracksman's Gratitude
• 1914Woman Against WomanGilbert Craven
• 1914Judith of BethuliaExtra (uncredited)
• 1914StrongheartBilly Saunders
• 1914Her Father's Silent Partner
• 1914ClassmatesBubby Dumble
• 1914The Bartered CrownThe Landlord
• 1913The House of DiscordThe Husband
• 1913All for ScienceDetective
• 1913So Runs the Way
• 1913His SecretDirector
• 1913The Stolen TreatyThe Japanese Diplomat
• 1913The Strong Man's BurdenJohn - the Elder Brother
• 1913The Crook and the GirlThe Nephew
• 1913The Work HabitThe Father
• 1913The Suffragette Minstrels(unconfirmed)
• 1913An Indian's LoyaltyThe Cattle Buyer
• 1913Under the Shadow of the LawCharles Darnton - the Employer
• 1913I Was Meant for YouLavina's Father
• 1913The Vengeance of Galora
• 1913The MirrorDaisy's Father
• 1913Pa SaysTeddy's Rival
• 1913A Gamble with DeathJim Benton, the Bartender
• 1913In Diplomatic CirclesThe Japanese Ambassador
• 1913Almost a Wild ManIn Audience (uncredited)
• 1913The SwitchtowerFirst Counterfeiter
• 1913Death's MarathonThe Financial Backer
• 1913The WellThe Farmer
• 1913The Enemy's BabyPostmaster Ben Brown
• 1913Red Hicks Defies the WorldThe Referee
• 1913A Timely InterceptionUncle James - The Farmer's Brother
• 1913The Ranchero's RevengeThe Ranchero
• 1913Just GoldThe Stay-at-Home Brother
• 1913The Yaqui CurThe Easterner
• 1913The House of DarknessThe Doctor
• 1913The WandererThe Male Lover
• 1913The Lady and the MouseThe Father
• 1913A Misunderstood BoyThe Father
• 1913The Little TeaseIn Bar
• 1913The Perfidy of MaryMary's Father
• 1913The Sheriff's BabyThird Bandit
• 1913FateFather, Loving Family
• 1913Near To EarthGato
• 1913The Unwelcome GuestAt Auction (uncredited)
• 1913The Wrong BottleThe Father
• 1913Love in an Apartment HotelIn Hotel Lobby
• 1913A Chance Deception2nd Policeman
• 1913Oil and WaterThe Idealist's Friend
• 1913The Tender Hearted Boy(uncredited)
• 1913An Adventure in the Autumn WoodsThe Father
• 1913The Telephone Girl and the LadyThe Desk Sergeant
• 1913Three FriendsSecond Friend
• 1912The God WithinThe Woman of the Camp's Lover
• 1912A Cry for HelpThe Tramp
• 1912The Burglar’s DilemmaThe Householder
• 1912My Hero
• 1912The New York HatMinister
• 1912BrutalityAt Wedding
• 1912The InformerUnion Soldier
• 1912My BabyAt table
• 1912Gold and GlitterThe Lover
• 1912HeredityWoodsman
• 1912The Musketeers of Pig AlleyThe Musician's Friend
• 1912The Painted LadyAt Ice Cream Festival
• 1912The One She LovedThe Neighbor
• 1912The Chief's BlanketThe Young Man
• 1912So Near, Yet So FarIn Club
• 1912FriendsGrizzley Fallon - Dandy Jack's Friend
• 1911The Miser's HeartJules - the Thief
• 1911The BattleWagon Driver (uncredited)
• 1911Fighting Blood
• 1905The White Caps