Personal Info

Known For

Acting

Known Credits

260

Gender

Male

Birthday

1878-04-28

Day of Death

1954-11-15 (76 years old)

Place of Birth

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

Also Known As

Lionel Herbert Blythe

Lionel Blythe

لیونل بریمور

Lionel Barrymore

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.

Known For

Acting

It's a Wonderful Life

1946

It's a Wonderful Life

as

Mr. Potter

Estrellados

1930

Estrellados

as

Self (Guest Appearance)

Calling Dr. Gillespie

1942

Calling Dr. Gillespie

as

Dr. Leonard Gillespie

Key Largo

1948

Key Largo

as

James Temple

The Romance of Elaine

1915

The Romance of Elaine

as

Marcus Del Mar / Mr. X

The End of the Tour

1917

The End of the Tour

as

Byron Bennett

The Hollywood Revue of 1929

1929

The Hollywood Revue of 1929

as

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

Duel in the Sun

1946

Duel in the Sun

as

Sen. Jackson McCanles

Public Hero Number 1

1935

Public Hero Number 1

as

Dr. Josiah Glass

Grand Hotel

1932

Grand Hotel

as

Otto Kringelein

West of Zanzibar

1928

West of Zanzibar

as

Crane

You Can't Take It with You

1938

You Can't Take It with You

as

Martin Vanderhof

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

2008

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

as

Self (archive footage)

Mata Hari

1931

Mata Hari

as

General Serge Shubin

On Borrowed Time

1939

On Borrowed Time

as

Julian Northrup aka Gramps

Mark of the Vampire

1935

Mark of the Vampire

as

Professor Zelin

The Devil-Doll

1936

The Devil-Doll

as

Paul Lavond

Since You Went Away

1944

Since You Went Away

as

Clergyman

The Little Colonel

1935

The Little Colonel

as

Colonel Lloyd

Sadie Thompson

1928

Sadie Thompson

as

Alfred Davidson

The Musketeers of Pig Alley

1912

The Musketeers of Pig Alley

as

The Musician's Friend

Free and Easy

1930

Free and Easy

as

Bedroom Scene

A Guy Named Joe

1949

A Guy Named Joe

as

The General

Rasputin and the Empress

1932

Rasputin and the Empress

as

Grigori Rasputin

Test Pilot

1938

Test Pilot

as

Howard B. Drake

Lady Be Good

1941

Lady Be Good

as

Judge Murdock

The Valley of Decision

1945

The Valley of Decision

as

Pat Rafferty

Treasure Island

1934

Treasure Island

as

Billy Bones

Camille

1936

Camille

as

Monsieur Duval

1952

Lone Star

as

Andrew Jackson

David Copperfield

1935

David Copperfield

as

Dan Peggotty

Malaya

1949

Malaya

as

John Manchester

Yesterday and Today

1953

Yesterday and Today

as

(archive footage)

Saratoga

1937

Saratoga

as

Grandpa Clayton

Captains Courageous

1937

Captains Courageous

as

Captain Disko Troop

Dinner at Eight

1933

Dinner at Eight

as

Oliver Jordan

Tennessee Johnson

1942

Tennessee Johnson

as

Thaddeus Stevens

A Free Soul

1931

A Free Soul

as

Stephen Ashe

The Sheriff's Baby

1913

The Sheriff's Baby

as

Third Bandit

Dr. Kildare's Wedding Day

1941

Dr. Kildare's Wedding Day

as

Dr. Leonard Gillespie

Dr. Kildare Goes Home

1940

Dr. Kildare Goes Home

as

Dr. Leonard Gillespie

Gold and Glitter

1912

Gold and Glitter

as

The Lover

The Informer

1912

The Informer

as

Union Soldier

The Unwelcome Guest

1913

The Unwelcome Guest

as

At Auction (uncredited)

So Runs the Way

1913

So Runs the Way

as

The Wrong Bottle

1913

The Wrong Bottle

as

The Father

Love in an Apartment Hotel

1913

Love in an Apartment Hotel

as

In Hotel Lobby

A Chance Deception

1913

A Chance Deception

as

2nd Policeman

A Cry for Help

1912

A Cry for Help

as

The Tramp

An Adventure in the Autumn Woods

1913

An Adventure in the Autumn Woods

as

The Father

Just Gold

1913

Just Gold

as

The Stay-at-Home Brother

Night Flight

1933

Night Flight

as

Robineau

Heredity

1912

Heredity

as

Woodsman

Brutality

1912

Brutality

as

At Wedding

My Hero

1912

My Hero

as

Near To Earth

1913

Near To Earth

as

Gato

Broken Lullaby

1932

Broken Lullaby

as

Dr. H. Holderlin

The Ranchero's Revenge

1913

The Ranchero's Revenge

as

The Ranchero

In Diplomatic Circles

1913

In Diplomatic Circles

as

The Japanese Ambassador

Red Hicks Defies the World

1913

Red Hicks Defies the World

as

The Referee

The Well

1913

The Well

as

The Farmer

A Gamble with Death

1913

A Gamble with Death

as

Jim Benton, the Bartender

The Enemy's Baby

1913

The Enemy's Baby

as

Postmaster Ben Brown

The Mirror

1913

The Mirror

as

Daisy's Father

I Was Meant for You

1913

I Was Meant for You

as

Lavina's Father

Under the Shadow of the Law

1913

Under the Shadow of the Law

as

Charles Darnton - the Employer

The Work Habit

1913

The Work Habit

as

The Father

Fighting Blood

1911

Fighting Blood

as

The Crook and the Girl

1913

The Crook and the Girl

as

The Nephew

The Stolen Treaty

1913

The Stolen Treaty

as

The Japanese Diplomat

The Temptress

1926

The Temptress

as

Canterac

All for Science

1913

All for Science

as

Detective

Dr. Gillespie's Criminal Case

1943

Dr. Gillespie's Criminal Case

as

Dr. Leonard Gillespie

The Mysterious Island

1929

The Mysterious Island

as

Andre Dakkar

Dr. Kildare's Crisis

1940

Dr. Kildare's Crisis

as

Dr. Leonard Gillespie

The Yellow Ticket

1931

The Yellow Ticket

as

Baron Igor Andreeff

Ah, Wilderness!

1935

Ah, Wilderness!

as

Nat Miller

The Girl from Missouri

1934

The Girl from Missouri

as

T.R. Paige

Her Father's Silent Partner

1914

Her Father's Silent Partner

as

Judith of Bethulia

1914

Judith of Bethulia

as

Extra (uncredited)

The Road to Glory

1936

The Road to Glory

as

Papa La Roche / Pvt. Morin

Hollywood: The Dream Factory

1972

Hollywood: The Dream Factory

as

Self (archive footage)

The Stranger's Return

1933

The Stranger's Return

as

Grandpa Cyrus Tatum Storr

The Show

1927

The Show

as

The Greek

Should Ladies Behave

1933

Should Ladies Behave

as

Augustus Merrick

The Gorgeous Hussy

1936

The Gorgeous Hussy

as

Andrew Jackson

The New York Hat

1912

The New York Hat

as

Minister

A Yank at Oxford

1938

A Yank at Oxford

as

Dan Sheridan

The Secret of Dr. Kildare

1939

The Secret of Dr. Kildare

as

Dr. Leonard Gillespie

Calling Dr. Kildare

1939

Calling Dr. Kildare

as

Dr. Leonard Gillespie

The People Vs. Dr. Kildare

1941

The People Vs. Dr. Kildare

as

Dr. Leonard Gillespie

Young Dr. Kildare

1938

Young Dr. Kildare

as

Dr. Leonard Gillespie

Dr. Kildare's Strange Case

1940

Dr. Kildare's Strange Case

as

Dr. Leonard Gillespie

Dr. Kildare's Victory

1942

Dr. Kildare's Victory

as

Dr. Leonard Gillespie

A Family Affair

1937

A Family Affair

as

Judge Hardy

A Misunderstood Boy

1913

A Misunderstood Boy

as

The Father

Death's Marathon

1913

Death's Marathon

as

The Financial Backer

The Perfidy of Mary

1913

The Perfidy of Mary

as

Mary's Father

The Tender Hearted Boy

1913

The Tender Hearted Boy

as

(uncredited)

The Vengeance of Galora

1913

The Vengeance of Galora

as

Pa Says

1913

Pa Says

as

Teddy's Rival

The Suffragette Minstrels

1913

The Suffragette Minstrels

as

(unconfirmed)

Navy Blue and Gold

1937

Navy Blue and Gold

as

Captain 'Skinny' Dawes

Guilty Hands

1931

Guilty Hands

as

Richard Grant

The Woman Who Did

1925

The Woman Who Did

as

Allan Merrick

The Splendid Road

1925

The Splendid Road

as

Dan Clehollis

The Barrier

1926

The Barrier

as

Stark Bennett

Road House

1928

Road House

as

Henry Grayson

The House of Discord

1913

The House of Discord

as

The Husband

The Return Of Peter Grimm

1935

The Return Of Peter Grimm

as

Peter Grimm

Woman Against Woman

1914

Woman Against Woman

as

Gilbert Craven

The Bartered Crown

1914

The Bartered Crown

as

The Landlord

Men and Women

1914

Men and Women

as

Stephen Rodman / Robert Stevens

The Cracksman's Gratitude

1914

The Cracksman's Gratitude

as

Screen Snapshots Series 17, No. 12

1938

Screen Snapshots Series 17, No. 12

as

Lionel Barrymore

The Power of the Press

1914

The Power of the Press

as

Steve Carson

The Span of Life

1914

The Span of Life

as

Richard Blunt

The Seats of the Mighty

1914

The Seats of the Mighty

as

Monsieur Doltaire

Arsène Lupin

1932

Arsène Lupin

as

Detective Guerchard

Down to the Sea in Ships

1949

Down to the Sea in Ships

as

Bering Joy

The Exploits of Elaine

1914

The Exploits of Elaine

as

The Flaming Sword

1915

The Flaming Sword

as

Steve

A Modern Magdalen

1915

A Modern Magdalen

as

Lindsay

Under the Gaslight

1914

Under the Gaslight

as

William Byke

Dora Thorne

1915

Dora Thorne

as

Lord Earle

The Curious Conduct of Judge Legarde

1915

The Curious Conduct of Judge Legarde

as

Judge Randolph Legarde

A Yellow Streak

1915

A Yellow Streak

as

Barry Dale

The Painted Lady

1912

The Painted Lady

as

At Ice Cream Festival

His Father's Son

1917

His Father's Son

as

J. Dabney Barro

1916

The Brand of Cowardice

as

Cyril Hamilton

The Millionaire's Double

1917

The Millionaire's Double

as

Bide Bennington

National Red Cross Pageant

1917

National Red Cross Pageant

as

The Battle

1911

The Battle

as

Wagon Driver (uncredited)

The Chief's Blanket

1912

The Chief's Blanket

as

The Young Man

The White Caps

1905

The White Caps

as

The Miser's Heart

1911

The Miser's Heart

as

Jules - the Thief

Boomerang Bill

1922

Boomerang Bill

as

Boomerang Bill

A Man of Iron

1925

A Man of Iron

as

Philip Durban

The Wrongdoers

1925

The Wrongdoers

as

Daniel Abbott

I Am the Man

1924

I Am the Man

as

James McQuade

3 Men in White

1944

3 Men in White

as

Dr. Leonard Gillespie

The Voice of Bugle Ann

1936

The Voice of Bugle Ann

as

Springfield Davis

The Yaqui Cur

1913

The Yaqui Cur

as

The Easterner

The Wanderer

1913

The Wanderer

as

The Male Lover

Dr. Gillespie's New Assistant

1942

Dr. Gillespie's New Assistant

as

Dr. Leonard Gillespie

The Switchtower

1913

The Switchtower

as

First Counterfeiter

So Near, Yet So Far

1912

So Near, Yet So Far

as

In Club

Sweepings

1933

Sweepings

as

Daniel Pardway

The Bells

1926

The Bells

as

Mathias

Friends

1912

Friends

as

Grizzley Fallon - Dandy Jack's Friend

The Burglar’s Dilemma

1912

The Burglar’s Dilemma

as

The Householder

Strongheart

1914

Strongheart

as

Billy Saunders

Wife Tamers

1926

Wife Tamers

as

Mr. Barry

Let Freedom Ring

1939

Let Freedom Ring

as

Thomas Logan

Right Cross

1950

Right Cross

as

Sean O'Malley

One Man's Journey

1933

One Man's Journey

as

Eli Watt

Bannerline

1951

Bannerline

as

Hugo Trimble

Three Wise Fools

1946

Three Wise Fools

as

Dr. Richard Gaunght

Between Two Women

1945

Between Two Women

as

Dr. Leonard Gillespie

The Washington Masquerade

1932

The Washington Masquerade

as

Jefferson "Jeff" Keane

Our Mr. Sun

1956

Our Mr. Sun

as

Father Time (voice)

This Side of Heaven

1934

This Side of Heaven

as

Martin Turner

Carolina

1934

Carolina

as

Bob Connelly

The Secret Heart

1946

The Secret Heart

as

Dr. Rossiger

Checking Out: Grand Hotel

2004

Checking Out: Grand Hotel

as

Self / Various roles (archive footage)

Super Duper Bloopers

1986

Super Duper Bloopers

as

Self

Almost a Wild Man

1913

Almost a Wild Man

as

In Audience (uncredited)

Looking Forward

1933

Looking Forward

as

Tim Benton

The Christmas Party

1931

The Christmas Party

as

Himself (uncredited)

Land of Liberty

1939

Land of Liberty

as

(archive footage)

Unseeing Eyes

1923

Unseeing Eyes

as

Conrad Dean

The Eternal City

1923

The Eternal City

as

Baron Bonelli

Classmates

1914

Classmates

as

Bubby Dumble

A Fireside Chat with Lionel Barrymore

1938

A Fireside Chat with Lionel Barrymore

as

Self

Paris at Midnight

1926

Paris at Midnight

as

Vautrin

Dark Delusion

1947

Dark Delusion

as

Dr. Leonard Gillespie

Drums of Love

1928

Drums of Love

as

Duke Cathos de Alvia

That's Entertainment!

1974

That's Entertainment!

as

(archive footage) (uncredited)

Alias Jimmy Valentine

1928

Alias Jimmy Valentine

as

Doyle

The Penalty

1941

The Penalty

as

'Grandpop' Logan

The Devil's Garden

1920

The Devil's Garden

as

William Dale

Three Friends

1913

Three Friends

as

Second Friend

Body and Soul

1927

Body and Soul

as

Dr. Leyden

The Lucky Lady

1926

The Lucky Lady

as

Count Ferranzo

The Stars Look Down

1940

The Stars Look Down

as

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

The Bad Man

1941

The Bad Man

as

Uncle Henry Jones

An Indian's Loyalty

1913

An Indian's Loyalty

as

The Cattle Buyer

Main Street to Broadway

1953

Main Street to Broadway

as

Self

The Strong Man's Burden

1913

The Strong Man's Burden

as

John - the Elder Brother

A New Romance of Celluloid: The Miracle of Sound

1940

A New Romance of Celluloid: The Miracle of Sound

as

Self

Christopher Bean

1933

Christopher Bean

as

Dr. Milton Haggett

The Face in the Fog

1922

The Face in the Fog

as

Boston Blackie Dawson

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

1949

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

as

Himself

The Lion and the Mouse

1928

The Lion and the Mouse

as

John Ryder

From the Ends of the Earth

1939

From the Ends of the Earth

as

Self

Fate

1913

Fate

as

Father, Loving Family

The One She Loved

1912

The One She Loved

as

The Neighbor

My Baby

1912

My Baby

as

At table

The Telephone Girl and the Lady

1913

The Telephone Girl and the Lady

as

The Desk Sergeant

Breakdowns of 1949

1949

Breakdowns of 1949

as

Self

Cavalcade of the Academy Awards

1940

Cavalcade of the Academy Awards

as

Self (archive footage)

Hollywood: Style Center of the World

1940

Hollywood: Style Center of the World

as

Self

The Mesmerist

2003

The Mesmerist

as

The Innkeeper (archive footage)

Wildfire

1915

Wildfire

as

John Keefe

America

1924

America

as

Capt. Walter Butler

Dragon Seed

1944

Dragon Seed

as

Narrator (voice) (uncredited)

D.W. Griffith - Years of Discovery 1909-1913

2002

D.W. Griffith - Years of Discovery 1909-1913

as

Complicated Women

2003

Complicated Women

as

Self (archive footage)

That's Entertainment, Part II

1976

That's Entertainment, Part II

as

(archive footage)

Twenty Years After

1944

Twenty Years After

as

(archive footage)

Brooding Eyes

1926

Brooding Eyes

as

Slim Jim Carey

The Girl Who Wouldn't Work

1925

The Girl Who Wouldn't Work

as

Gordon Kent

Women Love Diamonds

1927

Women Love Diamonds

as

Hugo Harlan

The Little Tease

1913

The Little Tease

as

In Bar

Fifty-Fifty

1925

Fifty-Fifty

as

Frederick Harmon

The Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Story

1951

The Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Story

as

Himself - Giving Introduction

The Last Will and Testament of Tom Smith

1943

The Last Will and Testament of Tom Smith

as

Gramps

Oil and Water

1913

Oil and Water

as

The Idealist's Friend

The Quitter

1916

The Quitter

as

Happy Jack Lewis

A Timely Interception

1913

A Timely Interception

as

Uncle James - The Farmer's Brother

The God Within

1912

The God Within

as

The Woman of the Camp's Lover

Enemies of Women

1923

Enemies of Women

as

Prince Lubimoff

The Great Adventure

1921

The Great Adventure

as

Priam Farll

The River Woman

1928

The River Woman

as

Bill Lefty

James Stewart: A Wonderful Life

1987

James Stewart: A Wonderful Life

as

Self (archive footage)

Jim the Penman

1921

Jim the Penman

as

James Ralston

The Copperhead

1920

The Copperhead

as

Milt Shanks

Children of the Whirlwind

1925

Children of the Whirlwind

as

Joe Ellison

The Woman in Black

1914

The Woman in Black

as

Robert Crane

The Thirteenth Hour

1927

The Thirteenth Hour

as

Prof. Leroy

The Lady and the Mouse

1913

The Lady and the Mouse

as

The Father

Film Fun

1955

Film Fun

as

(archive footage)

The Movies March On

1939

The Movies March On

as

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

Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ

1925

Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ

as

Chariot Race Spectator (uncredited)

The Upheaval

1916

The Upheaval

as

Jim Gordon

Dorian's Divorce

1916

Dorian's Divorce

as

Richard Dorian

Screen Actors

1950

Screen Actors

as

Self (uncredited)

The House of Darkness

1913

The House of Darkness

as

The Doctor

Decameron Nights

1924

Decameron Nights

as

Saladin

Meddling Women

1924

Meddling Women

as

Edwin Ainsworth / John Wells (duel role)

The Master Mind

1920

The Master Mind

as

Henry Allen

Hooray for Hollywood

1976

Hooray for Hollywood

as

Self (archive footage)

The Way of the World

1947

The Way of the World

as

Grizzley Fallon (Archive Footage)

The Ed Sullivan Show

The Ed Sullivan Show

as

Self

MGM Parade

MGM Parade

as

Production

Crew

Directing

Madame X

1929

Madame X

as

Ten Cents a Dance

1931

Ten Cents a Dance

as

The Unholy Night

1929

The Unholy Night

as

Redemption

1930

Redemption

as

The Rogue Song

1930

The Rogue Song

as

His Glorious Night

1929

His Glorious Night

as

Life's Whirlpool

1917

Life's Whirlpool

as

The Sea Bat

1930

The Sea Bat

as

His Secret

1913

His Secret

as