Lionel Barrymore

Acting

Lionel Barrymore

Born April 28, 1878Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA255 credits

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

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

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

Movie

2008

7.0

Checking Out: Grand Hotel

Movie

2004

The Mesmerist
8.0

The Mesmerist

Movie

2003

Complicated Women
6.7

Complicated Women

Movie

2003

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

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

Movie

2002

James Stewart: A Wonderful Life
6.0

James Stewart: A Wonderful Life

Movie

1987

Filmography

Frank Capra Jr. Remembers... You Can't Take It with You
2008Frank Capra Jr. Remembers... You Can't Take It with Youas Self (archive footage)Movie
C
2004Checking Out: Grand Hotelas Self / Various roles (archive footage)Movie
The Mesmerist
2003The Mesmeristas The Innkeeper (archive footage)Movie
Complicated Women
2003Complicated Womenas Self (archive footage)Movie
D.W. Griffith - Years of Discovery 1909-1913
2002D.W. Griffith - Years of Discovery 1909-1913Movie
James Stewart: A Wonderful Life
1987James Stewart: A Wonderful Lifeas Self (archive footage)Movie
Super Duper Bloopers
1986Super Duper Bloopersas SelfMovie
That's Entertainment, Part II
1976That's Entertainment, Part IIas (archive footage)Movie
Hooray for Hollywood
1976Hooray for Hollywoodas Self (archive footage)Movie
That's Entertainment!
1974That's Entertainment!as (archive footage) (uncredited)Movie
Hollywood: The Dream Factory
1972Hollywood: The Dream Factoryas Self (archive footage)Movie
Brasileiros em Hollywood
1970Brasileiros em Hollywoodas Self (archive footage)Movie
Our Mr. Sun
1956Our Mr. Sunas Father Time (voice)Movie
MGM Parade
1955MGM ParadeTV
F
1955Film Funas (archive footage)Movie
Yesterday and Today
1953Yesterday and Todayas (archive footage)Movie
Main Street to Broadway
1953Main Street to Broadwayas SelfMovie
Lone Star
1952Lone Staras Andrew JacksonMovie
Bannerline
1951Bannerlineas Hugo TrimbleMovie
The Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Story
1951The Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Storyas Himself - Giving IntroductionMovie
Right Cross
1950Right Crossas Sean O'MalleyMovie
S
1950Screen Actorsas Self (uncredited)Movie
Breakdowns of 1949
1949Breakdowns of 1949as SelfMovie
Malaya
1949Malayaas John ManchesterMovie
Some of the Best: Twenty-Five Years of Motion Picture Leadership
1949Some of the Best: Twenty-Five Years of Motion Picture Leadershipas HimselfMovie
Down to the Sea in Ships
1949Down to the Sea in Shipsas Bering JoyMovie
Key Largo
1948Key Largoas James TempleMovie
The Ed Sullivan Show
1948The Ed Sullivan Showas SelfTV
Dark Delusion
1947Dark Delusionas Dr. Leonard GillespieMovie
The Way of the World
1947The Way of the Worldas Grizzley Fallon (Archive Footage)Movie
Duel in the Sun
1946Duel in the Sunas Sen. Jackson McCanlesMovie
The Secret Heart
1946The Secret Heartas Dr. RossigerMovie
It's a Wonderful Life
1946It's a Wonderful Lifeas Mr. PotterMovie
Three Wise Fools
1946Three Wise Foolsas Dr. Richard GaunghtMovie
The Valley of Decision
1945The Valley of Decisionas Pat RaffertyMovie
Between Two Women
1945Between Two Womenas Dr. Leonard GillespieMovie
Dragon Seed
1944Dragon Seedas Narrator (voice) (uncredited)Movie
Since You Went Away
1944Since You Went Awayas ClergymanMovie
3 Men in White
19443 Men in Whiteas Dr. Leonard GillespieMovie
A Guy Named Joe
1944A Guy Named Joeas The GeneralMovie
Twenty Years After
1944Twenty Years Afteras (archive footage)Movie
The Last Will and Testament of Tom Smith
1943The Last Will and Testament of Tom Smithas GrampsMovie
Dr. Gillespie's Criminal Case
1943Dr. Gillespie's Criminal Caseas Dr. Leonard GillespieMovie
Tennessee Johnson
1942Tennessee Johnsonas Thaddeus StevensMovie
Dr. Gillespie's New Assistant
1942Dr. Gillespie's New Assistantas Dr. Leonard GillespieMovie
Calling Dr. Gillespie
1942Calling Dr. Gillespieas Dr. Leonard GillespieMovie
Dr. Kildare's Victory
1942Dr. Kildare's Victoryas Dr. Leonard GillespieMovie
Lady Be Good
1941Lady Be Goodas Judge MurdockMovie
Dr. Kildare's Wedding Day
1941Dr. Kildare's Wedding Dayas Dr. Leonard GillespieMovie
The People Vs. Dr. Kildare
1941The People Vs. Dr. Kildareas Dr. Leonard GillespieMovie
The Bad Man
1941The Bad Manas Uncle Henry JonesMovie
The Penalty
1941The Penaltyas 'Grandpop' LoganMovie
Dr. Kildare's Crisis
1940Dr. Kildare's Crisisas Dr. Leonard GillespieMovie
A New Romance of Celluloid: The Miracle of Sound
1940A New Romance of Celluloid: The Miracle of Soundas SelfMovie
Dr. Kildare Goes Home
1940Dr. Kildare Goes Homeas Dr. Leonard GillespieMovie
Cavalcade of the Academy Awards
1940Cavalcade of the Academy Awardsas Self (archive footage)Movie
Hollywood: Style Center of the World
1940Hollywood: Style Center of the Worldas SelfMovie
Dr. Kildare's Strange Case
1940Dr. Kildare's Strange Caseas Dr. Leonard GillespieMovie
The Stars Look Down
1940The Stars Look Downas Narrator (U.S. release only) (voice)Movie
The Secret of Dr. Kildare
1939The Secret of Dr. Kildareas Dr. Leonard GillespieMovie
On Borrowed Time
1939On Borrowed Timeas Julian Northrup aka GrampsMovie
The Movies March On
1939The Movies March Onas Self (segment The New York Hat) (archive footage)Movie
Land of Liberty
1939Land of Libertyas (archive footage)Movie
From the Ends of the Earth
1939From the Ends of the Earthas SelfMovie
Calling Dr. Kildare
1939Calling Dr. Kildareas Dr. Leonard GillespieMovie
Let Freedom Ring
1939Let Freedom Ringas Thomas LoganMovie
A
1938A Fireside Chat with Lionel Barrymoreas SelfMovie
Young Dr. Kildare
1938Young Dr. Kildareas Dr. Leonard GillespieMovie
You Can't Take It with You
1938You Can't Take It with Youas Martin VanderhofMovie
Screen Snapshots Series 17, No. 12
1938Screen Snapshots Series 17, No. 12as Lionel BarrymoreMovie
Test Pilot
1938Test Pilotas Howard B. DrakeMovie
A Yank at Oxford
1938A Yank at Oxfordas Dan SheridanMovie
Navy Blue and Gold
1937Navy Blue and Goldas Captain 'Skinny' DawesMovie
Saratoga
1937Saratogaas Grandpa ClaytonMovie
Captains Courageous
1937Captains Courageousas Captain Disko TroopMovie
A Family Affair
1937A Family Affairas Judge HardyMovie
Camille
1936Camilleas Monsieur DuvalMovie
The Road to Glory
1936The Road to Gloryas Papa La Roche / Pvt. MorinMovie
The Gorgeous Hussy
1936The Gorgeous Hussyas Andrew JacksonMovie
The Devil-Doll
1936The Devil-Dollas Paul LavondMovie
The Voice of Bugle Ann
1936The Voice of Bugle Annas Springfield DavisMovie
Ah, Wilderness!
1935Ah, Wilderness!as Nat MillerMovie
The Return Of Peter Grimm
1935The Return Of Peter Grimmas Peter GrimmMovie
Public Hero Number 1
1935Public Hero Number 1as Dr. Josiah GlassMovie
Mark of the Vampire
1935Mark of the Vampireas Professor ZelinMovie
The Little Colonel
1935The Little Colonelas Colonel LloydMovie
David Copperfield
1935David Copperfieldas Dan PeggottyMovie
Treasure Island
1934Treasure Islandas Billy BonesMovie
The Girl from Missouri
1934The Girl from Missourias T.R. PaigeMovie
This Side of Heaven
1934This Side of Heavenas Martin TurnerMovie
Carolina
1934Carolinaas Bob ConnellyMovie
Dinner at Eight
1933Dinner at Eightas Oliver JordanMovie
Should Ladies Behave
1933Should Ladies Behaveas Augustus MerrickMovie
Christopher Bean
1933Christopher Beanas Dr. Milton HaggettMovie
Night Flight
1933Night Flightas RobineauMovie
One Man's Journey
1933One Man's Journeyas Eli WattMovie
The Stranger's Return
1933The Stranger's Returnas Grandpa Cyrus Tatum StorrMovie
Looking Forward
1933Looking Forwardas Tim BentonMovie
Sweepings
1933Sweepingsas Daniel PardwayMovie
Rasputin and the Empress
1932Rasputin and the Empressas Grigori RasputinMovie
Grand Hotel
1932Grand Hotelas Otto KringeleinMovie
The Washington Masquerade
1932The Washington Masqueradeas Jefferson "Jeff" KeaneMovie
Arsène Lupin
1932Arsène Lupinas Detective GuerchardMovie
Broken Lullaby
1932Broken Lullabyas Dr. H. HolderlinMovie
Mata Hari
1931Mata Harias General Serge ShubinMovie
The Christmas Party
1931The Christmas Partyas Himself (uncredited)Movie
The Yellow Ticket
1931The Yellow Ticketas Baron Igor AndreeffMovie
Guilty Hands
1931Guilty Handsas Richard GrantMovie
A Free Soul
1931A Free Soulas Stephen AsheMovie
Ten Cents a Dance
1931Ten Cents a DanceDirectorMovie
Estrellados
1930Estrelladosas Self (Guest Appearance)Movie
The Sea Bat
1930The Sea BatDirectorMovie
Redemption
1930RedemptionDirectorMovie
Free and Easy
1930Free and Easyas Bedroom SceneMovie
The Rogue Song
1930The Rogue SongDirectorMovie
The Hollywood Revue of 1929
1929The Hollywood Revue of 1929as Self - Director of 'Romeo and Juliet' (uncredited)Movie
The Mysterious Island
1929The Mysterious Islandas Andre DakkarMovie
His Glorious Night
1929His Glorious NightDirectorMovie
The Unholy Night
1929The Unholy NightDirectorMovie
Madame X
1929Madame XDirectorMovie
The River Woman
1928The River Womanas Bill LeftyMovie
West of Zanzibar
1928West of Zanzibaras CraneMovie
Alias Jimmy Valentine
1928Alias Jimmy Valentineas DoyleMovie
Road House
1928Road Houseas Henry GraysonMovie
The Lion and the Mouse
1928The Lion and the Mouseas John RyderMovie
Drums of Love
1928Drums of Loveas Duke Cathos de AlviaMovie
Sadie Thompson
1928Sadie Thompsonas Alfred DavidsonMovie
The Thirteenth Hour
1927The Thirteenth Houras Prof. LeroyMovie
Body and Soul
1927Body and Soulas Dr. LeydenMovie
Women Love Diamonds
1927Women Love Diamondsas Hugo HarlanMovie
The Show
1927The Showas The GreekMovie
The Temptress
1926The Temptressas CanteracMovie
The Bells
1926The Bellsas MathiasMovie
The Lucky Lady
1926The Lucky Ladyas Count FerranzoMovie
Paris at Midnight
1926Paris at Midnightas VautrinMovie
Wife Tamers
1926Wife Tamersas Mr. BarryMovie
The Barrier
1926The Barrieras Stark BennettMovie
B
1926Brooding Eyesas Slim Jim CareyMovie
Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ
1925Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christas Chariot Race Spectator (uncredited)Movie
The Splendid Road
1925The Splendid Roadas Dan ClehollisMovie
T
1925The Woman Who Didas Allan MerrickMovie
Fifty-Fifty
1925Fifty-Fiftyas Frederick HarmonMovie
The Wrongdoers
1925The Wrongdoersas Daniel AbbottMovie
The Girl Who Wouldn't Work
1925The Girl Who Wouldn't Workas Gordon KentMovie
Children of the Whirlwind
1925Children of the Whirlwindas Joe EllisonMovie
A Man of Iron
1925A Man of Ironas Philip DurbanMovie
I
1924I Am the Manas James McQuadeMovie
Meddling Women
1924Meddling Womenas Edwin Ainsworth / John Wells (duel role)Movie
America
1924Americaas Capt. Walter ButlerMovie
Decameron Nights
1924Decameron Nightsas SaladinMovie
The Eternal City
1923The Eternal Cityas Baron BonelliMovie
Unseeing Eyes
1923Unseeing Eyesas Conrad DeanMovie
Enemies of Women
1923Enemies of Womenas Prince LubimoffMovie
The Face in the Fog
1922The Face in the Fogas Boston Blackie DawsonMovie
Boomerang Bill
1922Boomerang Billas Boomerang BillMovie
Jim the Penman
1921Jim the Penmanas James RalstonMovie
The Great Adventure
1921The Great Adventureas Priam FarllMovie
The Devil's Garden
1920The Devil's Gardenas William DaleMovie
The Master Mind
1920The Master Mindas Henry AllenMovie
The Copperhead
1920The Copperheadas Milt ShanksMovie
National Red Cross Pageant
1917National Red Cross PageantMovie
Life's Whirlpool
1917Life's WhirlpoolDirectorMovie
The Millionaire's Double
1917The Millionaire's Doubleas Bide BenningtonMovie
His Father's Son
1917His Father's Sonas J. Dabney BarroMovie
The End of the Tour
1917The End of the Touras Byron BennettMovie
The Brand of Cowardice
1916The Brand of Cowardiceas Cyril HamiltonMovie
The Upheaval
1916The Upheavalas Jim GordonMovie
The Quitter
1916The Quitteras Happy Jack LewisMovie
Dorian's Divorce
1916Dorian's Divorceas Richard DorianMovie
A Yellow Streak
1915A Yellow Streakas Barry DaleMovie
Dora Thorne
1915Dora Thorneas Lord EarleMovie
The Flaming Sword
1915The Flaming Swordas SteveMovie
The Romance of Elaine
1915The Romance of Elaineas Marcus Del Mar / Mr. XMovie
The Curious Conduct of Judge Legarde
1915The Curious Conduct of Judge Legardeas Judge Randolph LegardeMovie
A Modern Magdalen
1915A Modern Magdalenas LindsayMovie
Wildfire
1915Wildfireas John KeefeMovie
The Exploits of Elaine
1914The Exploits of ElaineMovie
T
1914The Span of Lifeas Richard BluntMovie
The Seats of the Mighty
1914The Seats of the Mightyas Monsieur DoltaireMovie
Under the Gaslight
1914Under the Gaslightas William BykeMovie
The Woman in Black
1914The Woman in Blackas Robert CraneMovie
The Power of the Press
1914The Power of the Pressas Steve CarsonMovie
Men and Women
1914Men and Womenas Stephen Rodman / Robert StevensMovie
T
1914The Cracksman's GratitudeMovie
W
1914Woman Against Womanas Gilbert CravenMovie
Judith of Bethulia
1914Judith of Bethuliaas Extra (uncredited)Movie
Strongheart
1914Strongheartas Billy SaundersMovie
Her Father's Silent Partner
1914Her Father's Silent PartnerMovie
C
1914Classmatesas Bubby DumbleMovie
T
1914The Bartered Crownas The LandlordMovie
The House of Discord
1913The House of Discordas The HusbandMovie
A
1913All for Scienceas DetectiveMovie
S
1913So Runs the WayMovie
His Secret
1913His SecretDirectorMovie
T
1913The Stolen Treatyas The Japanese DiplomatMovie
The Strong Man's Burden
1913The Strong Man's Burdenas John - the Elder BrotherMovie
T
1913The Crook and the Girlas The NephewMovie
T
1913The Work Habitas The FatherMovie
T
1913The Suffragette Minstrelsas (unconfirmed)Movie
An Indian's Loyalty
1913An Indian's Loyaltyas The Cattle BuyerMovie
U
1913Under the Shadow of the Lawas Charles Darnton - the EmployerMovie
I
1913I Was Meant for Youas Lavina's FatherMovie
T
1913The Vengeance of GaloraMovie
T
1913The Mirroras Daisy's FatherMovie
P
1913Pa Saysas Teddy's RivalMovie
A
1913A Gamble with Deathas Jim Benton, the BartenderMovie
I
1913In Diplomatic Circlesas The Japanese AmbassadorMovie
A
1913Almost a Wild Manas In Audience (uncredited)Movie
The Switchtower
1913The Switchtoweras First CounterfeiterMovie
Death's Marathon
1913Death's Marathonas The Financial BackerMovie
T
1913The Wellas The FarmerMovie
T
1913The Enemy's Babyas Postmaster Ben BrownMovie
R
1913Red Hicks Defies the Worldas The RefereeMovie
A Timely Interception
1913A Timely Interceptionas Uncle James - The Farmer's BrotherMovie
T
1913The Ranchero's Revengeas The RancheroMovie
J
1913Just Goldas The Stay-at-Home BrotherMovie
The Yaqui Cur
1913The Yaqui Curas The EasternerMovie
The House of Darkness
1913The House of Darknessas The DoctorMovie
The Wanderer
1913The Wandereras The Male LoverMovie
The Lady and the Mouse
1913The Lady and the Mouseas The FatherMovie
A
1913A Misunderstood Boyas The FatherMovie
The Little Tease
1913The Little Teaseas In BarMovie
T
1913The Perfidy of Maryas Mary's FatherMovie
The Sheriff's Baby
1913The Sheriff's Babyas Third BanditMovie
Fate
1913Fateas Father, Loving FamilyMovie
Near To Earth
1913Near To Earthas GatoMovie
The Unwelcome Guest
1913The Unwelcome Guestas At Auction (uncredited)Movie
T
1913The Wrong Bottleas The FatherMovie
L
1913Love in an Apartment Hotelas In Hotel LobbyMovie
A
1913A Chance Deceptionas 2nd PolicemanMovie
Oil and Water
1913Oil and Wateras The Idealist's FriendMovie
T
1913The Tender Hearted Boyas (uncredited)Movie
A
1913An Adventure in the Autumn Woodsas The FatherMovie
The Telephone Girl and the Lady
1913The Telephone Girl and the Ladyas The Desk SergeantMovie
Three Friends
1913Three Friendsas Second FriendMovie
T
1912The God Withinas The Woman of the Camp's LoverMovie
A Cry for Help
1912A Cry for Helpas The TrampMovie
The Burglar’s Dilemma
1912The Burglar’s Dilemmaas The HouseholderMovie
M
1912My HeroMovie
The New York Hat
1912The New York Hatas MinisterMovie
Brutality
1912Brutalityas At WeddingMovie
The Informer
1912The Informeras Union SoldierMovie
My Baby
1912My Babyas At tableMovie
Gold and Glitter
1912Gold and Glitteras The LoverMovie
Heredity
1912Heredityas WoodsmanMovie
The Musketeers of Pig Alley
1912The Musketeers of Pig Alleyas The Musician's FriendMovie
The Painted Lady
1912The Painted Ladyas At Ice Cream FestivalMovie
The One She Loved
1912The One She Lovedas The NeighborMovie
The Chief's Blanket
1912The Chief's Blanketas The Young ManMovie
So Near, Yet So Far
1912So Near, Yet So Faras In ClubMovie
Friends
1912Friendsas Grizzley Fallon - Dandy Jack's FriendMovie
The Miser's Heart
1911The Miser's Heartas Jules - the ThiefMovie
The Battle
1911The Battleas Wagon Driver (uncredited)Movie
Fighting Blood
1911Fighting BloodMovie
The White Caps
1905The White CapsMovie