Acting · Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA · Born April 28, 1878
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.
MovieFrank Capra Jr. Remembers... You Can't Take It with You
2008
as Self (archive footage)
MovieIrving Thalberg: Prince of Hollywood
2005
as Self (archive footage)
Checking Out: Grand Hotel
2004
as Self / Various roles (archive footage)
MovieThe Mesmerist
2003
as The Innkeeper (archive footage)
MovieComplicated Women
2003
as Self (archive footage)
MovieD.W. Griffith - Years of Discovery 1909-1913
2002
MovieJames Stewart: A Wonderful Life
1987
as Self (archive footage)
MovieSuper Duper Bloopers
1986
as Self
MovieThat's Entertainment, Part II
1976
as (archive footage)
MovieHooray for Hollywood
1976
as Self (archive footage)
MovieThat's Entertainment!
1974
as (archive footage) (uncredited)
MovieHollywood: The Dream Factory
1972
as Self (archive footage)
MovieBrasileiros em Hollywood
1970
as Self (archive footage)
MovieOur Mr. Sun
1956
as Father Time (voice)
TVMGM Parade
1955
Film Fun
1955
as (archive footage)
MovieYesterday and Today
1953
as (archive footage)
MovieMain Street to Broadway
1953
as Self
MovieLone Star
1952
as Andrew Jackson
MovieBannerline
1951
as Hugo Trimble
MovieThe Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Story
1951
as Himself - Giving Introduction
MovieRight Cross
1950
as Sean O'Malley
Screen Actors
1950
as Self (uncredited)
MovieBreakdowns of 1949
1949
as Self
MovieMalaya
1949
as John Manchester
MovieSome of the Best: Twenty-Five Years of Motion Picture Leadership
1949
as Himself
MovieDown to the Sea in Ships
1949
as Bering Joy
MovieKey Largo
1948
as James Temple
TVThe Ed Sullivan Show
1948
as Self
MovieDark Delusion
1947
as Dr. Leonard Gillespie
MovieThe Way of the World
1947
as Grizzley Fallon (Archive Footage)
MovieDuel in the Sun
1946
as Sen. Jackson McCanles
MovieThe Secret Heart
1946
as Dr. Rossiger
MovieIt's a Wonderful Life
1946
as Mr. Potter
MovieThree Wise Fools
1946
as Dr. Richard Gaunght
MovieThe Valley of Decision
1945
as Pat Rafferty
MovieBetween Two Women
1945
as Dr. Leonard Gillespie
MovieDragon Seed
1944
as Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
MovieSince You Went Away
1944
as Clergyman
Movie3 Men in White
1944
as Dr. Leonard Gillespie
MovieA Guy Named Joe
1944
as The General
MovieTwenty Years After
1944
as (archive footage)
MovieThe Last Will and Testament of Tom Smith
1943
as Gramps
MovieDr. Gillespie's Criminal Case
1943
as Dr. Leonard Gillespie
MovieTennessee Johnson
1942
as Thaddeus Stevens
MovieDr. Gillespie's New Assistant
1942
as Dr. Leonard Gillespie
MovieCalling Dr. Gillespie
1942
as Dr. Leonard Gillespie
MovieDr. Kildare's Victory
1942
as Dr. Leonard Gillespie
MovieLady Be Good
1941
as Judge Murdock
MovieDr. Kildare's Wedding Day
1941
as Dr. Leonard Gillespie
MovieThe People Vs. Dr. Kildare
1941
as Dr. Leonard Gillespie
MovieThe Bad Man
1941
as Uncle Henry Jones
MovieThe Penalty
1941
as 'Grandpop' Logan
MovieDr. Kildare's Crisis
1940
as Dr. Leonard Gillespie
MovieA New Romance of Celluloid: The Miracle of Sound
1940
as Self
MovieDr. Kildare Goes Home
1940
as Dr. Leonard Gillespie
MovieCavalcade of the Academy Awards
1940
as Self (archive footage)
MovieHollywood: Style Center of the World
1940
as Self
MovieDr. Kildare's Strange Case
1940
as Leonard Gillespie
MovieThe Stars Look Down
1940
as Narrator (U.S. release only) (voice)
MovieThe Secret of Dr. Kildare
1939
as Leonard Gillespie
MovieOn Borrowed Time
1939
as Julian Northrup aka Gramps
MovieThe Movies March On
1939
as Self (segment The New York Hat) (archive footage)
MovieLand of Liberty
1939
as (archive footage)
MovieFrom the Ends of the Earth
1939
as Self
MovieCalling Dr. Kildare
1939
as Dr. Leonard Gillespie
MovieLet Freedom Ring
1939
as Thomas Logan
A Fireside Chat with Lionel Barrymore
1938
as Self
MovieYoung Dr. Kildare
1938
as Dr. Leonard Gillespie
MovieYou Can't Take It with You
1938
as Martin Vanderhof
MovieScreen Snapshots Series 17, No. 12
1938
as Lionel Barrymore
MovieTest Pilot
1938
as Howard B. Drake
MovieA Yank at Oxford
1938
as Dan Sheridan
MovieNavy Blue and Gold
1937
as Captain 'Skinny' Dawes
MovieSaratoga
1937
as Grandpa Clayton
MovieCaptains Courageous
1937
as Captain Disko Troop
MovieA Family Affair
1937
as Judge Hardy
MovieCamille
1936
as Monsieur Duval
MovieThe Road to Glory
1936
as Papa La Roche / Pvt. Morin
MovieThe Gorgeous Hussy
1936
as Andrew Jackson
MovieThe Devil-Doll
1936
as Paul Lavond
MovieThe Voice of Bugle Ann
1936
as Springfield Davis
MovieAh, Wilderness!
1935
as Nat Miller
MovieThe Return Of Peter Grimm
1935
as Peter Grimm
MoviePublic Hero Number 1
1935
as Dr. Josiah Glass
MovieMark of the Vampire
1935
as Professor Zelin
MovieThe Little Colonel
1935
as Colonel Lloyd
MovieDavid Copperfield
1935
as Dan Peggotty
MovieTreasure Island
1934
as Billy Bones
MovieThe Girl from Missouri
1934
as T.R. Paige
MovieThis Side of Heaven
1934
as Martin Turner
MovieCarolina
1934
as Bob Connelly
MovieDinner at Eight
1933
as Oliver Jordan
MovieShould Ladies Behave
1933
as Augustus Merrick
MovieChristopher Bean
1933
as Dr. Milton Haggett
MovieNight Flight
1933
as Robineau
MovieOne Man's Journey
1933
as Eli Watt
MovieThe Stranger's Return
1933
as Grandpa Cyrus Tatum Storr
MovieLooking Forward
1933
as Tim Benton
MovieSweepings
1933
as Daniel Pardway
MovieRasputin and the Empress
1932
as Grigori Rasputin
MovieGrand Hotel
1932
as Otto Kringelein
MovieThe Washington Masquerade
1932
as Jefferson "Jeff" Keane
MovieThe Movie Album
1932
as (archive footage)
MovieArsène Lupin
1932
as Detective Guerchard
MovieBroken Lullaby
1932
as Dr. H. Holderlin
MovieMata Hari
1931
as General Serge Shubin
MovieThe Christmas Party
1931
as Himself (uncredited)
MovieThe Yellow Ticket
1931
as Baron Igor Andreeff
MovieGuilty Hands
1931
as Richard Grant
MovieA Free Soul
1931
as Stephen Ashe
MovieEstrellados
1930
as Self (Guest Appearance)
MovieFree and Easy
1930
as Bedroom Scene
MovieThe Hollywood Revue of 1929
1929
as Self - Director of 'Romeo and Juliet' (uncredited)
MovieThe Mysterious Island
1929
as Andre Dakkar
MovieThe River Woman
1928
as Bill Lefty
MovieWest of Zanzibar
1928
as Crane
MovieAlias Jimmy Valentine
1928
as Doyle
MovieRoad House
1928
as Henry Grayson
MovieThe Lion and the Mouse
1928
as John Ryder
MovieDrums of Love
1928
as Duke Cathos de Alvia
MovieSadie Thompson
1928
as Alfred Davidson
MovieThe Thirteenth Hour
1927
as Prof. Leroy
MovieBody and Soul
1927
as Dr. Leyden
MovieWomen Love Diamonds
1927
as Hugo Harlan
MovieThe Show
1927
as The Greek
MovieThe Temptress
1926
as Canterac
MovieThe Bells
1926
as Mathias
MovieThe Lucky Lady
1926
as Count Ferranzo
MovieParis at Midnight
1926
as Vautrin
MovieWife Tamers
1926
as Mr. Barry
MovieThe Barrier
1926
as Stark Bennett
Brooding Eyes
1926
as Slim Jim Carey
MovieBen-Hur: A Tale of the Christ
1925
as Chariot Race Spectator (uncredited)
MovieThe Splendid Road
1925
as Dan Clehollis
The Woman Who Did
1925
as Allan Merrick
MovieFifty-Fifty
1925
as Frederick Harmon
MovieThe Wrongdoers
1925
as Daniel Abbott
MovieThe Girl Who Wouldn't Work
1925
as Gordon Kent
MovieChildren of the Whirlwind
1925
as Joe Ellison
MovieA Man of Iron
1925
as Philip Durban
I Am the Man
1924
as James McQuade
MovieMeddling Women
1924
as Edwin Ainsworth / John Wells (duel role)
MovieAmerica
1924
as Capt. Walter Butler
MovieDecameron Nights
1924
as Saladin
MovieThe Eternal City
1923
as Baron Bonelli
MovieUnseeing Eyes
1923
as Conrad Dean
MovieEnemies of Women
1923
as Prince Lubimoff
MovieThe Face in the Fog
1922
as Boston Blackie Dawson
MovieBoomerang Bill
1922
as Boomerang Bill
MovieJim the Penman
1921
as James Ralston
MovieThe Great Adventure
1921
as Priam Farll
MovieThe Devil's Garden
1920
as William Dale
MovieThe Master Mind
1920
as Henry Allen
MovieThe Copperhead
1920
as Milt Shanks
MovieNational Red Cross Pageant
1917
MovieThe Millionaire's Double
1917
as Bide Bennington
MovieHis Father's Son
1917
as J. Dabney Barro
MovieThe End of the Tour
1917
as Byron Bennett
MovieThe Brand of Cowardice
1916
as Cyril Hamilton
MovieThe Upheaval
1916
as Jim Gordon
MovieThe Quitter
1916
as Happy Jack Lewis
MovieDorian's Divorce
1916
as Richard Dorian
MovieA Yellow Streak
1915
as Barry Dale
MovieDora Thorne
1915
as Lord Earle
MovieThe Flaming Sword
1915
as Steve
MovieThe Romance of Elaine
1915
as Marcus Del Mar / Mr. X
MovieThe Curious Conduct of Judge Legarde
1915
as Judge Randolph Legarde
MovieA Modern Magdalen
1915
as Lindsay
MovieWildfire
1915
as John Keefe
MovieThe Exploits of Elaine
1914
The Span of Life
1914
as Richard Blunt
MovieThe Seats of the Mighty
1914
as Monsieur Doltaire
MovieUnder the Gaslight
1914
as William Byke
MovieThe Woman in Black
1914
as Robert Crane
MovieThe Power of the Press
1914
as Steve Carson
MovieMen and Women
1914
as Stephen Rodman / Robert Stevens
The Cracksman's Gratitude
1914
Woman Against Woman
1914
as Gilbert Craven
MovieJudith of Bethulia
1914
as Extra (uncredited)
MovieStrongheart
1914
as Billy Saunders
MovieHer Father's Silent Partner
1914
Classmates
1914
as Bubby Dumble
The Bartered Crown
1914
as The Landlord
MovieThe House of Discord
1913
as The Husband
All for Science
1913
as Detective
So Runs the Way
1913
The Stolen Treaty
1913
as The Japanese Diplomat
MovieThe Strong Man's Burden
1913
as John - the Elder Brother
The Crook and the Girl
1913
as The Nephew
The Work Habit
1913
as The Father
The Suffragette Minstrels
1913
as (unconfirmed)
MovieAn Indian's Loyalty
1913
as The Cattle Buyer
Under the Shadow of the Law
1913
as Charles Darnton - the Employer
I Was Meant for You
1913
as Lavina's Father
The Vengeance of Galora
1913
The Mirror
1913
as Daisy's Father
Pa Says
1913
as Teddy's Rival
A Gamble with Death
1913
as Jim Benton, the Bartender
In Diplomatic Circles
1913
as The Japanese Ambassador
Almost a Wild Man
1913
as In Audience (uncredited)
MovieThe Switchtower
1913
as First Counterfeiter
MovieDeath's Marathon
1913
as The Financial Backer
The Well
1913
as The Farmer
The Enemy's Baby
1913
as Postmaster Ben Brown
Red Hicks Defies the World
1913
as The Referee
MovieA Timely Interception
1913
as Uncle James - The Farmer's Brother
The Ranchero's Revenge
1913
as The Ranchero
Just Gold
1913
as The Stay-at-Home Brother
MovieThe Yaqui Cur
1913
as The Easterner
MovieThe House of Darkness
1913
as The Doctor
MovieThe Wanderer
1913
as The Male Lover
MovieThe Lady and the Mouse
1913
as The Father
A Misunderstood Boy
1913
as The Father
MovieThe Little Tease
1913
as In Bar
The Perfidy of Mary
1913
as Mary's Father
MovieThe Sheriff's Baby
1913
as Third Bandit
MovieFate
1913
as Father, Loving Family
MovieNear To Earth
1913
as Gato
MovieThe Unwelcome Guest
1913
as At Auction (uncredited)
The Wrong Bottle
1913
as The Father
Love in an Apartment Hotel
1913
as In Hotel Lobby
A Chance Deception
1913
as 2nd Policeman
MovieOil and Water
1913
as The Idealist's Friend
The Tender Hearted Boy
1913
as (uncredited)
An Adventure in the Autumn Woods
1913
as The Father
MovieThe Telephone Girl and the Lady
1913
as The Desk Sergeant
MovieThree Friends
1913
as Second Friend
The God Within
1912
as The Woman of the Camp's Lover
MovieA Cry for Help
1912
as The Tramp
MovieThe Burglar’s Dilemma
1912
as The Householder
My Hero
1912
MovieThe New York Hat
1912
as Minister
MovieBrutality
1912
as At Wedding
MovieThe Informer
1912
as Union Soldier
MovieMy Baby
1912
as At table
MovieGold and Glitter
1912
as The Lover
MovieHeredity
1912
as Woodsman
MovieThe Musketeers of Pig Alley
1912
as The Musician's Friend
MovieThe Painted Lady
1912
as At Ice Cream Festival
The One She Loved
1912
as The Neighbor
MovieThe Chief's Blanket
1912
as The Young Man
MovieSo Near, Yet So Far
1912
as In Club
MovieFriends
1912
as Grizzley Fallon - Dandy Jack's Friend
MovieThe Miser's Heart
1911
as Jules - the Thief
MovieThe Battle
1911
as Wagon Driver (uncredited)
MovieFighting Blood
1911
MovieThe White Caps
1905
