Actor
Lionel Barrymore
Born 28 April 1878 · Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA — died 15 November 1954
Lionel Barrymore (1878–1954) was an American stage, screen and radio actor and a member of the celebrated Barrymore acting family. He won the Best Actor Oscar for A Free Soul and is best remembered as the villainous Mr. Potter in It's a Wonderful Life. He also played Dr. Gillespie in MGM's Dr. Kildare series.
Key films
A Free Soul (1931)
Earned him the Academy Award for Best Actor as an alcoholic defence lawyer.
Grand Hotel (1932)
Prominent role in MGM's star-studded ensemble drama, which won Best Picture.
You Can't Take It with You (1938)
Played the genial patriarch Grandpa Vanderhof in Frank Capra's Best Picture-winning comedy.
It's a Wonderful Life (1946)On Cinespective
His role as the miserly banker Mr. Potter became his best-known part for modern audiences.
Judith of Bethulia (1914)
Early screen work for D. W. Griffith, showing his roots in silent-era film.
Key awards
- 1931 (4th Academy Awards): Academy Award for Best Actor, A Free Soul
On Cinespective
Full filmography · 255
- 1905The White CapsActor
- 1911The Miser's Heart · as Jules - the ThiefActor
- 1911The Battle · as Wagon Driver (uncredited)Actor
- 1911Fighting BloodActor
- 1912The Musketeers of Pig Alley · as The Musician's FriendActor
- 1912The New York Hat · as MinisterActor
- 1912The Painted Lady · as At Ice Cream FestivalActor
- 1912Friends · as Grizzley Fallon - Dandy Jack's FriendActor
- 1912The Burglar’s Dilemma · as The HouseholderActor
- 1912My Baby · as At tableActor
- 1912So Near, Yet So Far · as In ClubActor
- 1912The One She Loved · as The NeighborActor
- 1912Gold and Glitter · as The LoverActor
- 1912A Cry for Help · as The TrampActor
- 1912The Informer · as Union SoldierActor
- 1912The God Within · as The Woman of the Camp's LoverActor
- 1912Heredity · as WoodsmanActor
- 1912Brutality · as At WeddingActor
- 1912My HeroActor
- 1912The Chief's Blanket · as The Young ManActor
- 1913Death's Marathon · as The Financial BackerActor
- 1913The House of Darkness · as The DoctorActor
- 1913The Wanderer · as The Male LoverActor
- 1913The Telephone Girl and the Lady · as The Desk SergeantActor
- 1913Fate · as Father, Loving FamilyActor
- 1913The Strong Man's Burden · as John - the Elder BrotherActor
- 1913His SecretDirector
- 1913The Switchtower · as First CounterfeiterActor
- 1913The Sheriff's Baby · as Third BanditActor
- 1913A Timely Interception · as Uncle James - The Farmer's BrotherActor
- 1913All for Science · as DetectiveActor
- 1913The Work Habit · as The FatherActor
- 1913I Was Meant for You · as Lavina's FatherActor
- 1913Under the Shadow of the Law · as Charles Darnton - the EmployerActor
- 1913A Gamble with Death · as Jim Benton, the BartenderActor
- 1913In Diplomatic Circles · as The Japanese AmbassadorActor
- 1913Red Hicks Defies the World · as The RefereeActor
- 1913Three Friends · as Second FriendActor
- 1913The Unwelcome Guest · as At Auction (uncredited)Actor
- 1913The Little Tease · as In BarActor
- 1913The Suffragette Minstrels · as (unconfirmed)Actor
- 1913An Adventure in the Autumn Woods · as The FatherActor
- 1913The Vengeance of GaloraActor
- 1913The House of Discord · as The HusbandActor
- 1913A Misunderstood Boy · as The FatherActor
- 1913The Tender Hearted Boy · as (uncredited)Actor
- 1913Oil and Water · as The Idealist's FriendActor
- 1913The Perfidy of Mary · as Mary's FatherActor
- 1913Almost a Wild Man · as In Audience (uncredited)Actor
- 1913So Runs the WayActor
- 1913Pa Says · as Teddy's RivalActor
- 1913The Stolen Treaty · as The Japanese DiplomatActor
- 1913Near To Earth · as GatoActor
- 1913The Wrong Bottle · as The FatherActor
- 1913The Ranchero's Revenge · as The RancheroActor
- 1913Just Gold · as The Stay-at-Home BrotherActor
- 1913The Well · as The FarmerActor
- 1913An Indian's Loyalty · as The Cattle BuyerActor
- 1913The Enemy's Baby · as Postmaster Ben BrownActor
- 1913The Yaqui Cur · as The EasternerActor
- 1913Love in an Apartment Hotel · as In Hotel LobbyActor
- 1913The Lady and the Mouse · as The FatherActor
- 1913The Mirror · as Daisy's FatherActor
- 1913The Crook and the Girl · as The NephewActor
- 1913A Chance Deception · as 2nd PolicemanActor
- 1914Judith of Bethulia · as Extra (uncredited)Actor
- 1914The Exploits of ElaineActor
- 1914The Woman in Black · as Robert CraneActor
- 1914Woman Against Woman · as Gilbert CravenActor
- 1914Strongheart · as Billy SaundersActor
- 1914The Bartered Crown · as The LandlordActor
- 1914Her Father's Silent PartnerActor
- 1914Under the Gaslight · as William BykeActor
- 1914Classmates · as Bubby DumbleActor
- 1914The Seats of the Mighty · as Monsieur DoltaireActor
- 1914The Span of Life · as Richard BluntActor
- 1914The Power of the Press · as Steve CarsonActor
- 1914Men and Women · as Stephen Rodman / Robert StevensActor
- 1914The Cracksman's GratitudeActor
- 1915A Yellow Streak · as Barry DaleActor
- 1915Wildfire · as John KeefeActor
- 1915Dora Thorne · as Lord EarleActor
- 1915The Flaming Sword · as SteveActor
- 1915The Curious Conduct of Judge Legarde · as Judge Randolph LegardeActor
- 1915A Modern Magdalen · as LindsayActor
- 1915The Romance of Elaine · as Marcus Del Mar / Mr. XActor
- 1916The Upheaval · as Jim GordonActor
- 1916Dorian's Divorce · as Richard DorianActor
- 1916The Brand of Cowardice · as Cyril HamiltonActor
- 1916The Quitter · as Happy Jack LewisActor
- 1917National Red Cross PageantActor
- 1917The End of the Tour · as Byron BennettActor
- 1917The Millionaire's Double · as Bide BenningtonActor
- 1917His Father's Son · as J. Dabney BarroActor
- 1917Life's WhirlpoolDirector
- 1920The Copperhead · as Milt ShanksActor
- 1920The Devil's Garden · as William DaleActor
- 1920The Master Mind · as Henry AllenActor
- 1921The Great Adventure · as Priam FarllActor
- 1921Jim the Penman · as James RalstonActor
- 1922The Face in the Fog · as Boston Blackie DawsonActor
- 1922Boomerang Bill · as Boomerang BillActor
- 1923Enemies of Women · as Prince LubimoffActor
- 1923The Eternal City · as Baron BonelliActor
- 1923Unseeing Eyes · as Conrad DeanActor
- 1924America · as Capt. Walter ButlerActor
- 1924I Am the Man · as James McQuadeActor
- 1924Decameron Nights · as SaladinActor
- 1924Meddling Women · as Edwin Ainsworth / John Wells (duel role)Actor
- 1925Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ · as Chariot Race Spectator (uncredited)Actor
- 1925The Splendid Road · as Dan ClehollisActor
- 1925A Man of Iron · as Philip DurbanActor
- 1925The Wrongdoers · as Daniel AbbottActor
- 1925The Girl Who Wouldn't Work · as Gordon KentActor
- 1925Fifty-Fifty · as Frederick HarmonActor
- 1925Children of the Whirlwind · as Joe EllisonActor
- 1925The Woman Who Did · as Allan MerrickActor
- 1926The Temptress · as CanteracActor
- 1926The Bells · as MathiasActor
- 1926The Lucky Lady · as Count FerranzoActor
- 1926Wife Tamers · as Mr. BarryActor
- 1926The Barrier · as Stark BennettActor
- 1926Paris at Midnight · as VautrinActor
- 1926Brooding Eyes · as Slim Jim CareyActor
- 1927The Show · as The GreekActor
- 1927The Thirteenth Hour · as Prof. LeroyActor
- 1927Body and Soul · as Dr. LeydenActor
- 1927Women Love Diamonds · as Hugo HarlanActor
- 1928West of Zanzibar · as CraneActor
- 1928Sadie Thompson · as Alfred DavidsonActor
- 1928Drums of Love · as Duke Cathos de AlviaActor
- 1928Road House · as Henry GraysonActor
- 1928Alias Jimmy Valentine · as DoyleActor
- 1928The Lion and the Mouse · as John RyderActor
- 1928The River Woman · as Bill LeftyActor
- 1929The Hollywood Revue of 1929 · as Self - Director of 'Romeo and Juliet' (uncredited)Actor
- 1929The Mysterious Island · as Andre DakkarActor
- 1929The Unholy NightDirector
- 1929Madame XDirector
- 1929His Glorious NightDirector
- 1930Free and Easy · as Bedroom SceneActor
- 1930The Sea BatDirector
- 1930The Rogue SongDirector
- 1930RedemptionDirector
- 1930Estrellados · as Self (Guest Appearance)Actor
- 1931Mata Hari · as General Serge ShubinActor
- 1931A Free Soul · as Stephen AsheActor
- 1931Ten Cents a DanceDirector
- 1931The Yellow Ticket · as Baron Igor AndreeffActor
- 1931Guilty Hands · as Richard GrantActor
- 1931The Christmas Party · as Himself (uncredited)Actor
- 1932Grand Hotel · as Otto KringeleinActor
- 1932Broken Lullaby · as Dr. H. HolderlinActor
- 1932Arsène Lupin · as Detective GuerchardActor
- 1932Rasputin and the Empress · as Grigori RasputinActor
- 1932The Washington Masquerade · as Jefferson "Jeff" KeaneActor
- 1932The Movie Album · as (archive footage)Actor
- 1933Dinner at Eight · as Oliver JordanActor
- 1933The Stranger's Return · as Grandpa Cyrus Tatum StorrActor
- 1933Night Flight · as RobineauActor
- 1933One Man's Journey · as Eli WattActor
- 1933Should Ladies Behave · as Augustus MerrickActor
- 1933Sweepings · as Daniel PardwayActor
- 1933Looking Forward · as Tim BentonActor
- 1933Christopher Bean · as Dr. Milton HaggettActor
- 1934Treasure Island · as Billy BonesActor
- 1934The Girl from Missouri · as T.R. PaigeActor
- 1934This Side of Heaven · as Martin TurnerActor
- 1934Carolina · as Bob ConnellyActor
- 1935Mark of the Vampire · as Professor ZelinActor
- 1935David Copperfield · as Dan PeggottyActor
- 1935The Little Colonel · as Colonel LloydActor
- 1935Public Hero Number 1 · as Dr. Josiah GlassActor
- 1935The Return Of Peter Grimm · as Peter GrimmActor
- 1935Ah, Wilderness! · as Nat MillerActor
- 1936Camille · as Monsieur DuvalActor
- 1936The Devil-Doll · as Paul LavondActor
- 1936The Gorgeous Hussy · as Andrew JacksonActor
- 1936The Road to Glory · as Papa La Roche / Pvt. MorinActor
- 1936The Voice of Bugle Ann · as Springfield DavisActor
- 1937Captains Courageous · as Captain Disko TroopActor
- 1937Saratoga · as Grandpa ClaytonActor
- 1937A Family Affair · as Judge HardyActor
- 1937Navy Blue and Gold · as Captain 'Skinny' DawesActor
- 1938You Can't Take It with You · as Martin VanderhofActor
- 1938Test Pilot · as Howard B. DrakeActor
- 1938A Yank at Oxford · as Dan SheridanActor
- 1938Young Dr. Kildare · as Dr. Leonard GillespieActor
- 1938Screen Snapshots Series 17, No. 12 · as Lionel BarrymoreActor
- 1938A Fireside Chat with Lionel Barrymore · as SelfActor
- 1939On Borrowed Time · as Julian Northrup aka GrampsActor
- 1939The Secret of Dr. Kildare · as Leonard GillespieActor
- 1939Calling Dr. Kildare · as Dr. Leonard GillespieActor
- 1939Let Freedom Ring · as Thomas LoganActor
- 1939The Movies March On · as Self (segment The New York Hat) (archive footage)Actor
- 1939Land of Liberty · as (archive footage)Actor
- 1939From the Ends of the Earth · as SelfActor
- 1940The Stars Look Down · as Narrator (U.S. release only) (voice)Actor
- 1940Dr. Kildare's Strange Case · as Leonard GillespieActor
- 1940Dr. Kildare Goes Home · as Dr. Leonard GillespieActor
- 1940A New Romance of Celluloid: The Miracle of Sound · as SelfActor
- 1940Dr. Kildare's Crisis · as Dr. Leonard GillespieActor
- 1940Hollywood: Style Center of the World · as SelfActor
- 1940Cavalcade of the Academy Awards · as Self (archive footage)Actor
- 1941Lady Be Good · as Judge MurdockActor
- 1941Dr. Kildare's Wedding Day · as Dr. Leonard GillespieActor
- 1941The People Vs. Dr. Kildare · as Dr. Leonard GillespieActor
- 1941The Penalty · as 'Grandpop' LoganActor
- 1941The Bad Man · as Uncle Henry JonesActor
- 1942Dr. Kildare's Victory · as Dr. Leonard GillespieActor
- 1942Tennessee Johnson · as Thaddeus StevensActor
- 1942Calling Dr. Gillespie · as Dr. Leonard GillespieActor
- 1942Dr. Gillespie's New Assistant · as Dr. Leonard GillespieActor
- 1943Dr. Gillespie's Criminal Case · as Dr. Leonard GillespieActor
- 1943The Last Will and Testament of Tom Smith · as GrampsActor
- 1944Since You Went Away · as ClergymanActor
- 1944A Guy Named Joe · as The GeneralActor
- 1944Dragon Seed · as Narrator (voice) (uncredited)Actor
- 19443 Men in White · as Dr. Leonard GillespieActor
- 1944Twenty Years After · as (archive footage)Actor
- 1945The Valley of Decision · as Pat RaffertyActor
- 1945Between Two Women · as Dr. Leonard GillespieActor
- 1946It's a Wonderful Life · as Mr. PotterActor
- 1946Duel in the Sun · as Sen. Jackson McCanlesActor
- 1946The Secret Heart · as Dr. RossigerActor
- 1946Three Wise Fools · as Dr. Richard GaunghtActor
- 1947Dark Delusion · as Dr. Leonard GillespieActor
- 1947The Way of the World · as Grizzley Fallon (Archive Footage)Actor
- 1948Key Largo · as James TempleActor
- 1949Down to the Sea in Ships · as Bering JoyActor
- 1949Malaya · as John ManchesterActor
- 1949Some of the Best: Twenty-Five Years of Motion Picture Leadership · as HimselfActor
- 1949Breakdowns of 1949 · as SelfActor
- 1950Right Cross · as Sean O'MalleyActor
- 1950Screen Actors · as Self (uncredited)Actor
- 1951Bannerline · as Hugo TrimbleActor
- 1951The Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Story · as Himself - Giving IntroductionActor
- 1952Lone Star · as Andrew JacksonActor
- 1953Main Street to Broadway · as SelfActor
- 1953Yesterday and Today · as (archive footage)Actor
- 1955Film Fun · as (archive footage)Actor
- 1956Our Mr. Sun · as Father Time (voice)Actor
- 1970Brasileiros em Hollywood · as Self (archive footage)Actor
- 1972Hollywood: The Dream Factory · as Self (archive footage)Actor
- 1974That's Entertainment! · as (archive footage) (uncredited)Actor
- 1976That's Entertainment, Part II · as (archive footage)Actor
- 1976Hooray for Hollywood · as Self (archive footage)Actor
- 1986Super Duper Bloopers · as SelfActor
- 1987James Stewart: A Wonderful Life · as Self (archive footage)Actor
- 2002D.W. Griffith - Years of Discovery 1909-1913Actor
- 2003Complicated Women · as Self (archive footage)Actor
- 2003The Mesmerist · as The Innkeeper (archive footage)Actor
- 2004Checking Out: Grand Hotel · as Self / Various roles (archive footage)Actor
- 2005Irving Thalberg: Prince of Hollywood · as Self (archive footage)Actor
- 2008Frank Capra Jr. Remembers... You Can't Take It with You · as Self (archive footage)Actor
Filmography data from TMDB. The profile text is a draft written for Cinespective.