Lionel Barrymore (1878–1954,) born Lionel Herbert Blyth, was an American actor, director, and composer, known for his commanding presence in film, stage, and radio. A member of the Barrymore theatrical dynasty, he was the great-uncle of actress Drew Barrymore.
Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, he initially pursued painting, studying in Paris for three years. Struggling to earn a living as an artist, he returned to the U.S. and embraced acting. He gained acclaim in New York theater, starring in Peter Ibbetson (1917,) The Copperhead (1918,) and The Jest (1919.) In 1926, he left Broadway for Hollywood, launching a distinguished film career.
Notable early films include Sadie Thompson (1928) and The Mysterious Island (1929.) His portrayal of a troubled defense attorney in A Free Soul (1931) earned him an Academy Award. He starred alongside his brother, John Barrymore, in Grand Hotel (1932) and with John and their sister, Ethel, in Rasputin and the Empress (1932.) Other significant films include Captains Courageous (1937,) The Valley of Decision (1945,) Duel in the Sun (1947,) and Key Largo (1948.)
Due to arthritis and injuries, Barrymore performed from a wheelchair from 1938 onward, most famously as Dr. Leonard Gillespie in the Dr. Kildare series. He also wrote We Barrymores (1951,) a memoir about his family’s theatrical legacy, and the historical novel Mr. Cantonwine: A Moral Tale (1953.)
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Lionel Barrymore
The older you get the more you realize that kindness is synonymous with happiness.
—Lionel Barrymore
Topics: Helpfulness, Goodwill, Happiness, Kindness
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