Lionel Barrymore

Acting • 225 Credits

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.

🎬 Directed Titles (9)

Directorial Filmography
Ten Cents a Dance

Ten Cents a Dance

1931 ⭐ 3.4
The Sea Bat

The Sea Bat

1930 ⭐ 2.2
The Unholy Night

The Unholy Night

1929 ⭐ 2.9
Madame X

Madame X

1929 ⭐ 3.1
The Rogue Song

The Rogue Song

1930 ⭐ 3.3
Redemption

Redemption

1930 ⭐ 2.9
His Glorious Night

His Glorious Night

1929 ⭐ 3.5
His Secret

His Secret

1913 ⭐ 3.3
Life's Whirlpool

Life's Whirlpool

1917

✍️ Written & Story Credits (2)

Screenplay, Novel & Story
The Burglar’s Dilemma

The Burglar’s Dilemma

1912 ⭐ 2.6
Writer
Life's Whirlpool

Life's Whirlpool

1917
Writer

🎭 Acting Roles (30)

Ranked by Prestige & Popularity
It's a Wonderful Life

It's a Wonderful Life

1946 ⭐ 4.1
as Mr. Potter
Key Largo

Key Largo

1948 ⭐ 3.8
as James Temple
You Can't Take It with You

You Can't Take It with You

1938 ⭐ 3.7
as Martin Vanderhof
Grand Hotel

Grand Hotel

1932 ⭐ 3.5
as Otto Kringelein
Duel in the Sun

Duel in the Sun

1946 ⭐ 3.2
as Sen. Jackson McCanles
Captains Courageous

Captains Courageous

1937 ⭐ 3.7
as Captain Disko Troop
Camille

Camille

1936 ⭐ 3.5
as Monsieur Duval
Mark of the Vampire

Mark of the Vampire

1935 ⭐ 3.1
as Professor Zelin
Dinner at Eight

Dinner at Eight

1933 ⭐ 3.4
as Oliver Jordan
The Devil-Doll

The Devil-Doll

1936 ⭐ 3.4
as Paul Lavond
Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ

Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ

1925 ⭐ 3.7
as Chariot Race Spectator (uncredited)
The Musketeers of Pig Alley

The Musketeers of Pig Alley

1912 ⭐ 3.0
as The Musician's Friend
Test Pilot

Test Pilot

1938 ⭐ 3.0
as Howard B. Drake
David Copperfield

David Copperfield

1935 ⭐ 3.4
as Dan Peggotty
Treasure Island

Treasure Island

1934 ⭐ 3.3
as Billy Bones
That's Entertainment!

That's Entertainment!

1974 ⭐ 3.7
as (archive footage) (uncredited)
Mata Hari

Mata Hari

1931 ⭐ 3.1
as General Serge Shubin
Since You Went Away

Since You Went Away

1944 ⭐ 3.3
as Clergyman
A Guy Named Joe

A Guy Named Joe

1944 ⭐ 3.4
as The General
A Free Soul

A Free Soul

1931 ⭐ 3.1
as Stephen Ashe
Broken Lullaby

Broken Lullaby

1932 ⭐ 3.7
as Dr. H. Holderlin
That's Entertainment, Part II

That's Entertainment, Part II

1976 ⭐ 3.5
as (archive footage)
West of Zanzibar

West of Zanzibar

1928 ⭐ 3.5
as Crane
Sadie Thompson

Sadie Thompson

1928 ⭐ 3.3
as Alfred Davidson
The Stranger's Return

The Stranger's Return

1933 ⭐ 3.1
as Grandpa Cyrus Tatum Storr
The Hollywood Revue of 1929

The Hollywood Revue of 1929

1929 ⭐ 2.8
as Self - Director of 'Romeo and Juliet' (uncredited)
The Little Colonel

The Little Colonel

1935 ⭐ 3.3
as Colonel Lloyd
Death's Marathon

Death's Marathon

1913 ⭐ 2.9
as The Financial Backer
Judith of Bethulia

Judith of Bethulia

1914 ⭐ 3.0
as Extra (uncredited)
On Borrowed Time

On Borrowed Time

1939 ⭐ 3.9
as Julian Northrup aka Gramps