John Barrymore
Known for
John Barrymore was a celebrated American actor born in Philadelphia, a member of a theatrical dynasty alongside his siblings Lionel and Ethel and grandfather of Drew Barrymore. Nicknamed the Great Profile for his beauty, he shone first in light comedy and then in drama, culminating in Shakespearean performances of 'Hamlet' and 'Richard III' that revolutionized the theater of his time. In the cinema he left titles such as 'Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde' (1920), 'Grand Hotel', 'Dinner at Eight', the screwball comedy 'Twentieth Century' and 'Don Juan', the first feature with a Vitaphone soundtrack. An actor of overflowing bravura and magnetism, he embodied both the romantic leading man and the tragic histrion, while his tumultuous personal life fed his legend.
John Barrymore
61 Movies
John Barrymore was a celebrated American actor born in Philadelphia, a member of a theatrical dynasty alongside his siblings Lionel and Ethel and grandfather of Drew Barrymore. Nicknamed the Great Profile for his beauty, he shone first in light comedy and then in drama, culminating in Shakespearean performances of 'Hamlet' and 'Richard III' that revolutionized the theater of his time. In the cinema he left titles such as 'Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde' (1920), 'Grand Hotel', 'Dinner at Eight', the screwball comedy 'Twentieth Century' and 'Don Juan', the first feature with a Vitaphone soundtrack. An actor of overflowing bravura and magnetism, he embodied both the romantic leading man and the tragic histrion, while his tumultuous personal life fed his legend.
Movies
Plays Baron Felix von Gaigern
Grand Hotel
1932
Plays Mercutio
Romeo and Juliet
1936
Plays King Louis XV
Marie Antoinette
1938
Plays Dr. Henry Jekyll / Mr. Edward Hyde
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
1920
Plays Larry Renault
Dinner at Eight
1933
Plays Duke of Charmerace
Arsène Lupin
1932
Plays Nicolai Nazaroff
Maytime
1937
Plays Evans Garrick
The Great Profile
1940
Plays Professor Gibbs
The Invisible Woman
1940
Plays Prince Paul Chegodieff
Rasputin and the Empress
1932
Plays Col. J.A. Nielson
Bulldog Drummond's Revenge
1937
Plays Georges Flammarion
Midnight
1939
Plays Hilary Fairfield
A Bill of Divorcement
1932
Plays Ahab
Moby Dick
1930
Plays Windy Turlon
Spawn of the North
1938
Plays Riviere
Night Flight
1933
Plays Oscar Jaffe
Twentieth Century
1934
Plays Colonel Neilson
Bulldog Drummond's Peril
1938
Plays Chevalier Fabien des Grieux
When a Man Loves
1927
Plays Svengali
Svengali
1931
Plays Hamlet
Hamlet, Act I: Scenes IV and V
1933
Plays Richard III in 'Henry VI Part III'
The Show of Shows
1929
Plays John Barrymore
Playmates
1941
Plays George Simon
Counsellor at Law
1933
Plays Gabby Harrigan
Hold That Co-ed
1938
Plays Martin Wingrave
The Test of Honor
1919
Plays Colonel Neilson
Bulldog Drummond Comes Back
1937
Plays Vance
The Great Man Votes
1939
Plays A.J. Raffles
Raffles, the Amateur Cracksman
1917
Plays Captain Ahab Ceeley
The Sea Beast
1926
Plays Tom Cardigan
State's Attorney
1932
Plays Auguste A. Topaze
Topaze
1933
Plays Charles Jasper
True Confession
1937
Plays Don Jose de Marana / Don Juan de Marana
Don Juan
1926
Plays Carl Bellairs
Long Lost Father
1934
Plays Marcus Paltran
Eternal Love
1929
Plays Zoltan Jason
Romance in the Dark
1938
Plays Dr. Ernest Tindal
Night Club Scandal
1937
Plays Sherlock Holmes
Sherlock Holmes
1922
Plays François Villon
The Beloved Rogue
1927
Plays Gordon Bryon 'Beau' Brummel
Beau Brummel
1924
Plays Sergeant Ivan Markov
Tempest
1928
Plays Vladimar Ivan Tsarakov
The Mad Genius
1931
Plays Duke of Kurland / Prince Christian
General Crack
1929
Plays Jacques Leroi
The Lotus Eater
1921
Latest Trailers
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Playmates
Full Filmography 61
Playmates
John Barrymore
1941
Film
World Premiere
Duncan DeGrasse
1941
Film
The Invisible Woman
Professor Gibbs
1940
Film
The Great Profile
Evans Garrick
1940
Film
Midnight
Georges Flammarion
1939
Film
The Great Man Votes
Vance
1939
Film
Hold That Co-ed
Gabby Harrigan
1938
Film
Marie Antoinette
King Louis XV
1938
Film
Spawn of the North
Windy Turlon
1938
Film
Photos
Frequently Asked Questions
Is John Barrymore still alive?
John Barrymore passed away on May 29, 1942 at age 60.
What are the most famous roles of John Barrymore?
John Barrymore is best known for roles in Grand Hotel, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Dinner at Eight.
How many movies has John Barrymore been in?
Over a 30-year career (since 1912), John Barrymore has appeared in 60 movies and 0 TV shows.
What was John Barrymore's first movie?
The career of John Barrymore began with The Dream of a Moving Picture Director (1912).
What is John Barrymore's most recent movie or series?
John Barrymore's most recent release is Playmates, which premiered on December 26, 1941.
John Barrymore
1882-02-15 · Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
John Sidney Blyth Barrymore (February 15, 1882 – May 29, 1942) was an acclaimed American actor. He first gained fame as a handsome stage actor in light comedy, then high drama and culminating in groundbreaking portrayals in Shakespearean plays Hamlet and Richard III. His success continued with motion pictures in various genres in both the silent and sound eras. Barrymore's personal life has been the subject of much writing before and since his passing in 1942. Today John Barrymore is mostly known for his roles in movies like Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde (1920), Grand Hotel (1932), Dinner at Eight (1933), Twentieth Century (1934), and Don Juan (1926), the first ever movie to use a Vitaphone soundtrack.
A member of a multi-generation theatrical dynasty, he was the brother of Lionel Barrymore and Ethel Barrymore, and was the paternal grandfather of Drew Barrymore.