Biography
Henry Byron Warner was the definitive cinematic Jesus Christ in Cecil B. DeMille's The King of Kings (1927). He was born into a prominent theatrical family on October 26, 1875 in London. His father was Charles Warner, and his grandfather was James Warner, both prominent English actors. He replaced J.B. Warner as Jesus in The King of Kings (1927) when J.B. died of tuberculosis at age 29. (J.B. was not Henry's brother. J.B. had taken the professional last name "Warner" because Henry's family took him in.)
Henry Warner's family wanted him to become a doctor, and he graduated from London University but eventually gave up his medical studies. The theater was in his blood, and he studied acting in Paris and Italy before joining his father's stock company, making his debut in the English production of "Drink." It was from his father that he honed his craft.
Warner made it to America in the early 1900s, after touring the British Empire. Billed as Harry Warner, he made his Broadway debut in the American colonial drama "Audrey" at Hoyt's Theatre on November 24, 1902, starring James O'Neill, the father of playwright Eugene O'Neill. He was billed as H.B. Warner in his next appearance on Broadway, in the 1906 comedy "Nurse Marjorie." He appeared in 13 more Broadway productions in his career, from the twin-bill of "Susan in Search of a Husband" & "A Tenement Tragedy" (also 1906) to "Silence" in 1925.
He moved into motion pictures, making his debut in the Mutual short Harp of Tara (1914). Also in 1914, he appeared in a film written by Cecil B. DeMille for Famous Players Lasky, The Ghost Breaker (1914), in which he had played on Broadway the year before. Warner became a leading man and a star in silent pictures, reaching the zenith of his career playing Jesus in DeMille's The King of Kings (1927). His excellent performance was actually enhanced by the silent screen, allowing the audience to imagine how Jesus would sound. Warner could be extremely moving in silent pictures, notably in the melodrama Sorrell and Son (1927) as a war veteran father who sacrifices all for his son.
When talkies arrived, he became a busy supporting player. A favorite of Frank Capra , appeared in Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (1936). Cast again by Capra, he was nominated for Best Supporting Actor in Lost Horizon (1937). He also appeared in You Can't Take It with You (1938), and Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939). Other major talkies included The Devil and Daniel Webster (1941) and Topper Returns (1941). Other than Jesus, the role he is best remembered role for today is in It's a Wonderful Life (1946), in which he played Mr. Gower, the druggist who is saved from committing a lethal medication error by the young George Bailey (the James Stewart character as a child). H.B. Warner appeared in Sunset Blvd. (1950) as himself. His last credited role was as Amminadab in DeMille's The Ten Commandments (1956), a remake of the earlier silent The Ten Commandments (1923). He last role was an uncredited bit part in Darby's Rangers (1958).
Filmography
all 126
Movies 126
self 2
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Lux Æterna: The Art of Filmmaking (2019)
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James Stewart: A Wonderful Life (1988)
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The Ten Commandments (1956)
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Journey Into Light (1951)
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Here Comes the Groom (1951)
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The First Legion (1951)
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Sunset Boulevard (1950)
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Hellfire (1949)
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El Paso (1949)
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The Prince Of Thieves (1948)
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High Wall (1947)
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The Judge Steps Out (1947)
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Driftwood (1947)
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Gentleman Joe Palooka (1946)
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Strange Impersonation (1946)
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Prospecting for Petroleum (1946)
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Captain Tugboat Annie (1945)
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Rogues' Gallery (1944)
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Faces in the Fog (1944)
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Enemy of Women (1944)
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Prices Unlimited (1944)
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Action in Arabia (1944)
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Women in Bondage (1943)
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Hitler's Children (1943)
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The Boss of Big Town (1942)
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A Yank in Libya (1942)
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Crossroads (1942)
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The Corsican Brothers (1941)
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South of Tahiti (1941)
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All That Money Can Buy (1941)
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City of Missing Girls (1941)
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Topper Returns (1941)
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New Moon (1940)
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Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)
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The Rains Came (1939)
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Nurse Edith Cavell (1939)
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Bulldog Drummond's Bride (1939)
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The Gracie Allen Murder Case (1939)
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Bulldog Drummond's Secret Police (1939)
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Let Freedom Ring (1939)
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Arrest Bulldog Drummond (1938)
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You Can't Take It with You (1938)
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Army Girl (1938)
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Bulldog Drummond in Africa (1938)
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The Toy Wife (1938)
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Kidnapped (1938)
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The Girl of the Golden West (1938)
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Our Fighting Navy (1937)
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Victoria the Great (1937)
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Along Came Love (1936)
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Blackmailer (1936)
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Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (1936)
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Moonlight Murder (1936)
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The Garden Murder Case (1936)
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Rose of the Rancho (1936)
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A Tale of Two Cities (1935)
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Born to Gamble (1935)
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Night Alarm (1934)
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Behold My Wife! (1934)
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In Old Santa Fe (1934)
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Grand Canary (1934)
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Sorrell and Son (1934)
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Christopher Bean (1933)
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Jennie Gerhardt (1933)
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Supernatural (1933)
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The Son-Daughter (1932)
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The Phantom of Crestwood (1932)
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The Crusader (1932)
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Tom Brown of Culver (1932)
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Unholy Love (1932)
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Cross-Examination (1932)
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A Woman Commands (1932)
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The Menace (1932)
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Charlie Chan's Chance (1932)
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Expensive Women (1931)
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Five Star Final (1931)
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The Reckless Hour (1931)
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A Woman of Experience (1931)
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The Princess and the Plumber (1930)
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Liliom (1930)
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On Your Back (1930)
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Wild Company (1930)
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The Second Floor Mystery (1930)
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The Furies (1930)
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The Green Goddess (1930)
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Wedding Rings (1929)
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Tiger Rose (1929)
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Show of Shows (1929)
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The Gamblers (1929)
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The Trial of Mary Dugan (1929)
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Stark Mad (1929)
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The Doctor's Secret (1929)
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The Divine Lady (1928)
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Conquest (1928)
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Romance of a Rogue (1928)
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Man-Made Women (1928)
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French Dressing (1927)
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Sorrell and Son (1927)
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The King of Kings (1927)
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Silence (1926)
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Whispering Smith (1926)
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Is Love Everything? (1924)
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The Man from Broadway (1924)
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Zaza (1923)
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When We Were Twenty-One (1921)
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Felix O'Day (1920)
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One Hour Before Dawn (1920)
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The Pagan God (1919)
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Danger Trail (1917)
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God's Man (1917)
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The Vagabond Prince (1916)
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Shell 43 (1916)
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The Market of Vain Desire (1916)
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The Beggar of Cawnpore (1916)
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The Raiders (1916)
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The Ghost Breaker (1914)
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The Lost Paradise (1914)
Gallery
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Information
Known ForActing
GenderMale
Birthday1875-10-26
Deathday1958-12-21 (83 years old)
Birth NameHenry Byron Charles Stewart Warner-Lickford
Birth PlaceLondon, United Kingdom
FatherCharles Warner
SiblingsGrace Warner
CitizenshipsUnited Kingdom
Also Known AsHarry Byron Lickfold, Henry B. Warner, H. B. Warner, Henry Byron Warner
Awardsstar on Hollywood Walk of Fame
This article uses material from Wikipedia.
Last updated:
- H.B. Warner
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